Mpumalanga MEC for Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs Ms Khethiwe Moeketsi will mark the start of a robust Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccination campaign at a communal livestock farm in Balfour, Dipaleseng Local Municipality on Friday, 13 February 2026. This marks the start of a mass FMD vaccination to be rolled out to other Districts henceforth, in a quest to curb any further spread of the disease. This after a sizable number of FMD vaccine doses were made available to the province, allowing for the campaign to start in earnest.
MEC Moeketsi will join the Department's Veterinary Services teams as they embark on the vaccinations in Balfour, which has been identified as the epicentre in the province with about 35 confirmed FMD outbreaks. The Gert Sibande District is the most affected in the province, with over 149 confirmed outbreaks. FMD is one of the contagious livestock diseases affecting Cattle, Sheep, Goats and Pigs.
The FMD vaccinations starts at a time after MEC Moeketsi officially welcomed a group of 21 Compulsory Community Service (CCS) Veterinarians, who have been deployed to all State Vet facilities available in all municipalities. The 12-month long CCS programme aims at bringing veterinary services closer to far flung rural communities, benefitting both livestock farmers and pet owners alike.
It is against this background that media houses are invited to cover the kickstart of the campaign scheduled as follows:
Venue: Siyafuya Communal Kraal, Siyathamba Location
Balfour, Dipaleseng Local Municipality
Date: 13 February 2026 (Friday)
Time: 09h00
ENDS...
Issued by The Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs.
Contact: Ms Zanele Shabangu (Head: Communication Services) 013 766 6133 / 072 089 9556 or Ms Lerato Theko (MLO) on 079 874 3300.