South Africa’s R1.3 billion problem is getting worse

South African authorities are raising concerns about new foot-and-mouth disease cases that threaten the country’s livestock and game industries.

This comes as cattle farmers continue to reel from one of the worst outbreaks in the nation’s history. 

The epidemic was declared a national disaster earlier this year, resulting in export bans and substantial losses for cattle farmers.

A country-wide, state-sponsored vaccination drive is starting to take effect, but the disease now appears to be spreading to wildlife across several regions, officials at the Department of Agriculture told lawmakers on Tuesday.

The largest number of outbreaks in wildlife have been reported in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in the country’s east and Limpopo in the north, near the iconic Kruger National Park – South Africa’s oldest game reserve.

The disease occurs naturally in the wild and is present in Kruger’s buffalo herds. The officials said they have seen cases in Roan antelope, sable, kudu, and buffalo.

They told lawmakers that more than 14 million cattle – representing over 90% of the national herd – have been vaccinated this year.

However, both national and provincial agriculture departments warned they can no longer sustain the financial burden of procuring vaccines.

The department estimates South Africa will need approximately 15 million vaccine doses per year going forward to keep the outbreak under control.

It requested R1.3 billion from the National Treasury for the 2026/27 financial year.

In October’s midterm budget, Treasury announced that R423.4 million would be reprioritised within the Department of Agriculture for 2026/27.

This came alongside a rollover of R183 million from the previous financial year to support the ongoing vaccination campaign.