Minister Aucamp engaged Kouga farmers on disaster support and foot-and-mouth disease

KOUGA - Kouga Local Municipality hosted Agriculture Minister Willie Aucamp in Humansdorp and Patensie on Friday, 18 September 2026, for engagements with farmers and local stakeholders on the challenges affecting the agricultural sector.

The minister’s visit had two key areas of focus: assessing the impact of the May floods and storms on farmers in the Kouga area and engaging with farmers on the ongoing national response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Welcoming Minister Aucamp, Kouga Executive Mayor Hattingh Bornman expressed his appreciation for the minister’s visit and the opportunity it created for farmers to engage directly with national government on issues affecting their livelihoods and the agricultural sector.

Bornman highlighted the vital contribution made by farmers to the local and regional economy, noting that agriculture was not only about production, but also about sustaining livelihoods, creating employment and contributing to the broader economic wellbeing of communities.

“Farmers play a key role in growing our economy.  We want to thank all our farmers for the work they do, and for their continued contribution to the Kouga economy,” said Bornman.

He welcomed the opportunity for the municipality to host the minister and for farmers to raise their concerns directly with the national Department of Agriculture.

“We appreciate the minister taking the time to come to Kouga, to listen to our farmers and to see first-hand some of the challenges they are facing.”

Supporting farmers after the May floods

The visit provided an opportunity to assess the damage caused by the severe weather experienced in May and to discuss the support required by affected farmers as they worked towards recovery and the new production season.

More than 10% of the citrus crop in the Gamtoos Valley was damaged in May after the Gamtoos River burst its banks.

The Kouga area had subsequently been classified as part of the disaster following the severe weather and flooding. The distinction between a disaster classification and a declaration of a state of disaster was highlighted during the engagement.

A classification formally recognises that a disaster exists and establishes responsibility for coordinating and managing the response. It does not, however, amount to a declaration of a state of disaster. Under South Africa’s disaster-management framework, a declaration can activate extraordinary measures and may facilitate the mobilisation of additional resources, including funding, where required.

Aucamp also indicated that he had met with the Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture to discuss the provincial assessment of the flood impact.

He undertook to engage with the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, on the matter, with a view to having the situation in the affected area considered for a declaration of a state of disaster, rather than remaining only under disaster classification.

This was intended to strengthen the support mechanisms available to affected communities and farmers as they continued with recovery efforts.

“We are in it together” on FMD

A part of the engagements focused on the national foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.

Aucamp gave farmers and stakeholders an update on the government’s response to the FMD outbreak and discussed measures being taken to manage and curb the spread of the disease.

He emphasised that government could not manage the outbreak on its own.

“With regard to FMD, we have to work together. This is the largest outbreak of FMD ever. We learn as we go along and find solutions together,” said Aucamp.

South Africa’s FMD outbreak had been classified as a national disaster in February 2026, with the national response involving coordination across government and engagement with affected stakeholders.

Aucamp encouraged farmers to vaccinate their cattle as part of measures to protect herds and assist in managing the spread of the disease.

“Vaccines are insurance for your herds. Government will keep on vaccinating where there are new outbreaks and help where it is not affordable for some farmers,” he said.

The minister’s message was clear: managing FMD required cooperation between government, farmers, industry and other stakeholders: “We are in it together.”