Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism
With regard to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD):
- (a) What is the status of foot-and-mouth disease in the province and (b)(i) how many cases has been confirmed and (ii) in which areas have cases been confirmed.
- what measures have been implemented to (a) mitigate the spread and (b) eliminate the disease, in the province;
- (a) what protocols are currently in place to ensure that the affected farmers in the province can access foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and (b) how is vaccine avail-ability being prioritised given national supply constraints;
- what is the extent and nature of the cooperation between his Department, the national Department of Agriculture and municipalities.
- whether there are any support mechanisms currently available to the affected farmers in the province to prevent business failure and job losses resulting from FMD-related restrictions and export impacts; if so, what are the relevant details?
- (1) (a) Foot and mouth disease (FMD) has been confirmed in three District Municipalities, namely: Cape Winelands, West Coast and Garden Route and in one metropolitan municipality, City of Cape Town
- Cape Winelands
- Drakenstein – Mbekweni. (Please note that the Department is working towards lifting quarantine from the initial case reported in November 2025. Sentinels were placed in the farm on the 4th of March 2026 and will be observed and tested twice within the next 28 days after which the quarantine will be lifted)
- Stellenbosch – Klapmuts
- City of Cape Town
- Emfuleni and Makhaza – on history this is related to Drakenstein
- Kalkfontein – On history this is related to Drakenstein
- Garden Route
- Mossel Bay
- George – this is directly linked to Mossel Bay case
- West Coast
- Swartland – Kalbaskraal/Philadelphia Area
- Cape Winelands
(2) (a) (i) On reporting, verbal quarantine is issued. Veterinary officials visit the property immediately visit for inspection of animals, serving written quarantine and immediate vaccination of cattle in the infected property.
(ii) Properties within 10km radius of the initial farm reporting the case are informed of possible FMD and are also vaccinated.
(iii) Ongoing awareness campaigns
(iv) Setting of the check points within the infected area
(v) Monitoring of Animal Movements
(b) (i) Movement and permit system is being implemented whilst wating for official gazette from the national Department of Agriculture.
(ii) Implementation of Livestock Identification and Traceability system which still needs to be legislated
(iii) Enhanced active surveillance measures are in place.
3(a) The Western Cape Government has implemented several access‑facilitating protocols as part of its coordinated FMD response:
- Centralised Provincial Vaccination Drive
Vaccinations are being administered through coordinated provincial teams under the Western Cape Department of Agriculture (WCDoA), ensuring that affected farmers receive vaccines through scheduled visits, rather than relying on private procurement.
- Application by farmers and associated
Individual farmers are allowed to submit their application for vaccinations and these are prioritised in consultation with organised industry Milk Producers Organisation (MPO), RPO, MIlkSA, Agri-Western Cape, Private Veterinarians and State Veterinarians.
- Tagging & Identification Protocol
All vaccinated cattle are tagged for identification, surveillance and monitoring, simplifying verification and ensuring farmers with registered herds can be prioritised for further vaccine rounds.
- WCDoA FMD Hotline
A dedicated hotline (080 928 4102) allows farmers to report symptoms and request support, including being placed on priority vaccination lists in outbreak‑adjacent areas.
- Given tight national vaccine supplies, the Western Cape has adopted a risk‑based prioritisation model aligned with national guidelines:
The Department had established a war room, comprised of industry stakeholders to ensure alignment and a coordinated approach in the prioritisation process for the delivery of vaccines. The process is aligned to the national strategy – which is risk-based. In addition, the daity sector is prioritosed given the sensitive nature of dairy breeds.
4. Cooperation is multi‑layered and involves:
- Joint Operational Coordination
The Western Cape “War Room” integrates provincial officials, national Department of Agriculture representatives, municipal authorities, and organised agriculture to coordinate containment, vaccination, movement control, surveillance, and communication.
- National Vaccine Allocation & Oversight
The national Department of Agriculture is responsible for allocating vaccine shipments to provinces and authorising provincial procurement participation. The Western Cape engages in continuous consultation with the national DG to be allowed to procure own vaccines.
- Municipal Enforcement & Roadblocks
Municipalities participate in major roadblocks, movement‑permit enforcement and local surveillance. Roadblocks operate across 13 municipalities, forming the enforcement backbone of the 21‑point plan.
5. whether there are any support mechanisms currently available to the affected farmers in the province to prevent business failure and job losses resulting from FMD-related restrictions and export impacts; if so, what are the relevant details?
Rapid Vaccination to Prevent Culling & Trade Losses
By vaccinating high‑risk herds early, the province reduces the likelihood of mandatory culling or wider quarantine zones both of which have devastating financial consequences for farmers.
Movement-Permit Support to Maintain Limited Trade
Permit systems allow regulated continuation of livestock movement, enabling farmers to operate albeit under restrictions without facing complete trade suspensions.
Biosecurity Support & Veterinary Deployment
Additional Animal Health Technicians are being recruited to be deployed to support farms with surveillance, testing and cleaning operations, reducing compliance burden and ensuring business continuity.
