Latest news with #OnderstepoortBiologicalProducts
Daily Maverick
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Agriculture minister calls for private sector partnership to combat foot-and-mouth disease crisis
South Africa's vibrant and diversified agricultural sector faces many challenges including climate change and trade wars, and it can't afford own goals stemming from a lack of vaccines. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has called on the private sector to help finance the procurement of crucial vaccines to contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among cattle and to address other biosecurity concerns that threaten South Africa's agricultural sector. Last week, the Department of Agriculture reported a new FMD outbreak in the Free State, bringing the total to 270 across five provinces in South Africa — a state of affairs that has seen export bans imposed by trading partners and put individual operators in jeopardy, delivering a hammer blow to the livestock sector. In his prepared opening remarks on Monday, 21 July 2025 at an FMD Indaba organised by the department, Steenhuisen noted that 'vaccine availability' was a 'crucial area where the system broke down during the recent outbreak'. 'The national FMD vaccine bank was depleted… As a result, we were compelled to import vaccines from Botswana to mount even a partial response.' Botswana, where cattle are venerated and the commercial livestock sector plays a significant role in the economy, was prepared. South Africa by unflattering contrast got caught with its pants down in the kraal. The stench from this steaming pile of manure leads straight to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the state-run national vaccine facility that was once state of the art but has, in recent years, become another example of state failure. 'We are calling on the livestock industry, especially the red meat, dairy and game sectors, to begin cofinancing vaccine procurement. This does not mean you will manage the vaccines or the cold chains. But it does mean that, like in other agro-industries, we establish structured partnerships that ensure we are not caught unprepared again,' Steenhuisen said. 'The time has come to build a nationally managed but jointly funded vaccine bank, not only for FMD, but for lumpy skin disease, brucellosis, Rift Valley Fever, and all other controlled diseases affecting trade and production.' This echoes other initiatives by the government to involve the private sector in partnerships to address the many challenges undermining South Africa's slow-growth economy. The minister also said that Onderstepoort Biological Products was 'stabilising' (whatever that means) — and that he had appointed two senior veterinarians, Dr Emily Mogajane and Dr Nomsa Mnisi, to develop 'a comprehensive national regionalisation framework'. 'Every credible trading nation in the world understands the principle of regionalisation, that an outbreak in one part of a country should not result in blanket trade restrictions for the entire nation. However, South Africa remains woefully behind in establishing, certifying and maintaining disease control zones that can be recognised by our international partners,' Steenhuisen said. 'Let me be clear: the failure to regionalise is not due to a lack of veterinary science. It is due to a lack of institutional coordination, legal clarity and capacity.' What this means for you There have been concerns that the outbreaks will push up meat prices, bucking the general trend of cooling food inflation. But the export bans are also seen as boosting domestic supplies, which should contain prices. Your braai might just be more affordable than it was two months ago. Having a reliable source of vaccines is in the industry's best interests and it could bring capital to the state's cash-strapped table. Vaccines are absolutely crucial for containing outbreaks of animal disease. For consumers, FMD is not a food safety concern. Other measures outlined in his remarks included a proposal to earmark a portion of statutory levels for research and development. South Africa's vibrant and diversified agricultural sector faces many challenges including climate change and trade wars, and it can't afford its own goals stemming from a lack of vaccines and the certification and isolation of disease control zones. DM
IOL News
16-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Corruption and crime: A recipe for food insecurity in South Africa
The livestock industry contributes about 50% of the agricultural gross domestic product and its hugely important export activities can easily be jeopardised by vaccination shortages. Image: File As much as I do not want to add another voice to the fiasco at the recent White House meeting between Trump and President Cyril Ramaphosa it is a starting point for an article about how corruption, crime and food security end up in a concoction of another disaster for the citizens of the country. Ramaphosa stated, in defense of farm murder and genocide accusations that it is not a unique situation as South Africa has a serious problem with crime at all levels. All crime victims and citizens will agree with that statement, although it is the last thing foreign investors want to hear who at consider us as an investment destination. On August, 27, 2024 Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuizen launched a forensic audit into a R500 million Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) project. OBP, which was founded in 2000, is a state-owned animal vaccine manufacturing entity whose primary mandate is to manufacture animal vaccines. The Auditor General revealed that a substantial portion of a grant given to OBP in 2013 was unspent and unaccounted for. They further highlighted that OBP is not following basic auditing standards. It is a problem at other state entities. A similar case is that of the Road Accident Fund, which refuses to adhere to the instruction from the Auditor General. According to Steenhuisen he is concerned about the OBP project, which has been given R500 million to revamp the facility, as 'A large part of the R500 million went missing and is unaccounted for.' Former Minister of Agriculture Thoko Didiza stated that, 'A forensic report on the utilisation of some of the funds was done, and it enabled the OBP to take some of the concerns of sub-contracting to the Special Investigative Unit.' But this is nothing new. In 2022 vaccine shortages were threatening herd immunity in the livestock due to the outbreak of foot and Mouth disease (FMD). During this period OBP dismissed Dr Baptiste Dungu as its CEO. Dungu, who was appointed in 2019, was accused of corruption and had been on a precautionary suspension up until his dismissal. Investigation into allegations revealed evidence of 'various alleged transgressions including, (but not limited to) allowing or instigating irregular procurement procedures, dishonesty and mismanagement in contravention of OBP's policies and the laws of the Republic of South Africa.' According to Food for Mnzanzi, 'Dungu was dogged by scandal from the start of his tenure. A Congolese national, he was found not to have passed the minimum security standards required for the role. He was also previously employed by the company, up until 2008, but was said to have left under suspicion of using company trade secrets for his own business.' Current FMD crisis In the past four weeks news broke of the outbreak of FMD in beef livestock farms. FMD is a highly contagious illness affecting animals. Livestock farmers warned they may soon go out of business if the government does not support those affected by the preventative measures for FMD. Onderstepoort, however, does not have vaccines available. The disease is not new in South Africa. During the FMD outbreak in 2021, measures taken included the prohibition of slaughtering and transporting livestock. South Africa has a cattle herd of approximately 12.3 million according to Statista and the country that comes to our rescue for vaccines is Botswana with a cattle herd of only 2.3 million. The total cattle population in Ethiopia is a staggering 70 million. South Africa, however, is the largest producers of red meat at 1 038.7 metric tonnes of beef, which is more than double that of Ethiopia. Although the most affected provinces were KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Eastern Cape, the latest news was that the disease was also detected at Karan Beef, South Africa's largest feedlot owner. At their Heidelberg feedlot Karan Beef has as many as 150 000 head of cattle. Although the disease seems to have affected only 2% of the animals the disease is so highly contagious that it may well spread quickly. The livestock industry contributes about 50% of the agricultural gross domestic product and its hugely important export activities can easily be jeopardised by vaccination shortages. According to Zipho Linda, OBP's communications specialist, vaccine supply challenges have been with the entity for the past ten years, 'due to equipment breakdown. Equipment is aged and is currently being replaced.' Before Minister Steenhuizen arrived as the new Minister the problems have been highlighted and brought to the attention of thegovernment. Representatives of the National Animal Health Forum (NAHF) highlighted the dangers of inconsistent vaccine availability in a meeting with former minister Didiza. This included the threat to national herd immunity, food security, income security and the threat of zoonosis, which is the passing of animal diseases on to humans. Daybreak The above crises come in addition to the current Daybreak chicken farm scandal. The Public Invesment Corporation (PIC)has once again not ensured that a proper due diligence was conducted in their acquisition of 100% the broiler farm for purposes of empowering Black farmers. They allowed untrained and unskilled workers to underfeed the 490 000 birds and they allowed inhumane culling practices to take place. As many as 350 000 birds had to be culled. It needs the intervention of the SPCA to bring a court order to halt the transgressions. No one was arrested for the disaster that shames the whole country and we are yet to see accountability from the PIC that squander pensioners money in this manner. Soon these disasters will not be other people's money or other people's cattle it will be the entire nation that will pay the price of food insecurity.
IOL News
12-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Steenhuisen addresses vaccine challenges and the urgent rollout of avian influenza vaccines
South Africa has launched its first national avian influenza vaccination campaign. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives South Africa has launched its first national avian influenza vaccination campaign as part of a sweeping overhaul of its biosecurity system, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen announced this week. Speaking at the Biosecurity Summit at the University of Pretoria, Steenhuisen said the vaccination programme is already underway and supported by veterinary experts from the University of Pretoria and the Agricultural Research Council. 'Vaccines have been secured, cold chain logistics are operational, and we have contracted 50 animal health technicians to support the effort on the ground,' he said. The campaign comes after the devastating 2023 avian influenza outbreak, which triggered widespread food price shocks, supply shortages, and economic losses. Steenhuisen said the response marks a decisive shift from reactive to proactive biosecurity. 'Our approach is no longer about scrambling after a crisis has hit, but it is about building lasting systems that prevent those crises in the first place,' he said. Steenhuisen acknowledged previous failings, including 'delays in vaccine availability; bureaucratic blockages; and insufficient surge capacity when outbreaks occur,' but said these were being addressed through structural reforms and new leadership under Deputy Director-General Dipepeneneng Serage. He was blunt about one of the system's greatest weaknesses: vaccine production. He said performance at Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), the country's main vaccine supplier, has been inadequate. 'It is imperative that Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) improves,' he said. 'There have been backlogs, infrastructure constraints, and missed delivery windows that must not be repeated.' He added that his office has instituted quarterly performance reviews and introduced independent oversight to ensure accountability for OBP. Another major challenge is the shortage of veterinarians. 'Nationally, we require 400 veterinarians. We currently have around 70 in the public system,' he said. To address this, the department is expanding training posts, creating rural internships, and mapping career pathways through the Biosecurity Hub. Steenhuisen also proposed the creation of a National Biosecurity Compact: 'A shared commitment between government, industry, academia, and civil society' that would set baseline vaccine stock levels, clarify outbreak responsibilities, and embed data-sharing protocols. 'This is not about creating more paperwork. It is about getting everyone on the same page before the next crisis hits,' he said.
Daily Maverick
06-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Maverick
Mass vaccination of SA poultry launched, Biosecurity Council set up
Getting a grip on these multiple threats to animal health and welfare and the agricultural economy is vital and the Department of Agriculture is clearly signalling that it is taking a proactive approach. The first mass vaccination of poultry in South Africa is being launched to contain avian flu as the agriculture sector also grapples with a spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease infecting livestock that has been detected at the world's largest feedlot, in Gauteng. The Department of Agriculture also announced that it was establishing a Biosecurity Council as it strives to roll '… out a farm to fork national traceability system for livestock' and said it would upgrade the state-run Onderstepoort Biological Products, the main source of animal vaccines in South Africa that has been plagued in recent years by capacity issues. On the avian flu frontlines, Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said in a statement that the vaccination team 'has received a list of farms to be vaccinated from the poultry industry and is prioritising high-risk areas and commercial flocks to contain the virus and prevent further culling'. Fifty animal health technicians have been roped in with short-term contracts to assist with the vaccination drive. Critically, the minister said that the department had 'secured vaccine supply' and that Onderstepoort Biological Products was being upgraded '… to restore vaccine self-sufficiency'. The Biosecurity Council will comprise the South African Police Service, veterinarians, scientists, the Border Management Authority, and the industry. Getting a grip on these multiple threats to animal health and welfare and the agricultural economy is vital and the department is clearly signalling that it is taking a proactive approach. South Africa's biggest avian flu threat currently is an outbreak in Brazil — the country's biggest external poultry supplier — which led to a ban on imports three weeks ago. Although the ban is unlikely to cause immediate shortages due to lower seasonal demand and available local supply, it has heightened pressure on domestic producers to manage outbreaks and reinforce biosecurity. The South African Poultry Association (Sapa) said in a statement last month that the ban should not lead to shortages and that the industry had the capacity to increase domestic output. Foot-and-mouth outbreak Meanwhile, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock has spread from KwaZulu-Natal to the Highveld, triggering a Chinese ban on imports of South African beef products. This export curb is seen as boosting domestic supplies, and possibly as a result local beef prices may trend lower. But livestock movements in the country are being disrupted and this will have consequences for supply chains. The Department of Agriculture said it had ordered more than 900,000 doses of vaccines to cover KZN, and the first batch was expected to arrive next week. Karan Beef said this week that a case of foot-and-mouth disease had been confirmed at its Heidelberg feedlot — the world's largest, which produces 100 million kilogrammes of beef annually. The company said in a statement that about 120,000 cattle were currently housed at the facility, and about 2% of the herd was infected. 'No animals are entering or leaving the Heidelberg feedlot during this period. Vaccination efforts are pending availability from the state. Once initiated, a 14-day vaccination programme will commence, followed by a 14-day observation period,' Karan Beef said. 'A controlled slaughter-out process will be implemented once vaccinations are complete, under veterinary supervision. No mass culling is planned at this stage.' The outbreak coincides with the peak weaning season, and Karan Beef said this would disrupt national supply chains. 'Farmers may be forced to hold calves longer than usual due to limited feedlot capacity,' it said. The Department of Agriculture has urged all livestock farmers in South Africa to '… limit animal movement as far as possible'. DM What this means for you For now, chicken shortages or major price spikes are unlikely. Local producers say they can plug the gap left by the Brazil ban, and winter demand is typically lower. Beef prices may fall because of the export curb, but domestic supply chain disruptions also loom. The situation underscores how fragile South Africa's food system is — one outbreak, one trade restriction, and supply chains wobble. For farmers, expect tighter biosecurity checks and more scrutiny around livestock movements — especially if you're near outbreak zones.
IOL News
02-06-2025
- Health
- IOL News
South Africa steps up fight against foot-and-mouth disease with R72 million vaccine order
While foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks are under control in other provinces, KwaZulu-Natal remains a critical concern. Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Newspapers Minister of Agriculture, John Steenhuisen, has announced that the government has placed an urgent order for R72 million worth of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines to fight the disease. South Africa has been battling FMD for several months, prompting key trading partners including Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and China to suspend imports of meat and related animal products from the country. Steenhuisen revealed that intensified control measures are showing positive results, with restrictions expected to be lifted soon in disease management areas across two provinces. 'Since 26 July 2024, a DMA has been in place in the Kouga and Kou-Kamma municipalities in the Eastern Cape to control FMD outbreaks. Through a robust vaccination campaign, 144 424 vaccinations were successfully administered,' said Steenhuisen. 'With the last cases reported in September 2024 and extensive serological surveillance confirming no undetected pockets of the disease, movement restrictions in the Eastern Cape DMA will be lifted soon.' In Limpopo, a DMA has been in place since September 2022. 'Two rounds of vaccination saw 23,024 cattle vaccinated across 34 dip tanks,' Steenhuisen said. 'These positive developments highlight the effectiveness of our collaborative control measures and the dedication of all stakeholders involved,' Steenhuisen added. However, Steenhuisen said restrictions in KwaZulu-Natal will remain in place due to continued circulation of the virus. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ While some outbreaks outside the designated area have been contained, the department has also introduced a risk-based system to assess biosecurity on individual farms. Meanwhile, veterinary teams are investigating new cases reported in Gauteng and Mpumalanga. "Funds for the procurement of the vaccine have been transferred to Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP). The procurement process has started, and the next batch of vaccines is estimated to be delivered by mid-June. "This marks a crucial step forward in the department's vaccination strategy. The department has provisionally costed the vaccine requirements for the 2025/2026 financial year at R1,2 billion, with each vaccine estimated at R100 per dose". Commenting ahead of the release of the country's first-quarter GDP data later this week, Wandile Sihlobo, chief economist at the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz), said the livestock sector remains under pressure. "The one area that remains a concern is the livestock industry, primarily due to the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. We have already seen various trading partners temporarily banning South Africa's beef exports due to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak," Sihlobo said. "Given the sizable share contribution of the livestock industry to South Africa's agricultural gross value added, its challenges are something worth reflecting on when considering South African agricultural performance". IOL Business Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel.
