The government has confirmed that the country’s first locally produced FMD vaccine batch in nearly 20 years has been released. The Agricultural Research Council’s (ARC) Onderstepoort facility produced 12,900 doses in its pilot run, with output expected to reach 20,000 doses per week by March. Future output is expected to scale to 200,000 per week in 2027.
This marks a strategic shift toward rebuilding domestic biosecurity capacity after years of relying entirely on foreign suppliers.
At the same time, the national vaccine pipeline has strengthened. More than 2 million imported doses have already been administered, and monthly deliveries of 700,000 doses are scheduled for April, May and June.
Objectives for the 12-month period include achieving an 80% vaccination rate in targeted herds and a 70% reduction in FMD incidence.
The Botswana Vaccine Institute has confirmed supply continuity, and designated private agents remain authorised to import approved vaccines from Turkey and Argentina.
Minister John Steenhuisen has framed these developments as evidence that the national plan is moving from crisis containment to structured recovery. At the same time, Steenhuisen emphasised that the vaccination programme must remain scientifically controlled to meet World Organisation for Animal Health requirements for regaining FMD-free status.
Government Pushes Back Against Calls for Unregulated Vaccination
Steenhuisen has issued several public warnings against proposals for farmers to vaccinate independently.
He argues that uncontrolled vaccination would compromise surveillance, mask active infections and undermine the country’s ability to demonstrate virus control.
He has also cautioned that litigation by farmer organisations could delay procurement and divert veterinary personnel away from outbreak zones.
According to the Minister, private veterinarians and animal health technicians will be integrated into the rollout, but vaccine access will remain regulated under the Animal Diseases Act to protect the integrity of the national programme.
Several organisations, including Saai, Sakeliga and Free State Agriculture, have challenged this policy. Farmers are concerned that restrictions on self-vaccination could lead to slower response times during outbreaks, potentially increasing the risk of disease spread and livestock losses. They also worry that relying solely on regulated channels may not be flexible or efficient enough to address urgent needs on individual farms.
Provincial Outbreaks Trigger New Containment Measures
The Western Cape has activated a 21-point containment plan following new confirmed and suspected cases in informal settlements and a dairy operation near Mossel Bay.
Measures include 24-hour roadblocks, a permit-based livestock movement system and a formal request to national government for vaccine allocation.
To date, the disease has been identified in eight of South Africa’s nine provinces. However, a recent article in African Farming indicates that foot-and-mouth disease may be advancing toward the Northern Cape.
Economists and industry bodies continue to warn that the outbreak is inflicting severe losses on dairy and beef producers, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.
Surveillance and Reporting Capacity Expands
Digital reporting systems are scaling rapidly as farmers, veterinarians and provincial departments increase real-time submissions.
Buffalo and Livestock Analytics has reported a surge in users, with the platform expected to support hundreds of thousands of reports as the outbreak evolves.
This data is feeding into hotspot mapping, movement control decisions and national epidemiological modelling.
The Road Ahead
The combination of domestic vaccine production, secured international supply, and expanded surveillance marks a turning point, but the outbreak remains one of the most extensive in South Africa’s history.
The coming months will test whether the national plan can deliver consistent vaccination coverage, enforce movement controls and rebuild veterinary capacity fast enough to stabilise the livestock sector.
