South African farmers, particularly in the red meat industry, are demanding urgent accountability from industry bodies over funds meant to combat foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Despite years of contributing statutory levies, farmers report persistent outbreaks across the country with little transparency on how the money is being spent. With 274 unresolved outbreaks across five provinces and limited vaccine availability, the crisis is intensifying.
Attorney Annelise Marx, representing affected producers, stated that the industry must provide clear answers.
“Our clients are paying statutory levies of R14.33 per head of slaughtered cattle, earmarked specifically for the monitoring and prevention of foot-and-mouth disease. Yet, outbreaks continue to occur, and export markets remain restricted,” Marx said.
The ongoing FMD outbreaks threaten local livestock health and carry significant economic implications. South Africa’s red meat industry relies heavily on export markets, which are often close to affected areas, straining producers already facing rising operational costs.
Farmers argue that without full transparency on fund allocation and more efficient disease control measures, the cycle of outbreaks will persist, threatening the entire livestock sector’s sustainability.
Industry bodies have yet to respond publicly to the latest demands, though officials have previously cited logistical and supply challenges in vaccine distribution as key obstacles.
Experts warn that addressing both fund accountability and vaccine accessibility is critical to preventing further spread of FMD and safeguarding South Africa’s red meat export markets.
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