As the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) pandemic tightens its grip in the Gauteng, North West and the Free State provinces,  the impact is spreading far beyond farms, placing pressure on South Africa’s beef industry, food security and jobs across the agricultural economy.
Dr Kaya Myeki from the School of Agricultural Sciences at North-West University (NWU) said the absence of a centralised, real-time livestock disease database makes it difficult to quantify losses in monetary terms. Yet the effects across the livestock value chain are already apparent.

“From breeders to consumers, every node is affected,” Dr Myeki said. “Farmers lose animals, auctioneers face reduced stock, transporters lose income because of movement restrictions, feedlots struggle to secure cattle, abattoirs process fewer animals and output markets receive lower beef volumes.”
He added that linked industries such as feed suppliers and tanneries are also experiencing knock-on effects, while the broader agricultural sector risks job losses and weakened food security.

National containment strategy welcomed
The outbreak has prompted the Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, to announce a national containment strategy aimed at limiting the spread of the disease, strengthening surveillance and prioritising high-risk zones.
Dr Myeki welcomed the approach, saying it reflects a coordinated effort across the livestock value chain.
“The strategy recognises collaboration, control of animal movement, improved monitoring and the importation of high-quality vaccines,” he said. “Combined with skilled human capital, this could protect the national herd, estimated at 14 million cattle, and restore confidence in the industry.”

Rather than focusing on potential obstacles, Dr Myeki stressed the urgency of implementation. “This is a time for action,” he said.
Agility in vaccine development is a necessity.

Looking ahead, he cautioned that FMD remains a complex challenge because viruses adapt and can develop new strains resistant to existing controls.
“The long-term stability of the livestock sector will depend on proactive development of effective vaccines,” he said. “This should be supported by artificial intelligence-based traceability systems and early warning technologies to detect outbreaks before they escalate.”
For consumers, the consequences are likely to be felt at supermarket shelves, particularly in communities already under economic pressure.

“Beef remains one of the most consumed meats in South Africa and plays an important role in food security,” Myeki said. “Reduced supply is likely to push prices higher, forcing households to shift toward cheaper protein sources such as chicken.”
He noted that the outbreak also raises broader questions about the future of diets, including the balance between animal-based and plant-based foods as food systems respond to disease risks and affordability.
As containment efforts unfold, the coming months will test whether South Africa can stabilise its livestock sector while protecting both producers and consumers from the more profound economic shock of a prolonged FMD crisis.

Dr Kaya Myeki