Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – The Department of Agriculture’s “strategic objective” is to vaccinate 80% of South Africa’s national cattle herd – which is around 14 million animals – against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by December this year, according to a media statement on 12 May.“The vaccinatio ...more

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (15 April 2026) – The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, is pleased to report early data indicates that the current mass Foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccination strategy is yielding positive results. Crucially, there have been no new breakthroughs in herds that have already been vaccinated, providing a ...more

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (11 March 2026) – In a landmark move for international agricultural diplomacy, the South African Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, and the Federal Minister of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity of Germany, Alois Rainer, officially signed a Joint Declaration of Intent on Agricultural Development t ...more

So far, leather industry appears to be relatively unaffected ...more

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA – In response to “one of the most persistent and damaging waves of foot and mouth disease (FMD) the country has seen in decades”, the Department of Agriculture plans to vaccinate the entire national cattle herd, according to a press release on 26 November.FMD affects the leather value chain because ...more

Campaign to control and eradicate the disease ‘paying off’, DoA says ...more

Oudtshoorn, W. Cape, SA – Avian Influenza (AI) outbreaks are and will remain a factor for the SA ostrich industry, but there is not currently an upswing in infections, SA Ostrich Business Chamber (SAOBC) CEO Piet Kleyn said this month.“The source of AI is wild birds, and there’s nothing we can do about that. There isn&rs ...more

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (16 April 2025) – The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, requested the Department of Agriculture to urgently give attention to the needed action plans and steps to ensure inroads are made to effectively curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Kwazulu-Natal.During a recent visit to KwaZulu-Nat ...more

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (21 February 2025) – The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, accompanied by the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture, T.P. Madlopha-Mthethwa and industry role-players met with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini at the eMashobeni Royal Palace in Nongoma to discuss the ongoing challenges posed by Foot and Mouth Disea ...more

Pretoria, Gauteng, SA (08 August 2024) – Following the recent outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma Municipalities of the Eastern Cape, the Department of Agriculture is committed to providing ongoing updates and ensuring effective measures are in place to manage the situation.Engagement with Farmers an ...more

TLU SA had positive and constructive discussions with the new Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, on Tuesday morning.TLU SA attended the meeting this morning alongside other organisations where the main challenges in the agricultural industry were discussed. Steenhuisen welcomed the representatives and immediately addressed four ke ...more