In an effort to curb the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) by stray livestock within the Nelson Mandela Bay area, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality, working with the State Veterinary Services, will introduce a metro-wide Foot and Mouth Disease quarantine programme. The programme will be based at the Municipality’s Animal Pound in Kariega.
Stray livestock continue to pose a risk of spreading the disease within Nelson Mandela Bay. The Municipality’s Environmental Health Sub-Directorate manages the Animal Pound through a recently appointed service provider, who works together with well trained municipal animal control officers. The Sub-Directorate is legally mandated to manage disease outbreaks in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Director for Environmental Health, Dr Patrick Nodwele, confirmed that the programme will commence at the beginning of March 2026. Dr Nodwele said part of the intention of the programme is to protect the livestock of semi-commercial and subsistence farmers whose animals are not kept within strictly controlled areas.
“For us in Environmental Health, it is critical that we move swiftly to curb any spread of the disease. Stray livestock present a serious risk, which is why it is important to implement this programme. Each and every stray animal that is impounded will undergo a quarantine period, including testing for Foot and Mouth Disease, before being handed back to its owner,” said Dr Nodwele.
Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Babalwa Lobishe, said the large-scale programme by the Department of Agriculture, which focuses mainly on commercial farmers, needs to be strengthened at metro level by closing gaps and reducing risks. “We had to introduce a programme that focuses on decreasing the risk, as stray livestock have the potential to spread the disease. With the internal expertise we have, together with the appointed service provider and the State Veterinary Services, we will stretch our resources to cover the entire Metro.
While it is the responsibility of livestock owners to prevent animals from roaming, it is equally our responsibility as government to control the disease and protect those very animals,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe. From the beginning of March, the Environmental Health Sub-Directorate will also embark on a cluster-based community outreach programme aimed at empowering the public about the services offered by the Animal Pound. During these engagements, the Municipality will further provide services such as rabies vaccination and animal sterilisation.
A schedule of community meetings will be shared through community radio stations, local newspapers and municipal social media platforms.
To report stray animals or to contact the Animal Pound, residents are encouraged to call: 070 709 7489 / 041 506 1743
