The impact this has had on trade in the past week has been devastating, to say the least.

Zokwana was supported by Dr Mpho Maja, the director of Animal Health, who said her unit would always ensure that all cattle at abattoirs around the country did not have foot-and-mouth disease.

Zokwana and Maja were addressing the media after a meeting with various agricultural organisations, farmers and research institutions.

All parties expressed confidence that the red-meat market was safe and jointly urged South Africans not to panic.

Zokwana, however, conceded that the confirmation of the disease led the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to suspend South Africa’s foot-and-mouth-free status.

“This temporary suspension has caused a few neighbouring trading countries to ban our exports. These bans have caused serious financial loss to the industry,” Zokwana said.

He said they were still counting the loss to the economy.

Zokwana said their meeting with industry players and government was to discuss measures to be taken to convince neighbouring countries and other trading partners that the local red-meat market was safe.

He added that they had agreed with industry players to form a technical team to fight the current outbreak of the disease and that the task team would look beyond foot-and-mouth disease to discover other market opportunities.

“The impact that this has had on trade in the past week has been devastating, to say the least.

“I urge all affected industries to work with my team in minimising the impact.

“This can be achieved if we all take responsibility to avoid unnecessary panic and stress, and by approaching trade partners for the necessary confirmations of trade of cloven-hoofed products to their territories,” Zokwana said.