Confirmed Foot-and-Mouth disease outbreak in Setsoto needs immediate action and coordination

Issued by Cllrs. José Coetzee and Riëtte Dell – DA Councillors Setsoto Municipality
11 Nov 2025 in Press Statements

Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Riëtte Dell and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Setsoto requested the municipality to be part of the coordinated response to the confirmed outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) at Sparta Beef’s cattle feeding facility in Marquard and its Alma farm near Clocolan.

This marks the first officially confirmed case of FMD in the Setsoto municipal area since 2022. This development could have far-reaching consequences for the region’s agricultural economy and food-production chain.

The Free State Veterinary Services have initiated containment and vaccination in accordance with national veterinary protocols. In response, the DA Setsoto Caucus has notified the Setsoto Municipality to assist urgently by:

  1. Alerting the Pound Master and Traffic Department in Marquard to monitor all cattle movement within and around the quarantine zone;
  2. Ensuring coordination of the municipality with SAPS and Provincial Veterinary Services to enforce livestock movement restrictions; and
  3. To provide clear communication to small-scale and communal farmers in the Marquard and Moemaneng areas regarding quarantine boundaries, disinfection requirements, and reporting procedures.

In 2022, the DA Setsoto Caucus issued a public warning that porous border control, unregulated cattle movement, and weak biosecurity enforcement created ideal conditions for FMD to reach and spread in the Setsoto area.

At the time, we cautioned that a single positive case could devastate local farmers through compulsory slaughter, export restrictions, and severe economic loss.

The current outbreak could severely affect both communal and commercial farmers. Cattle movement restrictions, slaughter regulations, and stringent biosecurity requirements will further strain already fragile rural economies in Marquard and Clocolan.

We will continue to monitor the situation.

A coordinated response between veterinary services, law enforcement, and municipal departments is essential to limit the spread and safeguard the livelihoods of local farmers.