19/08/2026
FIGHTING FMD, PROTECTING OUR LIVESTOCK AND FOOD SECURITY
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development continues to intensify efforts to combat Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), with 1.7 million cattle already vaccinated out of an estimated 2.5 million across the province.
On the 18th of August 2026, during the Stakeholder Engagement on Animal Husbandry and Food Security at eMachibini Sportfield in Mtubatuba, MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Hon. Thembeni KaMadlopha-Mthethwa, declared FMD “enemy number one” for the province’s livestock sector.
The MEC emphasised that protecting livestock means protecting farmers’ livelihoods, food security and the future of rural communities.
As part of the engagement, the Agribusiness Development Agency (ADA) and Ntingwe Tea Estate showcased their products.
With vaccination continuing across the province, government, farmers, traditional leaders and communities are urged to work together to ensure that every animal is protected.
