An agreement has been reached following litigation in the agricultural sector that permits farmers to conduct private vaccinations against foot-and-mouth disease. This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture, Willie Aucamp.
Details of the Agreement and Negotiations
The agreement was concluded with representative organizations of the farming sector after legal action. Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp noted that this resulted from prolonged negotiations concerning the management of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. These negotiations took place on Thursday, July 9, 2026, in Pretoria, and included three applicants: Sakeliga, South African Agri Initiative (SAAI), and Free State Agriculture, as well as other respondents.
Aucamp emphasized that this agreement is a significant step forward for the stability of the country's agricultural sector. He stated that it is a victory not only for the participating parties but also for all South African farmers, as this sector contributes substantially to job creation and the country's GDP.
Conditions for Private Vaccination
The main condition of the agreement is the ability of cattle owners and managers to voluntarily vaccinate their livestock against foot-and-mouth disease. This procedure must be carried out in accordance with specific biosecurity requirements, legal regulations, and conditions, including traceability and reporting.
Aucamp added that this agreement demonstrates the government's willingness to cooperate with the private sector, as the government cannot handle this task alone. Therefore, they intend to continue working with all industry and private sector participants in combating the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Change in Vaccine Import Policy
The Minister reported that it is now necessary to allow the private sector to import in large volumes. For this reason, the Department and Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) have officially waived exclusive rights to import and/or distribute foot-and-mouth disease vaccines.
The applicants also expressed gratitude for the successful conclusion of this matter and pledged to continue cooperating with the Department in resolving the foot-and-mouth disease crisis.
Reaction from Political Figures
Willie Aucamp thanked all participants in the legal process for their constructive and solution-oriented approach, noting that this stage is just the beginning. The main priority will now be the effective implementation of these decisions.
Jan de Villiers, national press secretary for the Democratic Alliance, stated that Minister Aucamp's announcement regarding the government relinquishing full state control over vaccine import and distribution opens the way for private entities and farmers to purchase and vaccinate their livestock, which is a turning point. He noted that the Department of Agriculture, under Minister Aucamp and OBP, has officially waived exclusive rights to import and/or distribute foot-and-mouth disease vaccines.
De Villiers also stressed that cattle owners and managers can now voluntarily vaccinate their livestock against foot-and-mouth disease, provided that biosecurity, traceability, and reporting rules are followed. The DA welcomes the agreement between the Department of Agriculture, SAAI, Sakeliga, and Free State Agriculture, as it will allow the private sector to acquire and distribute foot-and-mouth vaccines.
De Villiers pointed out that the agreement between Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp, SAAI Chairman Theo de Jager, Free State Agriculture President Francois Vilkenn, and Sakeliga CEO Piet le Roux is a big step towards eradicating foot-and-mouth disease. He added that this agreement opens the market and grants private entities the right to import and distribute vaccines, concluding previous legal proceedings. The DA calls on private sector players to begin large-scale importation of these vaccines, noting that Minister Willie Aucamp's urgency, just one week after taking office, demonstrated his clear intention to prioritize the needs of South African farmers.
Piet le Roux, CEO of Sakeliga, opined that this is a good resolution to the legal process. He noted that the goal of the litigation was to ensure that farmers could obtain and apply vaccines, which has been achieved through the agreement. He thanked all parties involved in the agreement and wished farmers success in the fight against foot-and-mouth disease.
