A new foot and mouth disease outbreak has been confirmed in the Free State, pushing the national total to 270 cases across five provinces, according to the Department of Agriculture.
Latest Outbreak in Moqhaka Municipality
The latest case was detected on a commercial farm in Moqhaka Local Municipality, within the Kroonstad state veterinary region. The department confirmed the outbreak on Monday, 15 July.
“Trace-back activities are underway to find the source of infection,” said the department. “Surveillance is ongoing within a 10km radius to assess the potential spread.”
Provinces Affected by Foot and Mouth Disease
As of July 2025, a total of 270 foot and mouth disease outbreaks have been reported in South Africa:
- KwaZulu-Natal: 191 outbreaks (172 still active)
- Eastern Cape: 40 outbreaks (38 still active)
- Gauteng: 32 outbreaks
- North West: 4 outbreaks
- Mpumalanga: 3 outbreaks
Only 21 outbreaks have been resolved, while 249 remain active.
Even High-Security Farms Affected
Among the affected sites is Karan Beef’s massive feedlot in Gauteng — the largest in the world and known for strict biosecurity standards. The spread to such facilities highlights the severity of the current foot and mouth disease crisis.
Industry Concerns and Market Impact
The outbreak is a major blow to South Africa’s livestock industry and raises urgent concerns about national biosecurity readiness. While some worry about rising beef prices, economists suggest the export bans triggered by the outbreaks may increase domestic supply, potentially stabilising or even lowering prices.