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Attention broadcasters: Attached English and Afrikaans audioclips by Beyers Smit MP.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) welcomes the Minister of Agriculture's announcements regarding the arrival of the next bulk order of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccines and the decision, that in terms of the Animal Diseases Act, private veterinarians are permitted to register to administer vaccines as part of the national rollout.

John Steenhuisen made these two very important announcements today in Parliament, during the debate on the State of the Nation Address.

These are two significant announcements that will bring much relief to the agricultural sector, and the Country at large, whilst significantly ramping up the efforts to overcome the spread of FMD.

The confirmation that a major shipment of one million vaccines will arrive in South Africa on Saturday 21 February 2026, with further consignments expected from suppliers in Botswana and Turkey, is a critical development in stabilising the country's animal health response.

The securing of diversified vaccine suppliers and the procurement of millions of doses, together with increased local vaccine production at The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) represents a necessary shift away from the historic supply bottlenecks that have constrained South Africa's ability to respond rapidly to an outbreak of this scale.

The announcement that private veterinarians will be able to register, under the Animal Diseases Act framework, to administer vaccines is a pragmatic and welcome policy intervention. Expanding veterinary capacity will significantly improve the speed, reach, and efficiency of the mass vaccination programme, especially in high-risk and high-density livestock areas where state veterinary resources are overstretched.

This approach aligns with what the DA and industry stakeholders have consistently called for: a coordinated, whole-of-society, evidence-based response that leverages both public and private expertise to meet vaccination targets and suppress viral spread.

South Africa's farmers and agricultural workers need certainty, speed, and competence. These announcements are a step in the right direction, now the focus must shift to the Provinces, for the rollout of rapid execution on the ground.

The DA will continue to monitor the rollout of the national strategy, to ensure that all objectives are achieved.