South Africa’s pork industry recovers from record African swine fever outbreak amid warnings of ongoing risks

The South African pork sector has contained its largest ASF outbreak, but industry leaders warn that biosecurity vulnerabilities remain, particularly for informal producers, as repairs and adjustments continue.

South Africa’s commercial pork sector has contained its largest recorded African swine fever outbreak, but industry leaders are warning that the disease remains a structural risk, particularly in informal production systems.

According to the South African Pork Producers’ Organisation, the 2025/26 outbreak in commercial piggeries north of Pretoria has been resolved and the affected units have been depopulated. The group expects those farms to be back at full capacity within 12 to 18 months.

The episode has been costly. Times Live reported that Gauteng’s pork industry has lost more than R10m, with nearly 60,000 pigs culled after seven outbreaks in Tshwane since November 2025. The disruption also hit market prices: wholesale pork rose from about R32/kg to around R40/kg as supply tightened, before easing back to roughly R30/kg as imports filled gaps and local production recovered.

SAPPO says consumers buying pork through formal retail channels have no food-safety reason to worry, since ASF and foot-and-mouth disease do not infect humans. The bigger issue, it argues, is biosecurity: restricting access to herds, avoiding risky animal purchases, disinfecting transport and never feeding untreated swill.

The organisation has also been supporting small-scale farmers with training and practical guidance, reflecting the sector’s view that preparedness now matters as much off the farm as on it.