Efforts to keep the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) under control have been compromised. Image credit: Getty Images.
(The Post News) – Efforts to keep the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) under control have been compromised by the illegal movement of livestock. This issue was highlighted as the Kwazulu-Natal (KZN) Provincial FMD Indaba in Durban took place on Thursday 23rd October.
KaMadlopha-Mthethwa confirmed that: “From October 2025, there are currently 274 unresolved outbreaks across KZN Province.”
Ever since the first outbreak in 2021, vaccination campaigns began rolling out in 2022, vaccinating an approximate amount of 800 000 cattle.
KaMadlopha-Mthethwa emphasized addressing the FMD issue requires collective efforts from all respective stakeholders involved.
Mthethwa also stated that: “New outbreaks of FMD continue to emerge in various locations in KZN, all caused by the SAT2 FMD virus, which now appears to be present within a large area affecting communal, commercial, feedlot, dairy and beef animals in KZN. The same FMD SAT strain was disseminated via auctions to a certain number of commercial farms and feedlots.”
It has been said that KZN DMA expanded in 2025 due to the ongoing disease breakout and spread, however in 2021 KZN SAT2 FMD virus outbreaks persisted outside and within boundaries.
As communal farm outbreaks have been managed by quarantine and vaccination, there have been on going efforts to heighten vaccination coverage as along as vaccine availability permits.
Since mid-2025, an increase in viral detections on farms and feedlots outside KZN DMA have been reported and are linked to illegal animal movements through actions and spectacular sales, poor biosecurity and non-compliance with the 2022 28-day post-movement isolation.
Mthethwa said although there have been stock theft police, they are unable to control the movement of livestock at night time. However, they will make it a a point to learn from other provinces and how they intended on navigating a away to put an end to the illegal movement of livestock.
Red Meat Producers Organizations (RPO) KZN Chairman and national RPO vice-chairman Angus Williamson mentioned that some farmers have taken the step to revert back to illegal movement of livestock.
Williamson said: “If emerging farmers do not have access, they have to revert back to moving cattle illegally. That is, unfortunately, how and why FMD has spread, because there has been limited market access.”
“If you think that somebody who has to sell two cattle in order to put food on the table, to pay school fees, for everyday survival and do not have much market access.
“They will load those cattle on a trailer and move them to Standerton or whatever and will have market access. If that is the only source of income. This is the reason why FMD has spread to other provinces,”
Kwanalu President and Hluhluwe commercial farmer, Peter John Hassard mentioned: “We need to go out there, practice the lawfulness and make sure that the livestock is not moving, so that we can stop the disease because its is affecting the livelihoods of community members.”
It was said that there have been measures that must be put into place and movement of livestock is one of them.
Hassard cautioned and explained that: “If we were able to stop the movement of animals, then we would obviously be able to place this disease under control, however, you must give people options on where they are able to sell their animals.”
“You cannot just shut an area down and declare no more selling, no more movement because you need to be able to sell something so that you can pay school fees, buy food, pay people, pay accounts or whatever.”
‘It is necessary to stop the movement but we must make space for income purposes.
KZN state veterinarian for epidemiology, Dr Channelle Kyle, who has currently been running the KZN Movement Permit Office emphasised on animal moving being classified as a challenge, reliant on country, province and people’s compliance with permits.
Kyle warned that animal movement control is a crucial aspect in preventing the catastrophic long-term side effects of FMD and not just play a part in avoiding the fines.
She urged people to avoid moving animals illegally, taking responsibility, and following protocols to collectively overcome the disease and ensuring success in that.
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