The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, said that Veterinary Services personnel are actively engaged on the ground, administering antibiotics and spraying farms to mitigate the impact of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) throughout the province. Speaking at the Inkosi Msinga Mlaba Sport Complex in the KwaXimba area of eThekwini Municipality on 10 February 2026, as part of the Provincial Stakeholder Engagement programme on FMD, kaMadlopha-Mthethwa reported that the disease has reached unprecedented levels. She said the situation needed multi-faceted approach as KwaZulu-Natal cabinet declared 'war on FMD' from this day onwards, with a number of districts led by MEC Champions holding their own FMD programmes. "Our Veterinarians are deployed across various districts, providing affected farmers with antibiotics and sprays to boost animal health while awaiting vaccine availability," she stated.

"We wish to inform farmers about the upcoming vaccination campaign and emphasise the importance of vaccination of livestock on time. We apologise for the vaccine shortage, sourced from Botswana, which affected supply from November to February. This shortage left livestock vulnerable to the disease. However, the National Minister and the provincial government, led by Hon. Ntuli, are procuring vaccines from Argentina and Turkey that offer six months' protection. Efforts are underway to revive South Africa's vaccine production facility to provide a 12-month protection," kaMadlopha-Mthethwa explained.

Premier Thamisanqa Ntuli has reassured farmers that vaccines are forthcoming. Hon. Ntuli said that in addition to submitting a formal request for provincial disaster classification, he would also like to see government formulating a strategy that would see farmers being compensated for their livestock losses resulting from Foot-and-Mouth Disease.