The MEC for the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in KwaZulu-Natal, Mrs Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa, has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease vaccination programme in the uMgungundlovu District. On Monday 25 May 2026 alone, a total of 13 386 cattle were vaccinated across 27 dip tanks in IMpendle. The MEC expressed this during an oversight visit to Novuka Diptank within IMpendle on Tuesday 26 May 2026, where a two-day vaccination programme was underway for an estimated 22 thousand cattle.

Other teams are also conducted vaccinations in UMngeni Local Municipality, targeting about 8 thousand while farmers under Richmond have also started to bring their 7 thousand cattle for vaccination over two days.

During an engagement with the MEC, local farmers at Novuka raised concerns regarding rising feed costs, worn-out dip tank infrastructure, and market access for beef cattle. In response, MEC kaMadlopha-Mthethwa pledged to refurbish the dip tanks and committed herself to ensuring that farmers will be capacitated on the breeding management including bull management as communal cattle share grazing which result in uncontrolled breeding. "I am pleased with the vaccination progress in the uMgungundlovu District thus far.

"I am satisfied with the progress so far in the uMgungundlovu District as far as the vaccination is concerned. Most of the time when I am visiting the diptanks, farmers complain about old poles. We have promised to provide them with poles. But they are happy with the dipping chemicals (acaricides) that we are providing to the extent that even the vet-supply stores are complaining saying that the farmers are no longer coming. That's precisely because of the department providing livestock remedies to the farmers to all the dipping tanks. We regard that as a positive move," said kaMadlopha-Mthethwa.

Richmond is expected to complete its vaccination programme tomorrow while UMkhambathini begins its three-day operations.