DA Free State’s response to drought and water crisis

01 February 2016

Note to Editors: The following remarks were made by the DA Free State Provincial Leader, Patricia Kopane MP, at a media briefing at the Free State Provincial Legislature on the impact of the drought and water crisis in the province. The Provincial Leader was joined by the Provincial Chairperson, Dr Annelie Lotriet MP, The Leader of the Official Opposition in the Free State Provincial Legislature, Roy Jankielsohn MPL and DA Provincial Spokesperson for COGTA, James Letuka MP.

The Free State province is currently experiencing the worst drought in decades. The impact of the drought on our rural province and its rural communities is exacerbated by the ANC-led Free State Provincial Government and its municipalities’ non-existent water management strategy, lack of maintenance of water and sanitation infrastructure, the inability to expand existing or to establish new water and sanitation infrastructure, and to respond adequately to the impact of the drought on the agricultural community. 

Before we continue it is important for us to differentiate between the water crisis, which can be mitigated against by municipalities and the drought which is a natural disaster of which the impact could be limited through a proper water management programme.

The agricultural sector in the Free State employ more than 54 000 people. The sector contributes 4.3% to our provincial GDP and contributes more than most other provinces to national food security. As can be seen in thesupporting document.

The R39 million set aside for drought relief in the Free State is inadequate, even Finance MEC Elzabe Rockman has said as much. It is a sad reality that the misallocation of resources in the province by the ANC-led government, as can be seen in the purchases of luxury cars for traditional leaders and the provincial government, shows a disdain and contempt towards the agricultural sector and our rural communities in particular. The behaviour of the ANC-led government is not that of a caring government.

In summary the DA would like to highlight the following:

- The current drought was aggravated by serious veld fires in the 2015 fire season that destroyed a great deal of grazing across the province.

- The current drought is going to have major impact on national, community, and household food security and water supply.

- Food insecurity on the scale predicted has been the cause of massive political instability and even revolutions in other countries. Coupled with growing water shortages in many towns, these are going to be major challenges in 2016 and far beyond.

- The Democratic Alliance will support any measures that may bring relief to our agricultural and local communities during these crises.

The DA would like to make the following proposals with regards to the drought:

- Given the Free State’s above average contribution to agricultural commodity production compared to other provinces, this province requires above average assistance from both provincial and national government.

- The Free State provincial government requires immediate, short term, and long term disaster management strategies to deal with the looming food and current water shortage crises across our communities in the province.

- Immediate alleviation strategies are required for our agricultural community and water stricken towns. This should be measured in days, and not weeks or months.

- While a declaration was made of a Provincial State of Disaster for the drought by the Premier on 4 September 2015 (expiring after three months in terms of the Disaster Management Act), no such declaration has been made that allows for emergency relief for water, or food issues. This need to be followed up with an additional declaration by the Premier.

- The Free State provincial government and municipalities cannot be seen to be spending money on unnecessary items such as luxury vehicles, festivals, and other non-essential items during such a crisis. A strict moratorium with penalties for individuals should be placed on all non-essential expenditure by Treasury.

- Municipalities should temporarily suspend land tax for the agricultural community during the drought period. Although this is not a large amount, it will assist and show willingness on the part of municipalities to assist farmers who supply jobs and sustenance to local economies.

- The province needs to assist municipalities with purchasing water tankers and other infrastructure to assist with the supply of water to affected communities.

- Various forms of water restriction measures should be imposed across the province.

- Damage or theft of crucial municipal infrastructure should be regarded as sabotage and prosecuted in terms of anti-terrorism legislation, instead of normal damage to property or theft legislation.

- Harsher penalties must be imposed on individuals and institutions who ignore measures to restrict water use during this crisis.

- The provincial Department of Agriculture should obtain and maintain a database of all farmers in the Free State (commercial, emerging, and subsistence).

- Distribution of drought relief to farming communities should be carried out in conjunction with local agricultural organisations and based on clear criteria.

- Commonage carrying capacity should be closely monitored and legislation in this regard must be implemented.

The water crisis and the drought as well as the deterioration in the delivery of basic services in the Free State as a result of the ANC government’s failures exacerbate the suffering of our rural communities. It threatens food security which threatens social stability. It increases the prevalence of poverty and unemployment. All of these factors contribute to the general misery our people continue to endure in the Free State.

The only way to bring relief to the people of the Free State is for the people themselves to reject the ANC government and vote the DA into government. The Blue and Green Drop Reports show that the DA-led Western Cape Provincial Government is the best at managing water and sanitation infrastructure. Where we govern people can trust in the quality and safety of piped water. And as such a DA government would be best placed to mitigate against the impact of natural disasters such as drought.

Statement issued by Patricia Kopane, DA Free State Leader, 1 February 2016