Agriculture
"Luck" had nothing to do with drought funds roll-over─── SABRINA DEAN 16:33 Wed, 16 Sep 2015
Bloemfontein - The Northern Cape Agriculture department says it was not luck that facilitated the rollover to the new financial year of R7-million of drought relief funding, but rather verifiable facts.
This is according to departmental communications head Sipho Mbaqa in response to a statement by the Democratic Alliance raising concerns about underspending.
Mbaqa says even though the first quarter spend of 13,2% may be lower than the norm, this is due to delays caused by supply chain management processes:
*Sipho Mbaqa - spending
Commenting on the drought relief rollover, Mbaqa says this was necessary due slow claims by farmers in John Taolo Gaetsewe district:
*Sipho Mbaqa - drought
He says most of the province seems to be faring better in terms of drought impact this year, except in Loeriesfontein where farmers have been hard hit. Mbaqa says the department will be spending R6,1-million on drought relief in the Loeriesfontein area with immediate effect.
Sabrina Dean/OFM News
*Sipho Mbaqa - spending:
*Sipho Mbaqa - drought:
