DA calls for better roll-out of drought relief amidst double disaster
13 April 2020
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in the Northern Cape is calling on government to do more to shield the provincial agricultural sector from the hard blows faced by Covid-19 on top of the worst drought in a century, which sees the province battling a double disaster.
A recent report submitted to National Minister of COGTA, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, clearly summarized the severity of the drought situation stating that “pockets of drought remain obstinately visible in various parts of the country and that these are likely to deteriorate at alarming proportions”.
The reality of the matter is that the drought has reduced core stock for food production by between 50% - 75%. The current death toll of Northern Cape farmers by suicide, is currently also higher than that of Covid-19 in the province.
While Covid-19 has shown us just how quickly and determinedly government can respond to a disaster when the political will exists, we expect the same level of determinedness to be applied in dealing with the drought.