Agri Western Cape (AWC), the Red Meat Producers’ Organisation Western Cape (RPO WC), and the Western Cape Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services have banded together to activate the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) that is coordinating disease-control activities in the province.
“The [vaccinated] animals are now undergoing a mandatory 14-day observation period, after which they may be slaughtered but only at an approved abattoir, provided no new symptoms appear,” the organisation said in a statement.
The vaccination of these animals forms part of the Western Cape’s urgent response to the first confirmed outbreak of FMD recorded in the province, detected after the movement of cattle from the province to the Free State raised suspicion, prompting the affected Gouda farm to be placed under quarantine on 1 November.
On 6 November, laboratory tests confirmed a positive FMD result, triggering widespread surveillance and control actions across multiple farms, and two additional farms in Velddrif and Bredasdorp were also placed under quarantine due to potential animal movements linked to the Gouda farm.
In its latest FMD update on 14 November, RMIS said there is currently no evidence of spread of FMD from the Gouda area in the Western Cape.
“The response of WC veterinary services, farming communities, police, and metro officers has been noteworthy,” RMIS said in a statement.
RMIS added that although FMD has not been classified as endemic, it has become widespread and continues to spread as infected animals are moved from one area to another.
Agri Western Cape manager for legal services, Louis Wessels told Farmer’s Weekly that the JOC is overseeing monitoring, data collection, patrols and communication with producers.
According to Wessels the 10km biosecurity control zone remains in effect for as long as the area is under quarantine and checkpoints have been established at strategic locations, and the public is being informed about the situation through various communication channels, he said.
“Stakeholders of the Joint Operations Centre, responsible for implementing the plan to control the movement of animals in and out of the foot-and-mouth disease quarantine area around Gouda, held their second official meeting on Thursday.
“We are pleased to report that all stakeholders continue to fully support the plan. We are also glad to confirm that the three static vehicle control points on the main routes in and out of the area remain staffed by the Provincial Department of Traffic, and that they are effectively managing the inflow and outflow of animals,” Wessels said.
He said the smaller access routes to the quarantine area are being patrolled by members of the South African Police Service, as well as private security companies.
“This ensures that only authorised animals, with the correct documentation, may enter or leave the area.”
He said those transporting animals are reminded to keep all required documentation on hand, including the owner declaration, receiver declaration for livestock, and certificates issued under Sections 6 & 8 of the Stock Theft Act.
He added, “In the coming days, the focus will remain on continued monitoring, strengthening of control points, and further awareness among producers and the public. Contact numbers for responsible role players have been made available to all relevant parties.”
Wessels called on all stakeholders to act responsibility and to “ensure that we do not place our red-meat industry at further risk”.
“AWC and RPO WC make a serious appeal to all livestock farmers to implement strict biosecurity measures on their farms and to follow all official protocols. This cooperation remains vital to effectively contain and ultimately eradicate the outbreak.”
“We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the stakeholders – especially the Department of Veterinary Services, which is the lead organisation in this plan and is responsible for managing the state-controlled disease, foot-and-mouth disease. We also value the contributions of organised agriculture in the Western Cape, the Provincial Department of Traffic, local municipalities and law-enforcement officers, producers, as well as the South African Police Service,” Wessels told Farmer’s Weekly.
He urged all stakeholders to tighten their biosecurity practices and ensure that every animal movement into or out of the quarantine zone is promptly reported through the department’s online form:AnimalMovementApp
AWC and RPO WC have also introduced a free traceability platform in the Western Cape, available to all livestock producers, that integrates seamlessly with existing herd management tools to help farmers track and verify the movement of their animals.
