Drought Meeting And The Road Ahead
I have been informed of the outcome of the meeting yesterday afternoon at Elsenburg where the drought situation in the Western Cape was assessed and discussed. The meeting was attended by various government departments, district municipalities and the City of Cape Town and chaired by the Chairperson of the Provincial Disaster Management Committee, Mr Faan Naude - Chief Director in die Department of Local Government.
This Department was amongst others lauded by Agri- Western Cape for the initiative taken to pre-emptively host such a meeting in which all role-players can participate and prepare for any future eventuality.
Various reports were submitted and my department will now study and analyse the information and we will submit a report to the national government for consideration as soon as possible. However, the most important basis of the report will be the information collected the provincial Department of Agriculture whose officials are currently inspecting various regions in the province. This they will complete by Thursday.
Emanating from yesterday's meeting is that there must be a clear distinction drawn between a disaster which affects everybody and conditions which affect a specific sector of a community. (Ramp en droogtetoestand) The information which we are collating will indicate what status the current drought has.
I must however echo the call of Agri-Western Cape made at yesterday's meeting - In all the efforts to alleviate those affected by the drought we must not forget the farm workers as they are the most vulnerable. The Department of Local Government in coordinating Disaster Management will certainly see to it that the needs of all those affected will be channelled to the relevant authority.
Enquiries: Jan BosmanCell: 083 775 5312
