The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the arrival of 1 million vaccine doses to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). This marks an important step towards stabilising South Africa’s agricultural biosecurity and protecting the livelihoods of farmers, workers and rural communities. The delivery, under the leadership of Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, is a positive move towards strengthening the country’s response to outbreaks that threaten food security and economic stability.
We also welcome the publication of provincial allocations. Clear distribution plans improve transparency and allow farmers and veterinarians to prepare. Provinces responsible for rollout must now ensure that vaccination sites, cold-chain logistics and coordination with producer organisations are fully in place.
We also commend the minister’s authorisation of private veterinarians to administer vaccines. Expanding the number of trained professionals will speed up delivery where state capacity is limited. Government must ensure that permitting, reporting and payment processes operate efficiently so that private vets are supported rather than slowed down by red tape.
We reiterate that vaccination alone will not stop the spread of FMD. Farmers, transporters, auctions and feedlots must comply fully with biosecurity measures, including movement controls, sanitation protocols and proper record-keeping. Strong compliance across the value chain remains essential to preventing further outbreaks.
The DA will continue to monitor the rollout closely.