MEC Nomandla Bloem says this forms part of the department’s drought relief implementation plan which was approved on October 11 this year following a visit by Deputy President, David Mabuza, to Aggeneys in the Khai Ma Local Municipality recently. Mabuza committed R30 million for immediate drought relief to the province. The plan has key focus areas including the direct purchase of fodder from co-ops and projects, planting maize in the Richtersveld and Khai-Ma. A total of R3 million of this money has been allocated to the Frances Baard District Municipality and the first outreach on Thursday in the Ritchie area amounted to R56 000 worth of fodder that was purchased by the department.

According to Bloem, the Northern Cape's drought relief implementation plan also focuses on transport costs of donated fodder and the expansion of the existing fodder bank. She says the department is focusing to start with the hardest-hit areas which include the Namakwa District and the transitional areas in Kareeberg and the Kai! Garib Local Municipalities. An amount of R11 million was distributed to the Namakwa area to provide fodder to farmers, and R3 million was allocated to the ZF Mgcawu and Frances Baard districts. The John Taolo Gaetsewe district received R5 million and Pixley Ka Seme R3.5 million.

She added this drought-stricken province still awaits Premier Zamani Saul’s official declaration of the province as a drought disaster area. She said there are certain processes that must first be followed in this regard.

OFM News’ Christal-Lize Muller spoke to Bloem…

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