Media Alert: Portfolio Committee on Agriculture To Be Briefed by Mecs on Provincial Responses to Foot-And-Mouth Disease

Press Releases

Parliament, Monday, 3 August 2026 – The Portfolio Committee on Agriculture will, over the next two days, receive briefings from Members of the Executive Council (MECs) responsible for Agriculture and senior provincial officials on the implementation of interventions to contain Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and the rollout of the national vaccination programme across all nine provinces.

The meetings form part of the committee’s intensified oversight of government’s response to the recent outbreaks of FMD which have had significant implications for livestock production, biosecurity, domestic trade and South Africa’s access to international export markets.

Over the two-day programme, the committee will assess the state of the outbreak in each province, progress in implementing vaccination programmes, disease surveillance and movement control measures, veterinary capacity, support provided to livestock farmers, and intergovernmental coordination in preventing further spread of the disease.

The committee has consistently emphasised that an effective response to the FMD requires coordinated action by national and provincial governments, strengthened veterinary services, improved traceability systems and sustained support for both commercial and communal livestock farmers.

Meeting details for Tuesday are as follows:

Date: Tuesday, 4 August 2026
Time: 09:30 – 17:00
Venue: Committee Room 3062, Third Floor, 90 Plein Street, Cape Town

MECs to brief the committee:

  • Free State MEC for Agriculture, Ms Elzabe Rockman
  • Mpumalanga MEC for Agriculture, Ms Brenda Moeketsi
  • Limpopo MEC for Agriculture, Ms Nakedi Sibanda-Kekana
  • North West MEC for Agriculture, Mr Madoda Sambatha
  • Gauteng MEC for Agriculture, Ms Vuyiswa Ramokgopa

Meeting details for Wednesday are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 5 August 2026
Time: 09:30 – 16:00
Venue: Committee Room 3062, Third Floor, 90 Plein Street, Cape Town

MECs to brief the committee:

  • Northern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Mr Lebogang Motlhaping
  • Eastern Cape MEC for Agriculture, Ms Nonceba Kontsiwe
  • KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Agriculture, Ms Thembeni Mthethwa
  • Western Cape Department of Agriculture, represented by Head of Department Mr Mogale Sebopetsa

Members of the media are invited to attend and report on the proceedings.

ISSUED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMUNICATION SERVICES.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Mr Temba Gubula
Parliamentary Communication Services
Cell: 081 402 3531
Email: tgubula@parliament.gov.za