THE FUSE

South Africa is intensifying its fight against Foot and Mouth Disease with a large-scale national vaccination rollout aimed at protecting livestock and strengthening the agricultural economy. The Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, together with the Member of the Executive Council for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, Khethiwe Moeketsi, will lead the seventh nationwide mass vaccination campaign in Hazyview within the Mbombela Local Municipality. The campaign represents a coordinated government effort to control and eventually eliminate Foot and Mouth Disease across the country. It also highlights the urgency of protecting livestock farmers from economic losses linked to disease outbreaks. The rollout is designed to strengthen national biosecurity systems while supporting long term agricultural productivity.