Mapaballo Borotho

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has issued a warning that anyone who moves cloven-hoofed livestock without a permit will face criminal prosecution.
Speaking in Heidelberg on Monday, he highlighted the government’s intensified efforts to curb the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
Foot and Mouth disease is a highly contagious virus that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as pigs, sheep, and cattle. The virus belongs to the aphthovirus genus.
Today, I along with the Gauteng MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development are at Karan Beef Feedlot to witness the vaccination of cattle as part of our fight against foot-and-mouth disease. pic.twitter.com/o5NkElrWBF
— John Steenhuisen MP (@jsteenhuisen) June 23, 2025
This outbreak has had a significant impact on the beef industry, with confirmed cases reported in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and the North West.
Minister Steenhuisen, alongside Gauteng Agriculture Minister Vuyiswa Ramokgopha, observed the vaccination process of cattle at Karan Beef, which is the epicenter of the disease in Gauteng.
In response to the outbreak, the government has announced a state vaccination rollout plan. The Department of Agriculture has secured over 900,000 vaccine doses from the Botswana Vaccine Institute.
Officials stated that this vaccination drive aims to contain the current outbreak and strengthen long-term prevention efforts.
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