The decline and virtual collapse of South Africa’s once-renowned state veterinary facilities at Onderstepoort are recorded in great detail in an article on News24.
Written by Prof Johann Kirsten of Stellenbosch University’s Bureau for Economic Research, the analysis is presented in the context of Onderstepoort’s severely reduced ability to combat foot and mouth disease outbreaks, and its inability to provide vaccines, which are instead being imported.
However, Onderstepoort is relevant to South Africa’s poultry industry, not only in the fight against bird flu, but because state veterinarians and laboratories are crucial to the drive to increase chicken exports. Other countries will only accept raw meat exports that are certified disease-free, and that requires state vets.
The 2019 poultry master plan envisaged investments in state veterinary staff and facilities to support a planned export boost. Little seems to have happened, and chicken exports in 2025 were lower than when the master plan was signed six years previously.
Inspectors from foreign countries looking at potential export sites appear satisfied that South African chicken producers can meet European and other standards, but have expressed concern at the country’s state veterinary capabilities.
Agriculture minister John Steenhuisen has promised to revitalise Onderstepoort. For the country’s beef and poultry producers, that cannot happen quickly enough.
