Over the past few months, almost every major farming publication and broadcaster in South Africa has interviewed Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen about the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak. These interviews tend to repeat the same questions and answers, which has left many farmers frustrated.Our newsroom has been flooded with hundreds of emails from real commercial producers across the country—farmers with decades of hands-on experience. They say the interviews rarely ask the tough, practical questions they actually need answered. What they want most is clear information on one key thing: what real financial help is the government actually giving to help them survive this crisis?
Ther promised vaccines arrived- let see what will happen now.
Farmers are angry and worried.
They point out that if effective vaccines were easy to buy directly at co-ops and rural stores without so much government red tape, many well-run farms would have protected their herds long ago and avoided huge losses. Instead, the minister’s responses often focus on biosecurity rules, movement restrictions, reporting requirements, and more paperwork—layers of bureaucracy that delay any possible help rather than deliver it quickly.
Many feel the system seems built to slow things down or block support rather than provide it fast when farmers are bleeding cash. There’s also deep anger about the long-running problems at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), where millions in public money were reportedly mismanaged or “looted” with no real accountability.
Farmers have noticed that some big agribusiness companies, which have made good money from the sector for years, are now stepping in with relief funds (like donations to Saai and similar groups).
They seem to realise that if too many farms go under, it could threaten the country’s overall food security.The overwhelming feeling from farmers in every province is that the current centralised approach—slow vaccine rollout, endless admin hurdles and vague promises—leaves them vulnerable. They want practical fixes like direct access to vaccines, fast financial relief and fewer restrictions on healthy vaccinated herds, but these remain blocked or delayed.
They’re asking media outlets to push harder for straight answers: clear timelines, exact amounts, who qualifies, and how the money will actually reach them—rather than more high-level statements. Without real, tangible support soon, many warn that solid commercial farms will have no choice but to close, with serious knock-on effects for jobs, rural communities and the national food supply.
WEEKEND-VIEWPOINT- South Africa's ongoing (FMD) crisis has indeed created a stark divide within the agricultural sector. 1st February 2026The frustration among South African farmers is reaching boiling point: wherever the government gets deeply involved in agriculture, it's the same old story—endless red tape, meeting after meeting, committee after committee, and one high-level promise after another, but almost nothing practical ever reaches the farm gate when farmers actually need it.
The virus doesn't wait for bureaucracy. Every week of delay means more infected herds, more hidden cases (because farmers fear quarantine more than the disease), more permanent milk losses in dairy, more forced culls in beef, and more families pushed to the breaking point.Many farmers openly suspect things are happening behind closed doors: lingering questions about past mismanagement at OBP, why some importers seem to move faster than others, where public funds are really going, and why simple commercial fixes—like letting farmers buy effective vaccines directly at co-ops—are still blocked by so many hurdles.The message from producers across the country is loud and clear: we don't need more speeches or more committees.
We need vaccines in arms, cash in bank accounts, movement permits processed in days instead of months, and rules that protect healthy vaccinated herds instead of punishing them.The longer this drags on with endless discussions and no real solutions, the more trust breaks down—and the more likely it becomes that serious issues (mismanagement, selective delays benefiting certain players, or worse) will eventually come to light. Right now the feeling is unmistakable: action, not promises. Because promises don't vaccinate cattle, pay school fees, or keep farms alive. Only real, fast, practical help does. And time is running out.
Despite all the delays, red tape, broken promises and centralised bottlenecks from government, South Africa's real commercial farmers aren't sitting back waiting for rescue—they never have.Across provinces, proactive producers, study groups, local committees and farmer organisations have taken matters into their own hands.
They've set up their own biosecurity protocols long before official guidelines arrived, formed closed groups or zones to limit visitors and disinfect vehicles, and monitor herds closely. They share real-time information on suspected cases through WhatsApp groups and private networks when official reporting feels too risky. Forward-thinking ones have secured private vaccine supplies where possible, stockpiled essentials, and built emergency on-farm handling facilities so they don't have to move animals far if trouble hits.
Some are even running their own risk-mapping and early-warning systems with neighbours, because they know the virus doesn't wait for permits or committees.This quiet self-reliance and determination is exactly what has kept many commercial operations afloat so far. These farmers look the crisis straight in the eye, make the hard calls, protect their herds, families and staff, and refuse to let bureaucracy decide their fate. It's why so many good farms are still standing while others are buckling.
They're not waiting for the government to save them—they're saving themselves, their neighbours, and ultimately a big part of South Africa's food supply chain.That's the real story behind the headlines. Our commercial farmers are proving once again why they've always been the backbone: when the system fails, they adapt, organise and survive anyway. And most of the serious ones have already secured themselves as best they can in their own environments. Respect to them.
We need unity against farmers, Agriculture business and the government, but farmers will not settle if they want to be controlled by people who have no practical farming experience.
LAST NOTE -
The interference from those who don’t truly understand farming only makes the fight harder, but it also proves why farmers must keep standing firm: no one else will protect agriculture like the people who actually live it.
When farmers take charge in their own spaces, they don’t just save their herds—they save the backbone of the country. That’s the real power, and it’s why the serious ones are still in the game despite everything. Do not let anybody interfere with you hard work and your passion.
The 21st of February 2026 marks a significant milestone for South Africa with the arrival of one million doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine from Biogénesis Bagó.
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#FMDVaccines 🎥 | FARMERS, THIS MESSAGE IS FOR YOU👩🌾🧑🌾
— National Department of Agriculture (@DOAgov_ZA) February 22, 2026
With FMD vaccines now in the country, Minister John Steenhuisen reassures farmers that help is on the way and that he is fully committed to bringing FMD under control.
💉 Government is moving step by step from crisis… pic.twitter.com/9uVhBI2pIM
