The City of Cape Town’s Disaster Coordinating Team was first activated on 17 February 2026, in response to the declaration of a national disaster for Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
The City of Cape Town’s response to the Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak is coordinated by the Disaster Risk Management Centre.
Apart from weekly meetings of the Disaster Coordinating Team (DCT), City representatives also join similar meetings of the Swartland Municipality and Provincial Government, to ensure that efforts are aligned.
One of the key activities in the past month has been enforcement escorts for veterinary staff who are administering vaccinations of small-scale and informal farmers around Cape Town.
The Traffic, Law Enforcement and Metro Police Departments have provided escorts to Mfuleni, Delft, parts of Khayelitsha, Kalkfontein, Nyanga, Philippi East, Dunoon, Wallacedene and Macassar, resulting in the successful vaccination of nearly 2 600 livestock.
The Metro Police Department has also undertaken full responsibility for manning the Foot and Mouth Disease checkpoints within Cape Town’s geographical boundaries – these checkpoints are in the vicinity of Witsand and Klipheuwel.
‘The City will continue to support efforts to contain the Foot and Mouth outbreak in the metropole and surrounds to safeguard the investment the farmers made into their livestock, the families its supports and the wellbeing of the animals. The escorts of officials responsible for administering vaccines means they can focus on the task at hand, but our staff have also been trained to conduct inspections of animals in transit and how to identify possible signs of infection.
‘We are also using the opportunity to build relationships with informal farmers. The current outbreak is a major challenge, but the sector is also a key roleplayer in the City’s broader efforts to achieve improved animal welfare and public safety,’ said Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, Alderman JP Smith.
The Western Cape Agri State Vet has provided training to City enforcement services staff, in collaboration with the Disaster Risk Management Centre – the centre is also supporting community education and awareness efforts, spearheaded by local and provincial health officials.
The public can direct any concerns about the FMD outbreak to the dedicated hotline number on 080 928 4102.
