FMD clampdown as 5 arrested for transporting slaughtered cows
The Minister of Agriculture Mandla Tshawuka
By Delisa Magagula
The Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed the arrest of five men from Ekukhanyeni who were found transporting slaughtered cattle amid the country’s fight against the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
The arrests come as government intensifies efforts to contain the outbreak, which has already disrupted livestock movement and placed the beef industry under heavy restrictions.
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Officials said transporting cattle or beef products without proper clearance poses a serious threat to national biosecurity and undermines on-going containment measures.
“The situation requires maximum cooperation from communities. We cannot afford to compromise food security and the agricultural economy by allowing illegal movement of livestock or meat,” said Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka.
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The suspects are expected to face prosecution for contravening FMD-related regulations, with the ministry warning that further arrests will follow as enforcement operations widen across the country.
FMD, which is highly contagious among cloven-hoofed animals, has already forced Eswatini to suspend certain exports and restrict livestock auctions. The illegal slaughter and sale of meat remains one of the biggest risks to spreading disease across regions.
