Cape Town – As South Africa grapples with a nationwide outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the Western Cape has launched an aggressive vaccination campaign to protect its livestock and prevent economic fallout.
Around 450 cattle were vaccinated in Fisantekraal, Cape Town, as part of the province’s 21-point response plan, which includes quarantine measures, strict movement controls, border monitoring and roadblocks across 13 municipalities.
The province expects to receive 200,000 vaccine doses and plans to vaccinate all high-risk herds, while also seeking permission to procure its own vaccines.
🇿🇦 We are embarking on a massive drive to vaccinate the national herd against Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
We are fighting to save the livelihoods of farmers, workers, and the future of our exports.
Today i joined Premier Alan Winde and other Western Cape Government colleagues in… pic.twitter.com/BNwbbJ4Iic
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) February 15, 2026
“No cases of FMD have been detected in this Fisantekraal herd. But we are taking every precaution because we want to protect jobs and livelihoods. We will be receiving 200,000 vaccine doses over the coming weeks and will push to vaccinate all high-risk herds,” Western Cape Premier Alan Winde said, according to The Citizen.
Under the Animal Diseases Act, Winde has formally requested that the national Department of Agriculture shift all physical livestock auctions online for 21 days and tighten permit controls for animal movement.
He, along with provincial ministers Ivan Meyer and Anton Bredell, is set to meet Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen for feedback on the proposal.
[Listen🎧🎙]
Minister John Steenhuisen joined Western Cape Premier, Mr Alan Winde, at a mass Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination drive in the Fisantekraal area, Cape Town.#StopFMD #ProtectingOurHerd #BiosecurityMatters #GovZAUpdates @GCISMedia @GovernmentZA @jsteenhuisen pic.twitter.com/U56euN0jdx— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA) February 15, 2026
The request forms part of the province’s 21-point response plan, developed with agricultural stakeholders to curb the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. Measures include round-the-clock border monitoring, rapid-response veterinary teams for surveillance and traceability, stricter by-law enforcement, contingency planning, sanitation operations, quarantine monitoring, and roadblocks with vehicle inspections across 13 municipalities, including at provincial borders.
“This is part of a national crisis. We are working tirelessly to protect jobs and the agricultural economy. If you are transporting livestock or any materials used in the farming of livestock, you must take every precaution,” IOL quoted Winde as saying.
“This is a national emergency; we are fighting to save the livelihoods of thousands of farmers and the future of our agricultural exports. We need every single livestock owner to stand with us. Biosecurity is not a suggestion – it is our only line of defense.
We’ve been pushing for urgent, large-scale vaccination to protect our national herd from Foot-and-Mouth Disease and that work is now accelerating on the ground.
We will continue working with farmers and industry to contain FMD and defend South Africa’s food security. 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/LRUmeOgTHa
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) February 15, 2026
“If you move animals without permits or ignore basic hygiene, you are putting the entire country at risk. I am asking all South Africans – please stop the illegal movement of cattle, report illness immediately, and treat your farm boundaries like a fortress.” Steenhuisen said.
In his State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the FMD outbreak a national disaster.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
