Just the other day we reported on SA’s drought due to the El Nino weather phenomenon, and now, the government has commented on the situation. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Lennox Mabaso, spokesperson for the Department of local government in KwaZulu-Natal, stated that the drought, concentrated parts of the Free State and KZN, is starting to impact livelihoods and drain the economy.

The two provinces have now been declared disaster areas as 6 500 rural communities across four provinces are feeling the effects. Mpumalanga, North West and Limpopo will be declared disaster areas for agriculture in the coming days. Pretoria has already implemented water restriction.

This means that food prices will elevate for some time as summer crops (soybeans, maize, sugarcane) and livestock farming are likely to be hardest hit.

The concern now is about the next crop. It’s the optimum time to plant but it’s still too dry and with the failure earlier in the year, farmers are under further strain.

In an effort to relieve the situation, the government is drawing water from neighbouring countries, such as Lesotho to augment the country’s resources, especially in Gauteng, the economic hub of the country.

Engagements are underway to allow us to access water from the Zambezi via Zimbabwe to further guarantee supply in the northern parts of our country.

People have always thought that South Africa is a water secure country. But people need to respect water and use it sparingly. The times have changed.

That’s really not an excuse after a lack of concentration on the infrastructure required as been overlooked in the past years. Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.

[source: mg]