Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak Hits Merafong Amid Nationwide Livestock Crisis

Karen Scheepers
Oct 9
5 min read

A serious Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak has hit livestock herds across parts of the Merafong City Local Municipality, with the Losberg area near Fochville currently the worst affected. State veterinarians have confirmed multiple cases and begun emergency vaccination and quarantine procedures, but vaccine shortages are hampering progress.

Outbreak Confirmed in West Rand/Carletonville

According to Dr Nomkhosi Cele, a State Veterinarian based in Randfontein, several cattle have tested positive for FMD, including both free-ranging and kraal-confined animals. The disease affects cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs, causing painful mouth and hoof sores, drooling, and lameness.

The Losberg area has been placed under veterinary surveillance, and livestock movements in and out of the affected zones are restricted. Residents and farmers are urged to report any suspicious animal symptoms immediately.

16 Farms Infected Across the West Rand

By late September, 16 properties in the West Rand district were confirmed to have FMD, including:

🐄 6 communal kraals
🚜 4 commercial farms
🏡 Several smaller holdings

According to Jaco Taute, Chairperson of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation (RPO), the outbreak was traced back to cattle purchased at a livestock auction, a reminder of how quickly FMD can spread through trading networks.

All infected properties have been placed under strict quarantine, and teams are tracing any recent animal movements to prevent further spread.

Testing, Vaccination, and a Shortage of Vaccines

State veterinary teams began testing and vaccinating livestock in and around Merafong immediately after the outbreak confirmation. Animals that were exposed or nearby are receiving emergency doses, with follow-up boosters planned in three to four weeks. Vaccinated cattle are branded with an ‘F’ for traceability and monitoring.

However, the limited vaccine supply poses a major challenge. South Africa’s Department of Agriculture recently imported 900,000 vaccine doses from the Botswana Vaccine Institute, costing roughly R72 million. The vaccines are being distributed to priority areas across the country, including the West Rand and North West province, under police escort due to their critical importance.

In the long term, the Department has announced plans to build a local FMD vaccine production facility, expected to produce 200,000 doses annually by March 2026. This would reduce South Africa’s dependence on imports and allow faster responses to future outbreaks.

The North West and Beyond: A Widening Crisis

The Merafong outbreak is part of a broader national crisis. By September 2025, the Department of Agriculture reported 274 active outbreak sites across five provinces. The North West, which borders Merafong, recorded 26 outbreak sites, particularly around Potchefstroom, Ventersdorp, and Rustenburg.

Earlier in 2025, outbreaks were confirmed in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, and Free State, mostly traced back to livestock auctions and interprovincial cattle movement.

In May, the country’s largest feedlot, Karan Beef in Heidelberg, suspended operations after more than 2,000 animals showed symptoms. Later, outbreaks reached the North West, with cases detected on farms in JB Marks Municipality (Potchefstroom) and an abattoir in Madibeng.

Each infected site was immediately quarantined, and emergency vaccination campaigns were rolled out.

National Response and Prevention Measures

South Africa has faced recurring FMD challenges since losing its FMD-free zone status in 2019. Recent flare-ups have pushed authorities to rethink national disease control strategies.

Key measures now in place include:

🚫 Quarantine and movement bans for all infected farms.
🧬 Genetic tracing and surveillance testing in high-risk areas.
💉 Ring vaccination campaigns around confirmed cases.
🐖 Mandatory 28-day isolation for new livestock purchases before joining herds.

The government also convened a national “FMD Bosberaad” in July, bringing together over 400 agricultural experts, farmers, and veterinarians to strengthen South Africa’s Progressive Control Pathway strategy. The aim is to contain the outbreak, stabilize trade, and eventually restore the country’s FMD-free export status.

Economic Fallout: Farmers and Exports Under Strain

Although Foot-and-Mouth Disease is not harmful to humans, its economic consequences are devastating.

Meat exports have been suspended, with China halting all imports of South African cloven-hoofed animals and beef products earlier this year.
Movement bans have disrupted cattle sales, leaving farmers unable to sell stock or attend auctions.
Consumers may face higher meat prices, while producers lose income.

The Red Meat Producers’ Organisation warned that ongoing restrictions threaten the viability of both smallholder and commercial farms. Without swift containment, the industry could lose hundreds of millions in revenue.

Regional Coordination: North West and Gauteng Join Forces

Veterinary teams from Randfontein, Potchefstroom, and Ventersdorp are coordinating testing and vaccination in border zones between Merafong (Gauteng) and Dr Kenneth Kaunda District (North West). This regional approach ensures shared resources, communication, and rapid response where outbreaks overlap.

North West authorities have also intensified farm inspections and abattoir surveillance, following confirmed infections in Ventersdorp and Madibeng earlier this year.

Farmers in the West Rand and North West regions are being urged to report symptoms such as:

Excessive drooling or salivation 💧
Blisters on the tongue or hooves 🐾
Limping or sudden difficulty walking 🚶‍♂️
Loss of appetite or reduced milk yield 🥛

Any suspected cases must be reported immediately to the local State Veterinarian and animals must not be moved or sold.

Food Safety and Public Reassurance

Authorities emphasise that FMD does not affect humans and cannot be transmitted through food. Beef, milk, and pork from inspected and approved facilities remain safe for consumption.

All meat from affected zones undergoes strict inspection and, when necessary, heat treatment to eliminate any potential viral risk. The public is advised not to panic or avoid buying local meat, as the threat is purely animal-based.

Timeline of the 2024–2025 Outbreak

📅 Late 2024 – Initial cases reported in KwaZulu-Natal.

📅 Feb 2025 – Spread to Mpumalanga via infected auction cattle.

📅 May 2025 – Major outbreak at Karan Beef, Heidelberg, Gauteng.

📅 June 2025 – First confirmed cases in North West (Potchefstroom/Ventersdorp).

📅 July 2025 – Free State reports first FMD case near Kroonstad.

📅 Aug 2025 – Government imports 900,000 vaccine doses from Botswana.

📅 Sept 2025 – Merafong outbreak confirmed; 16 farms infected in West Rand.

📅 Oct 2025 – Containment ongoing; vaccine shortages persist; new regulations enforced.

Looking Ahead

Experts remain cautiously optimistic that the outbreak curve is stabilizing, though vigilance remains critical. The planned local vaccine plant, better auction traceability, and farmer awareness campaigns are expected to strengthen long-term disease control.

For now, success depends on community cooperation and continued government transparency. Farmers, veterinarians, and consumers all have a role to play in restoring South Africa’s livestock health and protecting its agricultural economy.