Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has come under renewed pressure after the Pretoria High Court criticised his handling of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis, imposed fresh deadlines, and granted a punitive costs order against him and senior officials.
This week, the court ordered Steenhuisen to publish his delayed section 10 vaccination scheme by May 5 and set May 11 for argument in an urgent application brought by Sakeliga, South African Agri Initiative (SAAI) and Free State Agriculture.
The applicants argue the government has unlawfully obstructed private procurement and administration of FMD vaccines while outbreaks continue to damage the livestock industry.
The latest courtroom setback marks a sharp reversal from March 24, when Steenhuisen publicly welcomed an earlier high court outcome as support for the state’s centralised control of the response.
At the time, Steenhuisen said: “This matter was never simply about access to vaccines. It was about ensuring that South Africa’s response to FMD remains credible, coordinated, and compliant with the legal framework that protects both our national herd and our export markets.”
He also struck a defiant tone, saying: “We will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders. But we will not compromise on the principles that underpin an effective biosecurity system.”
‘Delays frustrating relief’
But farmers returned to court accusing the minister of repeatedly missing deadlines and frustrating urgent relief.
Sakeliga spokesperson Anton Meijer said Steenhuisen and his officials had “again undermined the urgent legal proceedings against their obstruction of private foot-and-mouth disease vaccine procurement and administration. The delay tactics found no favour with the court.”
The court explicitly criticised the minister and fellow respondents, observing that FMD was announced by government to be of national importance and a national emergency.
“It appears as though the first and the second and third respondents are no longer considering it to be of such importance.”
The High Court then granted the minister what Sakeliga described as a final extension to publish the scheme.
Meijer said the punitive attorney-and-client costs order signalled the court’s displeasure with the department’s conduct.
“While the minister persists with his attempt to uphold a government monopoly and resist a parallel private FMD vaccination track, farmers continue to bear losses that the state has neither the will nor the means to prevent.”
Sakeliga said Steenhuisen had already missed multiple undertakings, including commitments linked to January, March, April 17 and April 24.
“The minister’s unlawful obstruction of additional private-sector measures that should already have been deployed at scale and at no cost to the state should be brought to an end.”
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Outbreaks can trigger movement bans, export losses and severe economic strain across the farming sector.
The May 11 hearing now looms as a major test of whether government can defend its monopoly approach while containing a disease it once declared a national emergency.
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- The Pretoria High Court criticized Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen for mishandling the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis, imposed new deadlines, and issued a punitive costs order against him and officials.
- The court ordered Steenhuisen to publish his delayed section 10 vaccination scheme by May 5, with further hearings set for May 11 following an urgent application by farming groups Sakeliga, SAAI, and Free State Agriculture.
- The plaintiffs accuse the government of unlawfully blocking private procurement and administration of FMD vaccines, which they say is worsening livestock industry losses.
- Steenhuisen previously defended the government's centralized approach as necessary for biosecurity and export protection, but farmers claim repeated ministerial delays have frustrated urgent relief efforts.
- The May 11 hearing will test whether the government can maintain its vaccination monopoly while effectively managing the FMD outbreak, declared a national emergency but currently appearing deprioritized by officials.
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has come under renewed pressure after the Pretoria High Court criticised his handling of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) crisis, imposed fresh deadlines, and granted a punitive costs order against him and senior officials.
At the time, Steenhuisen said: “
He also struck a defiant tone, saying: “We will continue to engage constructively with all stakeholders. But we will not compromise on the principles that underpin an effective biosecurity system.”
But farmers returned to court accusing the minister of repeatedly missing deadlines and frustrating urgent relief.
Sakeliga spokesperson Anton Meijer said Steenhuisen and his officials had “again undermined the urgent legal proceedings against their obstruction of private foot-and-mouth disease vaccine procurement and administration.
"It appears as though the first and the second and third respondents are no longer considering it to be of such importance.”
Meijer said the punitive attorney-and-client costs order signalled the court’s displeasure with the department’s conduct.
“While the minister persists with his attempt to uphold a government monopoly and resist a parallel private FMD vaccination track, farmers continue to bear losses that the state has neither the will nor the means to prevent.”
Sakeliga said Steenhuisen had already missed multiple undertakings, including commitments linked to January, March, April 17 and April 24.
“
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Outbreaks can trigger movement bans, export losses and severe economic strain across the farming sector.
Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content
