Premier Thandi Modise has.declared the entire province of the North West a drought stricken area in terms of Section 41 of the Disaster Management Act 57 of 2002 (As Amended on 9 July 2013).
A Drought Response Task Team comprising of the Departments of Local Government and Traditional Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Water Affairs, Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Social Development, all municipalities as well as organised agriculture in the province has since been established by the Provincial Disaster Management Centre (PDMC) after Premier Modise published the declaration through the Provincial Extraordinary Gazette dated 5 September 2013.
The declaration was preceded by an application for classification that was submitted by the province to the National Disaster Management Centre and DAFF which conducted drought verification in all the 4 districts between 9 July and 12 August 2013.
As part of consolidating the drought emergency relief assessment needs of commercial and subsistence farmers to be presented to National Treasury, the Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has processed over 19 000 applications for financial assistance with the assistance of the PDMC.
The assessment and consolidation is targeted for conclusion by this Friday.
Urgent Interventions are also being considered to alleviate water shortage of water in Mamusa and Greater Taung Local Municipality which have resorted to tinkering drinking water to communities as the Mamusa Dam has virtually ran dry.
Premier Modise shares the concern of the PDMC that the fish in the dam is dying en masse which will further create a health hazards during the rainy season as the dam would be contaminated by the rotten fish.
The Dr. Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District Municipality is reportedly tankering water to 50 000 households across villages within its jurisdiction.
Enquiries:
Lesiba Moses Kgwele
Tel : 018 388 3705
Cell : 083 629 1987
E-mail: LKgwele@gmail.com
