Foot-and-mouth disease poses a serious and immediate threat to livestock, livelihoods, and food security in the Eastern Cape. Containing the spread of the disease now is critical to limiting long-term damage and protecting both commercial and subsistence farmers.
I have written to the Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Nonceba Kontsiwe, placing on record my concerns regarding the provincial response to foot-and-mouth disease. I have requested clear information on how disease reporting, hotspot identification, and coordination with national structures are currently being implemented, and have called for urgent action to strengthen surveillance, improve communication to farmers, and ensure proper alignment with the national strategy.
For many farmers, especially small-scale and subsistence producers, livestock is central to household food security and income. The human toll of this outbreak is becoming increasingly visible, with farmers reporting severe stress as productive animals fall ill, milk yields collapse, costs rise, and workers’ livelihoods are placed at risk.
Uncontrolled outbreaks, weak reporting systems, and gaps in movement control place these communities at disproportionate risk and undermine confidence in the state’s ability to respond effectively.
The Democratic Alliance in the Eastern Cape recognises the importance of coordinated action and therefore welcomes the establishment by the National Minister, DA Leader John Steenhuisen, of the Joint Operations Committee to guide the national response. This structure creates an opportunity to improve alignment among the national government, industry, and provincial departments. It is, however, vital that it is matched by effective implementation on the ground.
In the Eastern Cape, this must translate into urgent cooperation between the provincial Department of Agriculture and national structures.
Central to this is the identification and monitoring of disease hotspots, supported by clear, trusted reporting lines for farmers and communities. Suspected cases must be reported easily, verified quickly, and acted on decisively so that accurate data is available ahead of the vaccination phase.
Preparation before vaccines arrive will determine how smoothly inoculation can be rolled out once doses become available. Without reliable information on outbreak locations, livestock movement patterns, and high-risk areas, even well-planned vaccination efforts will struggle to deliver results.
There is also growing concern around animal movement control, particularly in areas dominated by informal and subsistence farming. Movement restrictions will only be effective if they are realistic, clearly communicated, and supported by practical guidance and veterinary assistance that reflects local conditions.
These realities must be addressed with practical support, education, and enforcement that recognises local conditions while prioritising biosecurity.
I will also continue engaging with farmers’ organisations and constituency leadership so that practical challenges on the ground are documented and reflected in the provincial response.
Farmers and communities need reassurance that the system is working, that their reports will be acted on, and that government is preparing seriously for the vaccination phase. Strong coordination now will limit further spread, protect livelihoods, and reduce the long-term impact of this disease.
The Democratic Alliance remains committed to constructive oversight and practical solutions that support farmers, strengthen food security, and ensure that the Eastern Cape is ready to respond effectively. The people of the province deserve leadership that plans ahead, works collaboratively, and delivers with care and accountability.