DocumentOngoingMedia statement

PRESS RELEASE | MINISTER STEENHUISEN APPOINTS INDUSTRY COORDINATION COUNCIL TO STRENGTHEN FMD RESPONSE

National Agricultural Marketing CouncilRef: https://www.namc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/minister-appoints-industry-coordination-council-to-strengthen-fmd-response-edited.pdf

Official source

Source domain: namc.co.za

Collected on 28 June 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

What this means

This is a media statement/press release dated 21 January 2026 from the South African Ministry of Agriculture. Minister John Steenhuisen formally appoints an FMD (Foot and mouth disease) Industry Coordination Council to support implementation of South Africa’s national FMD strategy, including vaccine distribution, traceability, and disease control readiness. The council is tasked with aligning industry efforts with national FMD control measures and will work in a “triangular partnership” with the Department of Agriculture and the Technical and Scientific Task Team. The statement lists the council members and notes the first formal meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 21 January 2026.

What this document offers

Read out of this document by Govermate's AI, in its own words. Each one quotes the line it came from — confirm on the official source before acting.

industry coordination and input channelOngoing

Engagement with the FMD Industry Coordination Council to provide industry input for the FMD response

The Minister has appointed an FMD Industry Coordination Council to coordinate industry’s role in implementing the national Foot and mouth disease (FMD) strategy. The council will align industry efforts with national FMD control measures and will consolidate industry situational information and coordinate industry communication, with regular engagements and weekly meetings starting in January 2026.

Who it is for: industry participants, including the private sector, farmers and veterinarians
How to act on it: Provide constructive and realistic inputs to the council representatives for consideration; the council will engage regularly with the Department of Agriculture and the Technical and Scientific Task Team through scheduled meetings.

Facts

Reference

https://www.namc.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/minister-appoints-industry-coordination-council-to-strengthen-fmd-response-edited.pdf

Parties

Issuing authority, The council, Department of Agriculture and the Technical and Scientific Task Team. The statement lists the council

Key Takeaways

Document type: media statement/press release
Date: 21 January 2026
Issuing authority: Ministry of Agriculture (Department of Agriculture)
Minister: John Steenhuisen
Action: formally appoints the FMD Industry Coordination Council
Purpose: support implementation of South Africa’s national FMD strategy
Key responsibilities: vaccine distribution, traceability, disease control readiness
Directive: align industry efforts with national FMD control measures
Operational tasks: industry coordination mechanism, situational information consolidation, industry communication coordination
Readiness support: traceability and audit-ready record-keeping for movement compliance and compartmentalised operations
Non-statutory logistics: training, awareness, implementation monitoring
Triangular partnership: Department of Agriculture + Technical and Scientific Task Team + FMD Industry Coordination Council
First formal meeting scheduled: Wednesday, 21 January 2026
Council members: Johann Kotzé; Bennie van Zyl; Theo Boshoff; Frikkie Maré; Fanie Ferreira; Marlene Louw; Bongani Msimang; Kobus Bester; Dewald Olivier
Media contact: Ms Joylene van Wyk (Director: Media Liaison, Ministry of Agriculture)
John Steenhuisen
Ministry of Agriculture
Department of Agriculture
FMD Industry Coordination Council
Technical and Scientific Task Team
Johann Kotzé
Bennie van Zyl
Theo Boshoff
Frikkie Maré
Fanie Ferreira
Marlene Louw
Bongani Msimang
Kobus Bester
Dewald Olivier
Joylene van Wyk