Western Cape declared a disaster area
Western Cape Premier Helen Zille has officially declared the Western Cape a disaster area amid the ongoing drought in the province.
The drought is the worst in the province since 1904.
"The disaster declaration will accelerate the Western Cape Disaster Management Centre's Project 'Avoiding Day Zero', the Province's strategy to ensure that taps do not run dry," says Zille.
Zille says the declaration will be formally gazetted during the course of this week, and was signed by the premier during a Cabinet meeting last week.
The disaster will be classified for a three-month period which can be extended, if the need arises.