Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Riëtte Dell and Sesotho soundbite by David Masoeu MPL.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Setsoto Local Municipality calls for urgent and coordinated action to protect the agricultural sector from the growing risk of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the Ficksburg area.
Agriculture remains one of the most important economic drivers and employers in the region, and an uncontrolled outbreak would have devastating consequences for commercial farmers, emerging farmers, abattoirs, butcheries, agricultural businesses and consumers.
Protecting animal health and ensuring responsible livestock management is therefore essential to safeguarding both local livelihoods and food security.
To address current risks, the DA proposes:
- Establishing a quarantine and pound facility in Ficksburg, ensuring it does not affect surrounding commercial farmers, and working closely with State Veterinary Services and local Farm Associations to support vaccination and cattle traceability. Improve containment facilities, enforce livestock and grazing by-laws, conduct land audits, and remove illegal occupants if necessary.
- Cooperation with State Veterinary Services and local Farm Associations will support targeted vaccination and cattle traceability.
- The DA will work with experts to improve containment facilities and implement practical and sustainable management solutions.
- A review and stricter enforcement of livestock and grazing by-laws is needed, including management of camps and land audits to determine carrying capacity, with removal of illegal occupants where needed.
- Strengthened border monitoring, working with the SANDF, SAPS, and the Department of Agriculture, to prevent uncontrolled livestock crossings.
- The issue of cross-border livestock movement will be escalated to higher levels of government, as municipal efforts alone are insufficient.
The Setsoto Local Municipality hosted a Ficksburg Foot-and-Mouth Disease stakeholder meeting on 26 February 2026 in Ficksburg to discuss prevention strategies and coordination between role players.
The meeting was convened by the Department of Agriculture and attended by local farmers’ associations, emerging farmers, municipal representatives, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the appointed municipal Pound Master, Mr Motsetsele and the State Veterinarian.
The State Veterinarian responsible for Mantsopa and Setsoto, Dr Lerotholi, informed stakeholders that one of the greatest risks to controlling FMD in the region is cross-border livestock movement between Lesotho and South Africa.
Another expert has confirmed that FMD cases have been reported in Lesotho.
Dr Lerotholi confirmed that vaccination programmes have already started, with priority given to dairy farms, farms surrounding buffalo populations and farms located along the international border. He also confirmed that moving impounded animals from Ficksburg to Ladybrand is currently not feasible due to disease control protocols prohibiting livestock movement.
During the meeting, the Pound Master confirmed that the SANDF recently stopped approximately 120 cattle from crossing the Caledon River into South Africa, highlighting the scale of the challenge. Individuals attempting to prevent uncontrolled livestock crossings have reportedly received threats.
Concerns were also raised regarding the management of municipal grazing land, camps and livestock agreements, which may contribute to the ongoing problem of roaming cattle. Local farmers’ organisations estimate that approximately 22,000 cattle are present in the Ficksburg farming area.
The DA will therefore urge the municipality to seek legal action against owners whose cattle continue to roam in town and to formally escalate the matter of border control to higher levels of government.
We remain committed to practical solutions, responsible governance and safeguarding the livelihoods of both commercial and emerging farmers who operate within the law.