Minister should declare drought a national disaster

26 January 2016

The Democratic Alliance strongly urges that the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs immediately declare a national disaster in terms of sections 23 and 27 of the Disaster Management Act to address the effects of South Africa’s worst drought in 23 years that has seen ordinary South Africans without water for protracted periods of time. 

To date, 5 provinces have been declared disasters in this regard, namely KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, North West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. In the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape, certain districts have been declared disaster zones. 

Minister of Agriculture, Senzeni Zokwana, has previously stated (see here) that a national disaster cannot be declared, because not all provinces are affected by the drought. It should be noted, however, that he lacks the competency to declare a disaster; rather, Minister of Cooperative Governance, Des van Rooyen, would be better aligned to do this as the custodian of the Disaster management Act.  

In 2011, a national disaster was declared for the flooding affecting some provinces (but certainly not all).

Furthermore, the Disaster Management Act is clear on what constitutes a national disaster:

23 (6) A disaster is a national disaster if it affects --

(a)  More than one province; or

(b)  A single province which is unable to deal with it effectively.

The current drought has seen thousands of head of livestock die across all provinces which has potential to compromise food security as well as having an enormous impact on South Africa’s already struggling economy, and is now resulting in towns and communities running dry. This is compounded by the continuing energy crisis, increasing consumer goods prices and joblessness; with the poor bearing the brunt. 

Myself and DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Annette Steyn MP, will be visiting the National Disaster Management Centre to evaluate their preparedness to deal with this disaster moving forward, as well as to note what has already been done. We implore the Minister to act in the best interests of the thousands of South Africans who endure the effects of the drought every day and declare this a national disaster so we can deal with it as such.

Issued by Kevin Mileham, DA Shadow Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, 26 January 2016