South Africa is grappling with a severe shortage of qualified veterinarians, threatening animal health, food security, and broader public health systems. The crisis is especially alarming as the country battles ongoing outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.
Coinciding with World Veterinary Day on April 26 — a day dedicated to highlighting the importance of teamwork in animal health — the Ministry of Agriculture revealed a worrying 45% vacancy rate for state veterinary positions. Out of 287 approved posts, 129 remain vacant, a situation described as critical by officials.
Ministry spokesperson Joylene van Wyk emphasized the urgency:
“Vacant state veterinary posts at national and provincial levels must be filled as a matter of urgency.”
Rising concerns over FMD control
The Department of Agriculture confirmed this week that new FMD cases detected among livestock in Newcastle and Bergville originated from an auction held in Utrecht in February.
Effective disease control relies heavily on veterinarians conducting farm visits, performing clinical inspections, collecting diagnostic samples, administering vaccinations, and guiding farmers on biosecurity measures. Veterinarians are also essential in regulating livestock movement, carrying out risk assessments, and issuing health permits — all critical steps to prevent disease spread.
While veterinary para-professionals can assist with tasks such as animal identification, record keeping, and transport inspections, Van Wyk warned that trained veterinarians are irreplaceable for disease diagnosis, outbreak control, and certification processes.
“In times of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, all available personnel resources are usually diverted toward controlling the outbreak, leading to neglect of other serious diseases like rabies, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and African Swine Fever (ASF),” she added.
Urgent call for action
The veterinary shortage has sparked growing concerns among farmers, veterinarians, and public health officials. Without swift intervention to fill the vacant posts, experts fear that not only FMD but also other emerging animal diseases could spiral out of control, with devastating consequences for agriculture and public health.
The Ministry has called for accelerated recruitment efforts and reinforced collaboration between public and private sectors to strengthen South Africa’s animal health defenses.