Agri-industry alarmed by Onderstepoort Biological Products’ performance

OBP 2024/25 Annual Performance Report shows a “collapse” of the State-owned vaccine producer

- YOGASHEN PILLAY

THE Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI) in a statement last week said that they are concerned about Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP) following the release of its 2024/25 Annual Performance Report.

(SAPS)

THE Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) has raised serious concerns about the performance of Onderstepoort Biological Products (OBP), following the release of its 2024/25 Annual Performance Report, which the organisation says signals a “collapse” of the State-owned vaccine producer.

According to Saai on Monday, the report — presented before the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture — shows that OBP achieved only 62% of its performance targets, missed R100 million in revenue, and again received a qualified audit opinion with four unresolved findings. Profit reportedly declined from R231m in 2023/24 to R186m in 2024/25, while vaccine production dropped by 24%.

Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai, said these figures reflect a deepening crisis rather than isolated administrative problems.

Rossouw said these are not accounting errors or administrative issues - they translate directly into fewer vaccines, weaker disease control, and more livestock losses for farmers already under pressure from the ongoing Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) crisis.