DA Criticizes Slow Vaccine Rollout in Gauteng as Foot and Mouth Disease Crisis Mounts

The DA in Gauteng demands an accelerated foot and mouth disease vaccine drive, revealing that 150,000 doses are unaccounted for amid new private vaccination rules.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 10:11 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from EWN (Eyewitness News)

A Backlog in Provincial Vaccine Administration

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has raised an alarm over the slow pace of livestock vaccination against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the province. According to the party, while the provincial Department of Agriculture was allocated nearly 300,000 vaccine doses to combat the spread among cloven-hoofed animals, only 133,000 have been successfully administered to date. The DA highlighted that more than 150,000 doses remain unaccounted for, leaving thousands of livestock at risk of infection and potential euthanasia, which would result in devastating financial losses for local farmers.

Court Mandated Reform for Private Vaccination

The provincial backlog coincides with a significant legal shift at the national level. Following a ruling by the Pretoria High Court, the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has been compelled to publish a draft vaccination scheme for public comment. This new policy marks a departure from previous government opposition, as it will allow private farmers to procure and administer vaccines independently. For years, the government resisted private intervention despite a chronic shortage of state veterinarians and persistent logistical challenges in vaccine acquisition. The draft scheme aims to decentralize the process while maintaining strict regulatory oversight.

Impact on the Cattle Industry and Regional Outbreaks

Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal remain among the provinces hardest hit by the current FMD outbreak, which has decimated the cattle industry and severely restricted trade. Although the current vaccines are primarily intended to prevent future outbreaks rather than treat active infections, the slow rollout in Gauteng is seen as a failure in long-term biosecurity management. The DA argued that the lack of urgency from provincial authorities is exacerbating the crisis, as the disease continues to wreak havoc across provincial borders despite ongoing mass vaccination efforts.