MEC MAKAMU VACCINATES 700 CATTLE IN ZEBEDIELA TO FIGHT THE FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

In a continued show of solidarity in the fight against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), EXCO Member Cllr Octovia Molomo joined the Limpopo MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Basikopo Makamu, at Zebediela Citrus Estate on the 8 September 2026, to oversee the vaccination of 700 cattle belonging to the Bjatladi Communal Property Association (CPA).

The vaccination drive forms part of the province's broader, coordinated response to contain the spread of FMD, which has placed significant pressure on livestock farmers, communal property associations and the agricultural economy across South Africa in recent months.

State veterinary teams were on the ground at Zebediela Citrus Estate to administer the vaccines, working alongside animal health technicians and officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The exercise saw all 700 head of cattle belonging to the Bjatladi CPA inoculated, with movement control and biosecurity measures reinforced on site to prevent further transmission of the disease.

MEC Makamu's presence reaffirmed the provincial government's commitment to protecting livestock, safeguarding farmers' livelihoods and preserving food security in Limpopo.

The vaccination of the Bjatladi CPA's herd at Zebediela Citrus Estate adds to the 941,186 growing number of cattle inoculated across Limpopo as part of this campaign, with authorities continuing to prioritise communal farming areas that are particularly vulnerable to the disease's economic impact.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has reiterated that continued community cooperation, together with strict adherence to biosecurity protocols, remains central to eliminating FMD from the province and restoring Limpopo's disease-free status..