The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Honourable TP kaMadlopha–Mthethwa, engaged with Livestock Farmers on Thursday 18 September 2025, at Kokstad Town Hall. This engagement was also attended by the Head of Department, Mr ZN Dlamini and Chief Director for Veterinary Services Dr Temba Sikhakhane, as MEC met with commercial and small-holder farmers across the District.

The MEC reflected on her July 2025 visit to Orange Grove Dairy in Dundee, where she met with dairy industry stakeholders to discuss Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) response strategies. She reaffirmed government’s commitment to working alongside the agricultural sector to protect livestock and sustain production.

MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa expressed concern over the continued spread of FMD, which has now affected dairy farms and feedlots across seven Districts. Since 2021, 207 cases have been reported, with over 896,000 cattle vaccinated as part of containment efforts. MEC noted the growing risk to commercial farms and praised the farming community’s cooperation with veterinary movement control measures.

In her address, she stressed the importance of partnerships in managing animal disease outbreaks and thanked stakeholders for their support. She also called on commercial farmers to prioritize hiring South African citizens to address high unemployment, particularly among youth.

Concluding her remarks, the MEC emphasized the four pillars of FMD control—movement control, vaccination and awareness, animal identification and surveillance—and called for stronger collaboration between government and the agricultural sector to build a resilient and inclusive industry.