Fraud probe launched after suspected Foot-and-Mouth scare at Sparta Beef Farm

A suspected case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) at Sparta Beef’s Alma farm in the Clocolan district has triggered a fraud investigation after the company discovered that cattle delivered from the Western Cape arrived with falsified veterinary documents.

Sparta Beef confirmed that the cattle appeared healthy on paper, but inspections upon arrival revealed lesions consistent with possible FMD infection.

“According to the records provided by the supplier, all biosecurity requirements had been met. Declarations from the two farmers confirmed that the cattle originated from their respective farms and that they maintain closed herds.

A veterinary health form also indicated that the cattle had been examined (mouthed) by a veterinarian and were found to be healthy.”

However, during Sparta’s own inspection, its biosecurity team found concerning signs on some animals.

“The State Veterinarian was called, and he shared his concern about the findings. Samples were taken, and we are currently awaiting the results,” the company said.

The situation escalated when Sparta contacted the veterinarian listed on the paperwork, who denied having examined the animals or signed the documents.

“A case of fraud is currently under investigation. To prevent any possible spread of Foot-and-mouth disease, Sparta, with the approval of the State Veterinarian, has decided to vaccinate all the cattle on Alma farm. This process is already underway,”

To prevent any possible spread of FMD, Sparta, in consultation with the State Veterinarian, has vaccinated all cattle on the Alma farm.

Francois Rossouw, the CEO of Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai), said the incident underscores a major weakness in South Africa’s livestock control systems — fraudulent or unreliable paperwork.

“Because the weak point is fraudulent or unreliable paperwork. In the Sparta case, animals arrived with “clean” documents that are now disputed, exactly the kind of gap roadside checks are designed to catch,” he said.

“Roadblocks let state vets and inspectors stop loads in transit, verify the vet and permit details against live systems, do on-the-spot clinical inspections, and redirect suspect consignments to quarantine before they reach auctions or feedlots. In an FMD scare, every truck that slips through unchecked can seed new infection nodes hundreds of kilometres away.”

Rossouw added that roadblocks turn a passive, paper-based system into an active control measure with real-time verification and consequence. He said verification, enforcement, and speed were urgently need to be done to prevent incidents like this.

“Stop relying on paper affidavits. Mandate digital, cryptographically signed veterinary movement certificates that auto-verify the vet’s SAMCVS registration at the point of issue and again at off-loading,” he said.

“Flag any mismatch in real time and halt off-loading until a state vet clears the consignment. Tie this directly into the national traceability platform so every leg of the trip is visible and auditable.”

Rossouw said that there should be enforced run risk-based roadside and arrival inspections, with real penalties for fraudulent documents (criminal charges, license suspensions, and multi-year movement bans).

“Make quarantine-on-arrival compulsory for higher-risk origins, with daily checks and immediate escalation if clinical signs appear. Require auctions and feedlots to keep isolation pens, entry logs, and temperature records, and make them accountable for lapses,” he said.

“When red flags pop (as in this case), state vet surge teams must be able to sample, lock down, and where indicated, vaccinate within hours, not days. We should also publish rapid movement notices and ring-fencing directives that downstream buyers and transporters can’t ignore. The tech exists; the gap is execution and consequence management.”

Rossouw added that traceability systems are important but insufficient without strong enforcement. 

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