Drought fund allocations

CO-OPERATIVE Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) Minister Zweli Mkhize welcomed the funding allocated to deal with the drought that continues to wreak havoc in parts of the country.

In his medium term budget policy statement to Parliament on Wednesday, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni said R3.2 billion had been allocated to deal with the effects of drought and water scarcity.

R1.6 billion would be used to grapple with the impact of storms and fires.

The funds will strengthen mitigation measures in the face of the current weather outlook pointing to the possible occurrence of the El Nino phenomenon, during the 2018/19 summer season through to the winter rainfall season.

Mkhize, who is chairperson of an inter-ministerial task team on drought and water scarcity, said these allocations would assist affected communities in KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape and the Eastern Cape , where a state of disaster was declared as the damage caused had exceeded their capacity.

Storms devastated parts of KZN and the Western Cape last year, while fires left much of Knysna a wasteland.

“The allocated funds will go a long way in alleviating the effects of the prevailing and future drought conditions, and the negative impact of climate change and variability being experienced by our country,” Mkhize said.

He urged all relevant roIe-players to use the funds prudently, guided by approved plans. |