The Department of Agriculture has confirmed a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak on a commercial farm in Moqhaka Local Municipality, Free State. The outbreak, verified on 10 July 2025, prompted swift action by veterinary officials who had already placed the affected farm under quarantine two days earlier.
Control measures, including vaccination and ongoing surveillance, are in full effect. Farms within a 10-kilometre radius are being monitored to assess the possible spread of the disease. Investigations are underway to determine the source of the infection through trace-back activities.
This latest incident adds to a total of 270 FMD outbreaks reported across five provinces. KwaZulu-Natal remains the hardest hit, with 191 outbreaks—172 still active and 19 resolved. Gauteng has recorded 32 outbreaks since May 2025, the Eastern Cape 40 (with no new cases since September 2024), the North West has four unresolved cases, and Mpumalanga has reported three outbreaks.
In addition, the Department has issued a correction regarding its recent Disease Management Area (DMA) notice published in Government Gazette Notice 6396 of 4 July 2025. The notice, which repealed an earlier one from March, omitted several areas in KwaZulu-Natal that remain under DMA classification. These include local municipalities such as Big Five Hlabisa, Mtubatuba, Nongoma, Ulundi, Jozini, Abaqulusi, and others within the affected zone.
The Department has apologised for any confusion caused and urges all stakeholders, including farmers, transporters, and traders, to familiarise themselves with the corrected DMA boundaries and adhere strictly to disease control protocols.
The Department continues to monitor the situation closely and remains committed to preventing the further spread of the disease through science-based interventions and strict biosecurity enforcement.
