Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen emphasises the urgency of cross-border cooperation to combat Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Southern Africa.
South Africa and Botswana are scrambling to contain the growing threat of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD), with Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen warning that delays in implementing cross-border disease controls could place livestock industries, agricultural trade and rural livelihoods at serious risk.
The warning came after the two countries endorsed an emergency-focused 2026-2028 Action Plan during the Sixth Session of the South Africa-Botswana Bi-National Commission held in Gaborone on Thursday, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Botswana President Duma Boko.
The agreement prioritises urgent cross-border interventions including coordinated vaccination drives, tighter livestock movement controls, repair and maintenance of border fences and stronger disease surveillance systems in high-risk regions along the shared border.
“With FMD posing an ongoing regional threat to livestock production, rural livelihoods and agricultural trade, it is clear that no country can defeat this disease in isolation,” Steenhuisen said.
