Parliament – The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) on Tuesday called for Parliament to establish an ad hoc committee to investigate what it termed government’s failure to mitigate the effects of the drought that has caused crop and livestock losses in several provinces.
Opening a debate on the water crisis, IFP MP Liezl van der Merwe said the country needs answers on government’s response.
“Why has there been insufficient planning for droughts? Why has there been insuffient progress to reduce water losses? Why did this government not act sooner when the signs of a looming crisis had been there all along?” Van der Merwe asked.
She said while no amount of good adminisration would have prevented a drought, the effects could have been softened.
“The response from those in power and those with the responsibility to act can only be described as far too little, far too late.”
In response, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Senzeni Zokwana warned political parties against apportioning blame amidst the crisis.
Zokwana said government was hard at work trying to stop the disaster from worsening.
“The mitigation plans on water scarcity are in place….these include better managment of water resources,” he said.
Zokwana conceded water supply in the country had reached the “disaster stage”. Four of the seven affected provinces have been declared disaster areas and that disaster relief measures were being implemented.
The measures would include reprioritsing funding towards mitigating the water shortages which would stay with the country for some time.
“We have met with MECs and agreed that R220 million would be prioritised, made available with immediate effect to ensure there is feed for livestock,” he said.
African News Agency
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