The development was revealed to Goodhope District Council (GDC) councillors during an address by chairperson, Gofaone Nkhwane. The civic leaders learnt that the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), under the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture, is strengthening containment measures, including the construction of animal movement restriction fences within the disease control zone. “The fences are expected to play a critical role in preventing the uncontrolled movement of livestock, particularly cloven-hoofed animals, which can facilitate the transmission of FMD,” he said when addressing councillors during a full council meeting on Friday.
Nkhwane stated that the intervention was aimed at closing potential routes through which the disease could spread between villages and across borders. “These fences are designed to curtail uncontrolled movement of cloven-hoofed animals, prevent cross-border and inter-village transmission, and support surveillance and vaccination operations currently under way,” he added. The fencing initiative forms part of broader efforts by government to strengthen disease control measures in Zone 11, the chairperson revealed. Nkhwane noted that the strategy is expected to complement ongoing surveillance and vaccination programmes designed to contain the outbreak and reduce the risk of further transmission.
