Ngqushwa: Agriculture MEC Nonceba Kontsiwe is spearheading a significant vaccination drive at the Woodlands Dip Tank in Ngqushwa Local Municipality as part of the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture's ongoing efforts to contain the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. This initiative is a part of the province's comprehensive response to the disease that has been affecting parts of the region since late 2025.
According to South African Government News Agency, the FMD outbreak was first confirmed on 23 December 2025, at Bumbane Village in Keiskamahoek, within the Amahlathi Local Municipality. This confirmation led authorities to implement a series of containment measures designed to protect the livestock sector. During her visit, MEC Kontsiwe will assess the progress made in controlling the disease and engage with farmers, veterinary professionals, and industry stakeholders who are actively involved in the response effort.
The visit also aims to reinforce support for livestock farmers and acknowledge the efforts of the veterinary teams working on the ground. Earlier this year, the provincial government's intervention provided significant support to the response program. In February, a sum of R55 million was allocated to combat the outbreak, which enabled the department to order approximately 1.05 million vaccine doses.
MEC Kontsiwe is expected to highlight the importance of the latest vaccination milestone and provide an update on the procurement processes linked to the funding received from the provincial treasury. The vaccination campaign is part of a broader strategy to curb the spread of the highly contagious livestock disease, which poses a serious threat to animal health, agricultural production, and market access.
Provincial authorities have reiterated their commitment to collaborating closely with farmers and industry stakeholders to ensure that containment measures remain effective. Additionally, they aim to provide necessary support to livestock farming communities to aid their recovery from the outbreak.