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IOL News
30-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
KZN's R134. 3 million funding aims to eradicate foot-and-mouth disease in livestock
KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa announces significant funding for livestock improvement during the 2025/26 budget vote. Image: KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development/ Facebook The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has allocated R134.3 million to support livestock improvement, particularly mitigating foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa made the announcement during her 2025/26 budget vote in the KZN legislature on Tuesday. KaMadlopha-Mthethwa stated that mandatory veterinary services for clients will be enhanced in the current financial year to ensure healthy animals, sustainable and profitable animal production enterprises, safe trade in animals and products of animal origin, and the well-being of animals and the public. She said seven new outbreaks were reported in KZN in February and March this year, bringing the total number of outbreaks in the province to 164. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ As a result, the national Cabinet supported extending KZN's Disease Management Area (DMA) boundaries to curb further FMD outbreaks. This includes Big Five Hlabisa, Mtubatuba, Nongoma, Ulundi, uMhlabuyalingana, Jozini, Pongola, Abaqulusi, Mfolozi, uMhlathuze, Mthonjaneni, Nqutu, Nkandla, uMlalazi, and Mandeni municipalities. 'As it stands, no cloven-hoofed animals (cattle, sheep, and goats), their products, or genetic material may be moved from or within the DMA unless authorised by a state veterinary permit. Movement control is applied to affected locations. Infected locations outside the DMA are similarly quarantined until the disease is eradicated,' kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said. She further said the department, working with industry, continues to conduct clinical surveillance to ensure early detection of disease and to determine the absence of disease in previously affected dip tanks. These are supported by an intensive vaccination drive in areas diagnosed to be infected. KaMadlopha-Mthethwa commended department officials, industry, and the security cluster, particularly the South African Police Service, for continuously hosting interventions to mitigate any further spread. Significant strides have been made in containing the spread and restoring economic normalcy. 'Over the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, an amount of R134.3 million has been allocated to support livestock improvement, particularly mitigating against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD),' kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said. 'These funds will be used for dipping chemicals, other veterinary remedies, and the employment of 77 dip tank assistants through the EPWP programme in the FMD disease management area to assist the livestock associations to keep proper records and follow up on vaccinations, dipping sessions, etc.' KaMadlopha-Mthethwa added that the department will also provide maintenance items such as treated poles and steel pipes to livestock associations to maintain the dip tank infrastructure. The department also plans to expand its public awareness campaigns regarding the disease throughout the province, making extensive use of various media platforms. 'The movement control of animals will remain in place together with disease surveillance across the province to detect any infections timely.' KaMadlopha-Mthethwa's budget came days after the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) briefed the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture. The ARC identified securing funding for the new FMD Vaccine Facility as an ongoing challenge, and efforts to obtain the necessary funds remain a top priority.
IOL News
06-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Government orders first-ever mass vaccination of poultry in SA, as cattle rollout continues
Astral Foods posted a sharp financial turnaround in the year to September 30, 2024 after loadshedding and avian flu caused big losses in the 2023 financial year. Picture: Simphiwe Mbokazi / Independent Newspapers A mass vaccination of poultry is set to take place in South Africa amid the avian flu outbreak. Image: Simphiwe Mbokazi / Independent Newspapers The South African Department of Agriculture has announced the country's first ever mass vaccination of poultry. This comes amid a severe outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Brazil, which led to South Africa suspending its poultry imports from the South American country. Earlier this year the South African Poultry Association (SAPA) warned that the country could face catastrophic consequences without vaccination against the highly pathogenic bird flu. South Africa's Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, said the Department's vaccination team, together with the Agricultural Research Council, would be working through a list of farms received by the poultry industry and would be prioritising high-risk areas. 'We have secured vaccine supply, ensured cold chain capacity, and are building in traceability and reporting mechanisms as part of a wider preparedness strategy,' Steenhuisen said. The government's vaccination team, which consists of poultry specialist vets from the University of Pretoria, would be further assisted by 50 animal health technicians on short term contracts. Combating foot-and-mouth disease The Department of Agriculture also provided an update on its progress in tackling the severe foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the country. It said vaccines to cover the KwaZulu-Natal area had now been ordered. More than 900,000 doses have been ordered, with the first batch expected to arrive next week. The Department said there were still signs of active virus circulation in the province, within the Disease Management Area, but some outbreaks have been detected outside of this zone. However, a system has been put in place to assess the level of biosecurity on individual farms. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Regarding the Gauteng outbreak, the Department said it was currently assessing the situation, including forward and backward tracing. Karan Beef is currently working with State Veterinary Services on a containment plan, following an outbreak at its Heidelberg facility this week. 'These plans are not only about responding to outbreaks, but also about building permanent infrastructure to manage future risks," Steenhuisen said. 'More broadly, we are establishing a Biosecurity Council that will bring together the South African Police Service (SAPS), veterinarians, scientists, the Border Management Authority, and industry. We are rolling out a farm to fork national traceability system for livestock,' the Minister added. IOL
