Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Roy Jankielsohn MPL and Sesotho soundbite by Jafta Mokoena MPL
The Free State Government has not provided any SAPS training on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control, and has not enforced any fines or charges for the unlawful movement of animals. The DA condemns this complacency while the province faces a significant spike of 107 new incidents between 24 April and 8 May 2026.
This brings the total of FMD incidents in the Free State to 559. On 2 March, the number was 277, implying a 282 increase in incidents since then. This surpasses the second-largest FMD province of KZN, which had 333 incidents on 8 May 2026. The national Department further indicated that the Free State was allocated 837 912 vaccines but has only reported 510 194 animals vaccinated, leaving a surplus of 327 718 vaccines. Dairy cattle have been affected with the most severe symptoms, and the Free State has vaccinated 15,104 dairy cattle, which should be the entire provincial dairy herd.
While the national Department is responsible for the supply of vaccines, provinces are constitutionally mandated to provide veterinary services, placing the onus on them to ensure that animals in their provinces are vaccinated. The Free State Legislature Portfolio Committee responsible for agriculture recently met with livestock farmers in QwaQwa and was informed that the entire area is infected and that there is no movement control of cattle across the provincial border with KZN or the border with Lesotho. Fezile Dabi and Thabo Mofutsanyana remain the two most infected districts in the Free State.
In reply to a question by the DA in the Free State Legislature, the MEC responsible for Community safety, Roads and Transport, Mr Jabu Mbalula, indicated that SAPS members have not received FMD training and that a WhatsApp group has been established with affected role players. The reply further indicates that the SAPS in the two most affected districts have been instructed to assist with patrols in the affected areas. So far, no individuals have been fined or charged for the unlawful movement of infected animals, while livestock are transported daily within the province and across the province’s borders. Municipalities have so far done little through local law enforcement to assist with the situation, and the provincial disaster management centre remains dysfunctional due to the lack of resources and support.
Compared with the COVID-19 response, there appears to be deliberate complacency among provinces outside the Western Cape regarding FMD responses. The DA in the Free State will continue to monitor the Free State’s measures to prevent and control FMD and ensure oversight over the provincial and local government’s as well as the SAPD’s lethargy regarding FMD.