Frustrated South African farmers have demanded that the government allow private procurement and administration of foot-and-mouth disease vaccines to combat the ongoing outbreak. In a letter to Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, agricultural organizations argue there is no legal barrier to such measures. Steenhuisen has warned that pursuing litigation could undermine the national vaccination strategy.
South African livestock farmers, grappling with a severe foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak, have escalated their push for private vaccine access. Attorneys representing Sakeliga, the Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), Free State Agriculture, and individual farmers sent a letter of demand to Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and other officials. The letter, citing the Animal Diseases Act, asserts that livestock owners are obligated to prevent disease and can lawfully procure and administer vaccines themselves. It highlights the rapid spread of FMD and demands written confirmation by January 30 permitting private involvement, or a detailed legal explanation if denied, threatening court action otherwise.
Steenhuisen, leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), responded on January 27 with a call for unity over litigation. He argued that court challenges would divert veterinary and financial resources from the frontline response, potentially derailing vaccine procurement and rollout. "The threatened court action could well derail the purchasing and rollout of vaccines," Steenhuisen stated, emphasizing that the Animal Diseases Act governs controlled vaccination to maintain biosecurity.
Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai, expressed shock at Steenhuisen's reaction, describing it as reflective of petty politics and a shallow grasp of the crisis. "Farmers are left in misery and despair amidst the biggest crisis ever to have hit the livestock industry," Rossouw said, blaming government inaction for the preventable outbreak. He refuted accusations that lobby groups seek profit, insisting the organizations represent affected members and criticizing the department's secretive, centralized vaccination approach for eroding trust.
Steenhuisen countered that unfettered vaccine access is reckless, citing risks from illegal imports in KwaZulu-Natal. Meanwhile, the pork industry reports seven suspicious or confirmed FMD cases, preparing contingency plans including designated abattoirs.
The outbreak's toll is evident in KwaZulu-Natal, where dairy farmer Freddy Bondesio reported a 40% production drop after over 2,000 cows were affected. "This has been devastating for our animals, our staff and our business," Bondesio said, underscoring the need for early vaccination despite robust biosecurity efforts.