S. Africa gov't urged to declare worsening drought national crisis

A persistent drought continued to grip South Africa, prompting repeated calls for the government to declare a national crisis.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) in a statement Tuesday strongly urged the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs David van Rooyen to immediately declare a national disaster to address the effects of the country's worst drought in 23 years.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Senzeni Zokwana has previously stated that a national disaster cannot be declared, because not all provinces are affected by the drought.

In the Eastern Cape, Northern Cape and Western Cape, certain districts have been declared disaster zones.

The current drought has seen thousands of livestock die across all provinces. This is compounded by the continuing energy crisis, increasing consumer goods prices and joblessness, with the poor bearing the brunt, said DA Shadow Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Annette Steyn.

"We implore the minister to act in the best interests of the thousands of South Africans who endure the effects of the drought every day and declare this a national disaster so we can deal with it as such," Steyn said.

The drought currently being faced by South Africa has reached crisis point. Provincial dam levels are down in all provinces, standing at 57 percent of capacity, compared to 82 percent for the same time last year.

Due to the drought, South Africa, previously a grain exporter, has begun to import grain.

Grain SA said the country imported about 750, 000 tonnes of maize to meet its needs in the 2013/2014 season. The 2015/16 season will see this increase to five million tonnes of maize.

It is expected that South Africa will also have to import about 10 million tonnes of grain, rice and soya into the country. Enditem