The national government is yet to act on a two-month-old request from the drought-stricken Limpopo province to declare several municipalities in the region disaster areas.
The provincial government this week expressed fears that if the national government’s response does not come soon, the drought situation would deteriorate further.
According to provincial officials, the drought, which began in December last year, has killed more than 18 000 head of cattle, the only source of income for many communal farmers.
In March the Limpopo government set aside R6-million to help stem the effect of the drought. The money was not enough and the province asked the national government for an additional R40-million.
Limpopo MEC for Agriculture, Aaron Motsoaledi, this week warned that the provincial kitty, being used to supply subsidised forage to communal farmers, was running out.
”I am afraid that if we do not get the response from national government soon, the little money that we have will be exhausted,” he said, adding that since the start of the provincial effort the cattle mortality rate had decreased. This pointed to a need for urgent action to increase the forage supplies.
Presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo this week confirmed that President Thabo Mbeki had received a request from the Limpopo government. However, he said the matter has been referred to the Department of Social Development.
Selwyn Jehoma, chief director for grant administration within the Department of Social Development, said the department has sent a team of experts to Limpopo to assess the extent of the drought.
”We must assess the extent to which an event has resulted in people being left destitute,” said Jehoma.
”It would appear to us that a lot of people have been affected by the drought. However, we are not sure as to how many of the affected people are commercial farmers.”
He said provision for commercial farmers is made by the Department of Agriculture.
”Our responsibility would be to provide relief. And because we provide relief our focus would be on poor people,” Jehoma said.