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War Room needed to fight drought

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Dear MyPE

The Democratic Alliance welcomes the fact that the province has now been declared a disaster area, but we remain concerned that the province does not have a comprehensive drought plan that will enable us to deal swiftly and effectively with all drought related disasters.

All authorities need to be on high alert, to identify critical areas where intervention is needed, to tackle the drought head on.

The Eastern Cape is seeing a significant number of towns and villages that are currently at risk of running out of water, and it is imperative that the province be proactive in our response to this looming disaster.

I have therefore written to Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane, calling for the establishment of a drought war room, as a matter of urgency, so that critical drought interventions can be managed.

The Drought War Room could assist with:

  1. Anticipating areas where problems might occur and develop the necessary contingency plans that can be rolled out when necessary;
  2. Monitoring the progress in implementation of drought mitigating measures in water scarce municipalities;
  3. Implementing emergency measures where municipalities have run out of water;
  4. Provide advice to municipalities with regards to Supply Chain Procedures where disaster areas have been declared;
  5. Monitor the quality of water to prevent the spread of possible diseases in water scarce areas;
  6. Assist with the distribution of feed to emerging and commercial farmers who are in need of assistance.

Despite the welcome rain over parts of the province this weekend, it is our understanding that water rationing has already been implemented in Burgersdorp, Maclear, Ugie, Mount Fletcher and Hankey, while towns such as Aliwal North, Middelburg, Adelaide and Bedford have experienced days where there were total water outages.

In Tsomo, five villages, namely Gqogqorha, Emdeni, Mahlubini Komkhulu, Mnyangula and Mmangobomvu, have been without running water for more than three months.

In Nelson Mandela Bay parts of the city are experiencing water outages due to water supply difficulties at its Elandsjacht Water Treatment Works, as the Impofu dam level has now dropped to below the lowest intake point.

The prevailing drought conditions in Sarah Baartman, Chris Hani and Amatole districts are destroying the farming operations of most farmers in these areas, especially those that do not have the ability to plant lucerne, or other types of feed, due to water constraints.

The Drought War Room should have representatives from CoGTA, Department of Rural Development and Agrarian Reform, Safety and Liaison, Department of Health and Provincial Treasury and act as an overarching planning body for all drought related problems.

Residents in the province are living with the disastrous consequences of this prolonged drought. It is time to show them that government has comprehensive and responsive plans, strategies and structures in place that are capable of effectively responding to this emergency.

Regards

Retief Odendaal

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Port Elizabethan

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