Dying diggers of Namaqualand need saving
| by Reinette Liebenberg, MPL – DA Northern Cape Spokesperson of Agriculture, Rural Development & Land Reform |
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| Date: 03 September 2019 |
| Release: Immediate |
| The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Northern Cape remains deeply concerned that the process to have the Northern Cape drought declared as a provincial disaster is being unnecessarily delayed by government.In the meantime, farmers and farm workers, as well as their families and the greater rural communities, are suffering while an economic crisis, that could cost the country 62 000 direct and indirect jobs, continues to loom overhead.A joint meeting of the Departments of COGHSTA, Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, as well as Environment and Nature Conservation, at the legislature today, has revealed that a lack of leadership and accountability are largely to blame for aggravating the impact of the drought. It is this lack of urgency, especially the inability to provide them with financial reports on previous drought expenses, that is delaying the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) from classifying the drought as a provincial disaster. This is a necessary precondition for the Premier to ultimately declare the drought a disaster.We see a situation whereby:The Department of Agriculture has failed to submit critical reports to the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC). These include a mitigation strategy for the drought, an expenditure report on the previous drought funds received, as well as a report on how the department responded to reports on early warning systems.R30,5 million of funds intended for drought relief programmes was not spent in the 2018/2019 financial year. The Department of Environment subsequently requested a roll-over which has still not been granted.Two district municipalities, namely Frances Baard and John Taole Gaetsewe, have failed to get council resolutions on the drought.The Department of COGHSTA still does not have a disaster management plan in place.The request for the declaration of a provincial disaster was only submitted to COGHSTA on 26 July 2019, despite the five-year old drought being considered as the worst in the province in the past century.Given that the NDMC is meeting with the PDMC tomorrow (Wednesday), we certainly hope that the process will be finalized. The declaration is necessary to empower government to reprioritize funds towards drought relief.MEC of Agriculture, Nomandla Bloem, must take ownership of the drought. We hope that she brings not only a sense of urgency to this crisis but also better integration and cooperation with other departments that also have a role to play in effective disaster management. |
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