Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism

Question by: 
Hon Noko Masipa
Answered by: 
Hon Ivan Meyer
Question Number: 
16
Question Body: 
  1. (a) What is his Department’s current evaluation of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, given reports of cases linked to livestock movements from the province, and (b) from which districts or municipalities did the affected animals originate;
  2. (a) what measures have been implemented by his Department to contain and control the disease in affected or high-risk areas and (b) how are these efforts being coord-inated with the national veterinary authorities;
  3. (a) what protocols are in place to detect and report suspected cases of FMD and (b) what awareness or compliance campaigns have been rolled out to ensure adher-ence to these requirements;
  4. (a) what is the current capacity of the provincial veterinary services to manage potential outbreaks, including the number of (i) veterinarians and (ii) animal health technicians deployed, and (b) what additional resources or support are being mobil-ised to strengthen response capacity;
  5. (a) what progress has been made in the ongoing investigation into the movement of affected cattle linked to suspected transporters in the Gouda area, (b) how many (i) transport companies and (ii) properties have been identified and inspected to date and (c) what penalties or enforcement actions are being considered in cases of con-firmed non-compliance with animal health regulations?

 

Answer Body: 

(1)   (a)     The foci of the infection have been positively localised and contained on one farm.    Initially three properties were placed under quarantine after reports of contacts with   affected animals. All these properties were later cleared when negative laboratory          results were obtained.

(b)     Currently indications are that the animals emanated outside the province.

(2)   (a)

  • The Department has implemented several surveillance and early-detection measures for Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in cloven-hoofed livestock, consistent with the national guidelines issued by the Department of Agriculture, and aligned with WOAH standards. This includes an undertaking that animals will be isolated on the farm of destination for at least 28 days before being introduced to the main herd. In addition to national measures, the Western Cape has introduced a notification system for all movements of cloven-hoofed animals into the province, which is publicly accessible via the Department’s website. This allows for improved risk profiling and targeted surveillance at entry points.

 

  • Furthermore, biosecurity officers are deployed at all livestock auctions within the province, in line with national guidelines, to oversee compliance with biosecurity protocols and monitor for signs of FMD and other transboundary animal diseases as scheduled in Biosecurity Rules for Livestock Agents and set out under section 10(b) of the Agricultural Produce Agents Act, 1992, (Act No. 12 of 1992) (“the Act”) The role of Auction Biosecurity Offices is anchored by regular presence of Animal Health Technicians at the auctions. 

 

  • Animal Health officials continue with monitoring livestock transporters at the main entry points and weighbridges.

 

  • Roadblocks and check points have been set up in areas within 10 km radius of the affected property.

 

(b)     The Department is currently implementing FMD active targeted surveillance which       is a National Surveillance Programme.

  1. (a)  preparedness and Biosecurity protocols

 (b) The meat inspection teams at each abattoir in the Province are briefed and on high alert to detect any suspect lesions for Foot and Mouth Disease on both anti-mortem and post-mortem meat inspections. This acts as extensive, provincial wide surveillance for any FMD outbreaks that may go undetected in live animals.

All registered abattoirs in the province operate under independent meat inspection assignees, with every animal undergoing individual ante-mortem inspection, which includes checks for clinical signs consistent with FMD. These inspections are conducted by trained personnel under the supervision of State Veterinarians, in accordance with the Meat Safety Act.

Surveillance and inspection frequency is generally risk-based but constrained by the broader limitations in staffing and traceability infrastructure. South Africa’s National Livestock Identification and Traceability System (NLITS) is still under development and not yet implemented at scale. This continues to pose a challenge for comprehensive disease surveillance, rapid response, and certification for export.

In summary, while the Western Cape has taken proactive steps to enhance disease detection and control, including additional movement controls and biosecurity enforcement, the overall capacity to detect and respond to FMD outbreaks is still limited by the absence of a fully functional national traceability system and movement control, and the compliance with standard biosecurity measures. This impacts both internal disease management and the confidence of export markets in veterinary certification and compliance.

  1. (a) There are 11 veterinarians and 32 Animal Health Technicians attached to the Animal Health Division.
  2. 3 Veterinarians are deployed to the affected area,
  3.             12 Animal health technicians are deployed

(b) Joint Operations Centre (JOC) was activated that incorporate stakeholders from private sector and Municipalities.

  1. (a) The area has been cordoned off and placed under quarantine. Movement restrictions on livestock into the area. Livestock in the surrounding properties individually examined for suspect animal carriers. Properties will be revisited after 28 days. Situation currently is stable.

(b) 541animals affected

(i) One transport company

(ii) Properties within the 10 km radius of the infected farm, have shown negative results at this stage.

(c) Investigations and follow-ups are underway and criminal charges will be laid on transgressors.

 

Date: 
Friday, November 14, 2025
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