Mpumalanga’s Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs’ (DARDLEA) Veterinary Services are continuously monitoring the four confirmed outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the province.
Outbreaks are at a farm in the Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality and from two farms and an abattoir in the Dipaleseng Municipality.
The outbreak investigations demonstrated the source for farm outbreaks was unmonitored movements of cattle from livestock auctions in neighbouring provinces and the abattoir outbreak was traced back from the feedlot in Gauteng.
DARDLEA has put control measures in place to curb any further spread to other areas in the vicinity of the affected farms.
This includes deployment of veterinary officials to these areas, quarantining and movement control of cloven-hoofed animals, as well as surveillance and sampling across surrounding farms.
The Department has also embarked on a public awareness programme, is overseeing controlled slaughter of affected animals and allowing no movement of animals from affected areas.
The outbreak at the abattoir has been contained. The remaining three farms are being depopulated and slaughter of affected animals under strict quarantine, would take place. Animals would also be vaccinated.
As from October 2022, all livestock owners in South Africa are legally obliged to provide a declaration of health and origin of livestock.
Stock Theft documents for all cloven-hoofed animals such cattle, sheep, pigs and goats are necessary before animals would be allowed to move from their property of origin onto others.
Recipients of such animals must give written agreement to isolate new livestock for 28 days before introducing them into the herds of the destination farms.
This requirement was published in the Government Gazette Notice No. 6319 of 13 June 2025, issued by the Minister of Agriculture.
“All cattle at auctions must be inspected before being admitted.
If any animal presents with clinical signs, the auction must be suspended and necessary veterinary actions should be undertaken to control further possible infection,” said DARDLEA’s MEC Nompumelelo Hlophe.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven hoofed domesticated and wild animals. Wild cloven-hoofed animals are buffalo, giraffes, impala, etc. Buffalo usually serves as asymptomatic carriers of the disease.
It can spread amongst cattle at a fast rate; it does not have a high mortality rate, but its effects are economic.
