For the second time in just under four years, South Africa and the Southern African Development Community are faced with drought, just two years after the devastation wrought by the 2015-16 drought, the region's worst in nearly 40 years. Extremely high temperatures and poor rainfall have sounded alarm bells in the region. Already, the severity of the drought is being felt in the Western Cape. There, key industries such as wine and fruit production and tourism are under strain because of water shortages. Parts of the Eastern Cape, including Port Elizabeth, have also been affected. Should the dry spell persist, agriculture economists warn, it would threaten summer crops planted this season. Climate experts, however, are divided over what the dry spell across the northern parts of the country means for the maize belt. Some are of the view that the dry spell in the first weeks of January was normal and there is no drought. Peter Johnston, a climate scientist at the University of Cape To...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.