Western Cape Government has significantly increased vaccination efforts to contain Foot-and-Mouth Disease, protecting farmers, livestock, jobs, and the long-term stability of the province’s agricultural economy.
Premier Alan Winde and Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer, confirmed that vaccine deployment to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) will be scaled up significantly in the coming weeks as part of a coordinated provincial response.
An initial allocation of 30 000 vaccine doses from the national Department of Agriculture has already been delivered to the province, with plans to increase this number to more than 400 000 doses. The expanded rollout strengthens efforts to protect livestock, secure agricultural production, and preserve thousands of livelihoods that depend on the sector.
The Western Cape Government has also implemented additional measures to support containment, including the introduction of a draft permitting system to better regulate livestock movement. Private veterinarians are now able to register to assist with vaccination efforts, while the Western Cape Provincial Veterinary Laboratory has received accreditation to expand testing capacity.
To further reinforce the response, additional veterinary technicians are being deployed, and a centralised “War Room” has been established to coordinate containment efforts across government, veterinary services, and agricultural stakeholders.
These interventions form part of a comprehensive 21-point response plan designed to manage and contain the outbreak. The plan includes 24-hour border monitoring, enhanced surveillance and rapid response protocols, strengthened enforcement of by-laws, and recovery measures such as quarantine monitoring and sanitation procedures.
Premier Winde said, “We are fighting to protect the livelihoods of thousands of farmers, to secure jobs and the future of our agricultural exports. This is a collective responsibility, and we need every livestock owner to stand with us. Biosecurity is our first and only line of defence. Moving animals without permits or neglecting basic hygiene protocols puts the entire province and country at risk. I urge all residents to work with us to fully contain the spread of FMD: stop the illegal movement of cattle, report any signs of illness immediately, and safeguard your farm boundaries. We will continue to push for provinces to procure their own vaccines.”
The provincial government continues to work closely with national authorities, veterinary professionals, and the agricultural sector to safeguard animal health, protect rural economies, and ensure the continued strength of South Africa’s food production systems.
The public and agricultural stakeholders are encouraged to report suspected cases and access support through the Western Cape Department of Agriculture’s FMD hotline.
