Livestock industry leaders have expressed growing confidence in South Africa’s national foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) control strategy following the first meeting of the newly established FMD Industry Coordination Council on 21 January.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly after the meeting, Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the Milk Producers’ Organisation (MPO), said he was encouraged by the calibre and depth of expertise represented on the council.
“The members are passionate industry specialists, and I’m confident their collective knowledge will provide the operational insight and strategic guidance needed to develop a workable strategy with a fast-tracked rollout,” he said.
A press release issued by the Ministry of Agriculture stated that the council was appointed by Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen and forms part of a three-way structure, described as a ‘triangular partnership’, underpinning the national FMD response. This triangle comprises the Department of Agriculture (DoA), the Technical and Scientific Task Team, and the FMD Industry Coordination Council.
The DoA will be responsible for policy, regulatory oversight, and resourcing, while the task team will provide scientific, veterinary, epidemiological guidance. The council’s role is to translate these policies and technical recommendations into coordinated, practical action across the livestock industry.
For farmers on the ground, this structure is intended to result in clearer communication, faster feedback between industry and government, and better alignment between regulatory requirements and on-farm realities.
It also creates a formal channel for industry concerns to be incorporated into decision-making, while ensuring farmers receive consistent guidance on vaccination readiness, biosecurity protocols, traceability systems, and livestock movement compliance.
In practical terms, the council’s work should help to reduce uncertainty around disease-control rules and improve preparedness at farm level, particularly as traceability and audit-ready record-keeping become increasingly important for the legal movement of livestock and future market access, the statement read.
The council comprises the following members:
- Johann Kotzé, CEO of AgriSA
- Bennie van Zyl, general manager of TLU SA
- Theo Boshoff, CEO of Agbiz
- Frikkie Maré, CEO of the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation
- Fanie Ferreira, CEO of the MPO
- Marlene Louw, CEO of the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation
- Bongani Msimang, CEO of the African Farmers Association of South Africa
- Kobus Bester, livestock industry leader
- Dewald Olivier, CEO of Red Meat Industry Services
The council will meet weekly to consolidate industry input and present unified recommendations to government and the task team as implementation of the national FMD strategy intensifies.
