Against this backdrop, Free State Agriculture (FSA) said livestock farmers in the province expect the president to confront the devastating failure that has unfolded in the management of the FMD crisis.

“South Africa once had a world-class laboratory testing and vaccine manufacturing capability. Yet, at the height of a national outbreak in late 2025, the country went more than six weeks without access to vaccines while millions of suitable doses were reportedly available internationally,” said FSA president Francois Wilken.

“At the same time, state laboratories fell behind, with testing delays stretching up to two weeks. During a fast-moving outbreak, a two-week delay is not a technical problem but a systemic failure.” 

The consequences of FMD have been severe, said the organisation. Financial losses running into billions, mounting anxiety among producers, disruption of markets and growing threats to food security and rural livelihoods.

Free State Agriculture needs to hear a recovery plan from president  Cyril Ramaphosa.  Photo: Louis Trichardt SPCA

Wilken emphasised the farming community expects the president to be clear about and decisive about the national recovery plan that includes:

• full and urgent capacitation of the department of agriculture with veterinarians, animal health technicians, operational funding, vaccines, PPE and logistics;
• immediate expansion of laboratory capacity;
• rapid review and implementation of regulations in line with expert recommendations;
• strong enforcement of movement control by the police;
• the responsible opening of vaccine procurement and disease management to the private sector; and
• a credible strategy to drive the virus back into the red zone and restore South Africa’s export credibility.

“This is not about politics; it is about survival. If government cannot act with urgency and coherence in the face of a biosecurity crisis of this magnitude, the consequences will extend far beyond farms – into food prices, employment, trade and the stability of rural South Africa,” said FSA vice president Friedl von Maltitz.

Wilken added: “We will not accept continued inaction, delays, or administrative excuses while livelihoods are destroyed.”

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OFM Agri/Isabel van Tonder dg