The Premier of the Northern Cape, Dr Zamani Saul, and members of the Executive Council, as well as senior government officials, will join the national delegation. The Provincial spokesperson of the Department of Agriculture, Zandisile Luphahla, says the visit follows the commitment Mabuza made in the National Assembly, that government will be working together with various stakeholders in the agricultural sector in an effort to urgently find solutions in dealing with the persistent challenges of drought in the Northern Cape, Free State, and the North West provinces.

Luphahala says the province is experiencing the worst drought in ten years and five districts have been declared disaster areas. He says the visit brings some hope for disaster relief, especially because Saul cannot officially announce that the province is a disaster area, without the national department’s participation. An on-site drought assessment is also needed.

According to him almost 15 500 farms, covering more than 20 million hectares and with a carrying capacity of 613 447 large stock units, are severely affected.  Therefore, the situation is estimated to escalate to one million large stock units if above normal rainfall is not reached during the summer rain season.

OFM News’ Christal-Lize Muller spoke to Luphahala.

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