Durban | 06 February 2026 - KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli held a media briefing on Friday, 06 February 2026, outlining the measures being implemented by the Provincial Government of Unity to curb the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in the province. The briefing took place at the Premier’s Office at the Marine Building in Durban.

The Premier was joined by the MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Thembi KaMadlopha, as provincial authorities provided an update on the scale of the outbreak and the coordinated response underway.

KwaZulu-Natal is currently the epicentre of the FMD outbreak in South Africa. With an estimated cattle population of approximately 2.5 million, the province has recorded 207 confirmed cases of the disease, of which 187 remain unresolved.

Addressing members of the media, Premier Ntuli emphasised that the outbreak is having far-reaching social and economic consequences. He noted that food security in the province is under significant strain, while the livelihoods of both commercial and communal farmers are being severely affected. The dairy sector, feedlots, and associated agricultural value chains have also experienced major disruptions.

The Premier further highlighted that the outbreak extends beyond economic considerations, impacting communities that rely on livestock for cultural, traditional and religious ceremonies.

“In addition to the threat posed to food security, livelihoods are at risk,” Premier Ntuli said. “The agricultural sector is a multi-billion-rand industry that employs hundreds of thousands of workers, supporting more than 639,000 dependants. The consequences of this outbreak therefore affect households, communities and the provincial economy as a whole.”

The briefing also underscored the province’s intensified disease-control measures, including movement controls, surveillance, vaccination programmes where applicable, and close coordination between veterinary services, farmers and industry stakeholders.

In closing, Premier Ntuli reiterated the Provincial Government’s full commitment to containing the spread of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, stressing that safeguarding employment, protecting the agricultural economy and ensuring long-term food security remain key priorities for KwaZulu-Natal.