The life of a farmer. Regardless of Easter Holidays or not, our focus remains on vaccinating cloven-hoofed animals to ensure their welfare," that's according to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development MEC, Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa paying an oversight visit on Friday 03 April 2026, at Matalabane Diptank in Jozini within uMkhanyakude District which stands out as one of the leading districts, boasting over 200 thousand cattle.

The Department's veterinary services led by Dr Themba Sikhakhane, have completed vaccination programmes in uGu and Harry Gwala districts using BioGenesis Bago and Dollvet vaccines and are now making their presence felt in uMkhanyakude District, which has four local municipalities - Jozini, UMhlabuyalingana, Big 5 Hlabisa and Inkosi Mtubatuba.

With uGu and Harry districts done and completed and across districts such as uMgungundlovu, Amajuba, and uThukela, where a few private farms have also been attended to, the province has administered well over 500 thousand vaccines to both commercial and communal farms.

From Monday, March 30, vaccination teams focused their efforts in Jozini and UMhlabuyalingana, vaccinating 54 871 cattle, with 12 273 of those done yesterday in Jozini alone.

Hon. MEC Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa paid an oversight visit to a few dipping tanks in Jozini including aMatalabane Diptank as part of efforts to amplify the vaccination drive that has so far exceeded its expectations with the many livestock farmers bringing their cattle to the dipping tanks for the all-important jabs.