Guest:  Mr. Thabile Nkunjana - Agricultural Economist for Agro-Food Chains at the National Agricultural Marketing Council

Agriculture Minister Thoko Didiza has suspended all movement of cattle in the country for 21 days, due to an outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

The nationwide ban on the movement of cattle to curb an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and the country is currently experiencing 116 outbreaks in six of the country's nine provinces. The disease has been detected on farms, feedlots and communal areas in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, North West, Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Free State..

The prohibition is in place for 21 days and will be reviewed weekly, the agriculture ministry said in an emailed statement on Tuesday. Exceptions will be allowed for livestock being moved to abattoirs, as well the slaughter of the animals for ritual purposes during cultural ceremonies.