The MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has met with livestock auctioneers to establish a collaborative working relationship aimed at ensuring strict adherence to animal movement restrictions. The meeting was held on Tuesday 14 April 2026 at the Durban Marine Building.

Discussions centred on the private sector's proposal to lift the Disaster Management Areas and their struggles with the ban on livestock sales and related products, as well as re-opening of animal auctions in KwaZulu-Natal, which the private sector deemed hindered their operations as they preserve their livelihoods amid the national disaster. The MEC reiterated her position that the sector must comply with current regulations governing animal movement control, including restrictions on animals entering and exiting the province, until the province's 2.5 million-strong cattle herd was vaccinated.

"Their main concern is that they are unable to move their animals to sell. I informed them that we must ensure that we do not allow the movement of animals because the regulations are still intact, and we cannot allow unvaccinated cattle from other provinces into the province of KwaZulu-Natal, knowing that we have already vaccinated some of the animals. We agreed that we need to sit down with the National Minister and pave the way forward. We then agreed to draft a document outlining provincial recommendations for submission to the Minister so that we will be able to sell our animals as soon we reach immunity in the provincial herd," said kaMadlopha-Mthethwa.

Meanwhile, over 670,000 of both commercial and communal cattle have been vaccinated since the start of the province's mass vaccination programme on February 26, 2026. Veterinary-led teams are rounding up vaccinations in the uMkhanyakude District.