AgriSA welcomes the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) declaring the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak a national disaster.

This declaration reflects the seriousness of the current biosecurity threat facing South Africa’s livestock sector and acknowledges the profound economic, food security, and trade implications of the outbreak.

The livestock industry is a cornerstone of South African agriculture, contributing significantly to food security, export earnings, and value-chain activity across farms, feedlots, abattoirs, processors, transporters and retailers.

“AgriSA’s expectation is that this step creates the enabling regulatory environment required for a better coordinated national response,” says Johann Kotzé, AgriSA Chief Executive Officer.
Producers across affected regions are already experiencing significant financial strain, driven by movement restrictions, delayed market access, increased biosecurity costs, and the inability to sell livestock at optimal times. These impacts extend far beyond the farm gate.

“AgriSA is deeply concerned about the cumulative economic impact if the outbreak is not rapidly contained, particularly for small towns and communities that depend heavily on livestock-related activity,” says Kotzé.

AgriSA also notes the broader reform commitments outlined during SONA, including reforms to rail and road infrastructure, intensified action against organised crime, continued restructuring of the electricity sector, the elevation of water security to national crisis level, and the explicit positioning of agriculture as a priority growth and job-creating sector alongside mining, services and the green economy.

“These interventions are critically important for agriculture,” says Kotzé. “Reliable transport corridors are essential for moving livestock and agricultural products, energy stability underpins production and processing, and tackling organised crime is fundamental to restoring confidence across rural economies and value chains.”

AgriSA confirms that it is a member of the national Industry Coordination Council and has actively engaged the National Disaster Management Centre, the Department of Agriculture, and the Presidency of South Africa over the past few weeks to stress the scale of the FMD crisis and the urgent need for a coordinated national response. AgriSA is also participating in the national task team made up of farmer organisations and technical experts established by the President to manage the FMD outbreak.

In parallel, AgriSA will continue structured weekly consultations with commodity organisations and provincial affiliates to ensure real-time feedback from affected regions informs national response measures.

While government leadership is essential, disease control equally depends on strict compliance at farm level and across the value chain.
AgriSA will continue engaging with government, provincial affiliates, and commodity organisations to ensure that the response is evidence-based, proportionate, and aligned with global animal health standards.

AgriSA, alongside its members, will carefully review the regulations as published in the Government Gazette to assess the practical implications on farms and across the value chain.

Enquiries
Johann Kotzé, AgriSA CEO
+27 79 523 5767
info@agrisa.org.za