The MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, conducted an oversight visit to dip tanks administering mass vaccinations against the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Harry Gwala District. The district's Vaccination Drive is going according to plan, with an influx of cattle herd being ushered in to the dip tanks. The teams are continuing to use BioGenesis Bago manufactured vaccines (Argentina), following the successful inoculation of 54 846 cattle, including 5 000 commercial cattle in the uGu District.

After attending the Provincial Budget Sitting in Pietermaritzburg on Tuesday 10 March 2026, MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa visited several dipping tanks, including Ndwebu at Nhlangwini near Highflats, under the Johannes Phumani Phungula Municipality, formerly uBuhlebezwe, where she joined veterinary-led teams administering vaccinations.

"Our mass vaccination strategy is progressing according to plan, with everything falling into place. Following the arrival of the Turkiye-based vaccine manufacturer Dollvet in Gauteng, we will implement our strategy to vaccinate cattle in the northern parts of the province, where Dollvet vaccines will be most effective due to the presence of FMD SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3 strains. As a Department we have decided to procure our vaccines from the second batch that arrived in Gauteng and they should be in our province before the end of this week," said kaMadlopha-Mthethwa.

Commercial cattle, including dairy and beef cattle, are currently being vaccinated in the Harry Gwala district.

kaMadlopha-Mthethwa said she expects about 170 thousand communal cattle to be brought by livestock owners and farmers to 210 dip tanks in the district.

Meanwhile, many farmers across Johannes Phumani Phungula Local Municipality have said they are pleased with the programme's management, saying that there's a dedicated team present at the dip tanks, and say the vaccines will improve their cattle's health and protect them against FMD. Bongumusa Mngadi from Mhlabashana Dip Tank, "We would like to thank the government, particularly the provincial government under the leadership of MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, for taking swift action to assist us. We have been adversely impacted by the Foot-and-Mouth Disease; we appreciate the government's attentiveness to our challenges."

Mjabulelwa Zondi from the Mhlabashana Diptank said, "Our livestock had been affected by disease, resulting in losses. We are greatly relieved to be receiving these vaccines which will play a crucial role in mitigating the impact of the disease and restoring our livelihoods."