Drought-stricken Western Cape declared a national disaster area
The move opens the way for financial and humanitarian aid from the state
The inter-ministerial task team on drought and water scarcity has declared the Western Cape a national disaster area. The drought has had a devastating effect on the Free State, the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, with the Western Cape worst affected. Declaring a national disaster lays the basis for financial and humanitarian aid by the government. The Northern Cape, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape had already declared provincial disasters. The national disaster declaration was a long time coming as the Western Cape government reportedly asked for it in November 2015. Minister of Water and Sanitation Nomvula Mokonyane said her meetings with Western Cape Premier Helen Zille regarding the drought and interventions in the Western Cape were productive and fruitful. "We had a very productive meeting with Premier Zille. We talked about what is engulfing the Western Cape. We need many voices but one message. We need speedy intervention. There are licences ...
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