Drought-stricken Northern Cape to be declared a disaster area
Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul says the province is set to be declared a disaster area due to the debilitating drought.
The Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng are all battling drought conditions.
Saul briefed the media in Kimberly on Friday following a meeting with Water and Sanitation Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.
The declaration of the province as a disaster area will allow it to procure millions of rands from national government.
Saul said the province has managed to source R300 million from government to assist with its efforts to battle the effects of the drought.
“As soon as we declare the disaster, it gives us an opportunity to source emergency funds, that is the reason why we could get R300 million from the emergency fund.”
Darmers will now be able to claim from insurance companies as a result of the declaration.
“I have been having delegations of farm, agricultural unions here in the province and the issues they were raising is the loss which is due to the disaster and they can’t claim from their insurance,” Saul added.