Key Takeaways:
- South Africa’s agriculture industry is facing a major crisis due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of animals and the loss of livelihoods for many farmers.
- The government’s vaccine production facility, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), has collapsed, and the government has been forced to import vaccines to combat the crisis.
- R500 million in taxpayer money was allocated to upgrade the OBP facility, but the money has gone missing, and there has been no feedback on the investigation into the missing funds.
- The crisis has had a devastating impact on farmers, with many being forced to shoot their own livestock due to the preventable disease.
- The government’s handling of the crisis has been criticized, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability.
Introduction to the Crisis
The South African agriculture industry is facing one of the biggest crises in its existence, with an unprecedented outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that began in 2021 and reached levels of national disaster in 2025. The disease has resulted in the deaths of thousands of animals and the loss of livelihoods for many farmers. The crisis has been exacerbated by the collapse of the government’s vaccine production facility, Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), which has forced the government to import vaccines to combat the outbreak. However, these vaccines require additional doses and are not being rolled out fast enough to combat the crisis.
The Impact of the Disease
The foot-and-mouth disease has had a devastating impact on farmers, with many being forced to shoot their own livestock due to the preventable disease. The disease can cause weight loss, hooves and teats blistering and rotting, mastitis, and death in animals. Veterinarian Andy Lund described the current situation, saying, "We are seeing animals where the hoof wall peels off completely. They are walking on bone. That is not survivable." The mental toll on farmers who have to shoot their own livestock is also devastating, with many feeling helpless and frustrated by the government’s handling of the crisis.
The Collapse of OBP
The OBP facility was once a world-class vaccine production facility, but it has collapsed due to a lack of investment and maintenance. The facility was built in 1980, and by 2013, it was deemed outdated and in need of an upgrade. However, despite R500 million in taxpayer money being allocated to the revamp, the upgrade never happened, and the facility continued to decline. The Democratic Alliance has commented that "it is clear that something untoward is going on at OBP, and this investigation into OBP is therefore welcomed." However, over a year and a half since the investigation was launched, there has been no feedback on the investigation and the missing money.
Government Response
The government’s response to the crisis has been criticized, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability. Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has kept silent on his Department’s missing R500 million, which could have prevented the current situation. When asked about the missing money, Steenhuisen said that one should look at the other developments in the South African political landscape, suggesting that the money may have been lost due to corruption. The government’s handling of the crisis has been further criticized by the opposition, with ActionSA MP Athol Trollip saying that the government’s failure to upgrade the OBP facility has had devastating consequences for farmers.
Conclusion
The foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in South Africa has had a devastating impact on the agriculture industry, with thousands of animals dying and many farmers losing their livelihoods. The collapse of the OBP facility and the government’s handling of the crisis have been widely criticized, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability. The missing R500 million allocated to upgrade the facility remains unaccounted for, and the government’s failure to investigate and provide feedback on the matter has added to the frustration and anger of farmers and the opposition. As the crisis continues to unfold, it is clear that urgent action is needed to prevent further suffering and to ensure that those responsible for the crisis are held accountable.