Spokesperson Bomikazi Molapo says the debate should be programmed for the next sitting of Parliament, which is expected to be in recess until after the elections in August.

The Democratic Alliance says it is happy over Parliament's decision and hopes this will put necessary pressure on Government to accept the severity of the situation.

Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Annette Steyn, said in a statement that SADC has already declared the drought a regional crisis. She adds that about 34 million South African's have been affected by the drought in some way.

Meanwhile the Agri SA drought relief fund has already collected some R18 million to subsidise or fund numerous activities. A latest donation of R1 million from Shell has been earmarked for assistance in the Namakwa District in the Northern Cape.

Agri Northern Cape General Manager, Henning Myburgh, says farmers there have been hard hit as rainfall has been steadily declining over the last three years. He says a feed handover to both emerging and commercial farmers in Springbok marks the starting point for further assistance in the area.

According to a statement, drought relief funds distributed by Agri SA to provinces in Central South Africa since January amount to nearly R2,4 million for Northern Cape, just under R3 million in the Free Stateand just over R3 million to North West.

The funds have been used for feed, fodder, transport, maize meal and food hampers for farm workers and water, among others.

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