Daar is al meer as 5 jaar groot droogte in heelwat dele van die land. Dis buite enige boer se beheer. Daar word droogtefondse uitgesit, maar tog word net sekere boere gehelp. In die Vrystaat sowel as ander gebiede is daar niks anders dan sand nie. Vrystaat is ook as ‘n rampgebied in 2019 verklaar, maar tog word beslag geneem op alle bates om verkoop te word en die volgende sal die grondgebiede en plase wees. Indien daar swart boere is, word vrae gevra, gaan al hul bates en grond ook op veilings geplaas word. Gaan CPA gebiede waar slegs sekere groepe volke bly, waar daar nie geboer word nie, ook wat daar is op veiling geplaas word? Daarteenoor – sou daar ‘n groot hoeveelheid reënval gewees het soos hieronder aangedui word, en alles weggespoel het, en ‘n rampgebied verklaar is, word alle bates normaalweg opgeskryf en verkoop? Nee dan word daar voedsel en komberse uitgedeel aan die wie se huise weggespoel is. Dan word die “boer” se produkte gebruik om die wat sonder heenkome is weer te voed en klee. Indien die ANC se kollegas nie boer nie – word hulle bates en grond ook op veiling geplaas?
Free State Agriculture (FSA) has welcomed the news that the province has been declared a drought disaster area. This follows a notice issued by the provincial department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in the Free State to all municipal managers last week to inform them of the declaration.
In response to this notice, all municipalities were tasked with convening special council meetings declaring the drought a disaster at municipal level through formal council resolutions.
They were then required to submit their disaster declarations to CoGTA’s Disaster Management Unit, along with the necessary “business plans” for assistance in three areas, including disaster mitigation plans such as the drilling of boreholes; funding to mitigate the disaster by providing fodder or protein pellets to farmers; and water restriction measures.
Francois Wilken, FSA president, said the association’s representatives had already started gathering information from their members, including applications that would be submitted for assistance.
The association’s main concerns, however, included the form assistance would take, who would receive aid, and whether government had the necessary funds to provide assistance to drought-stricken farmers.
He also expressed concern that any aid that may be forthcoming would arrive too late.
Wilken added that the FSA was hopeful that a forecast of widespread rain over the coming weekend would materialise and help alleviate the situation.
He added, however, that even if it did rain, it would not be the end of farmers’ struggles, as grazing would take time to grow and crops planted late were at risk from early frost, continued dry spells, and other climatic disasters.
The ideal, he said, would be the creation of a national disaster fund to facilitate drought insurance on inputs. Commercial farmers desperately needed a “safety net” to cover the cost of inputs such as seed, fertiliser, chemicals and fuel when they were unable to realise a harvest due to climatic disasters.
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The South African Weather Services (SAWS) issued a warning across the country.
On 21 of April 2019, severe thunderstorms were experienced in Free State, Kwa-Zulu Natal and Eastern Cape. In addition, more wet conditions in Durban and East London were expected to persist on the 22 of April 2019. The SAWS will continue to monitor any further developments relating to this weather system and will issue subsequent updates as required. The public is urged and encouraged to follow weather forecast on the television and radio. As indicated on the above heavy rainfall was experience across the country and our volunteers and staff conducted rapid damage assessments.
Furthermore, 389 people from Port St johns have been evacuated to a community hall and more than 200 people evacuated to four community halls in Durban with 52 fatalities reported in Durban. National society also continues to receive reports from other areas which anticipate floods. It has been highlighted that the impact of this disaster incident is severe as it caused damages to the property and infrastructure in the community. JOC stakeholders have been advised to continue to monitor the situations in their respective areas.
http://redcross.org.za/2019/04/24/disaster-relief-kwa-zulu-natal-eastern-cape-free-state/
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About 140 people have been evacuated from Bronville just outside Welkom, following heavy rain since the beginning of the week and subsequent flooding.
This comes after heavy rain in the mining city at the start of the week caused considerable damage to a number of households. Many people had to be relocated in shelters or places of safety.
Several roads at the city have also been flooded or blocked after the rain.
According to Tshepo Davids, regional spokesperson of the South African National Civic Organisation (SANCO) in Welkom, the situation had worsened since the rain started at the weekend.
Davids says, fortunately, no casualties were reported thus far but the situation is getting out of control.
He added that the premier has committed to bringing the disaster management unit to look at the situation and offer help.
He says they distributed essentials like blankets and food to the displaced.
Davids says they hope the disaster management unit will be on high alert as heavy rain continues at the city and many people continue to seek help.
He concluded by saying scores of people are flocking to the places of safety, seeking help.
These Boer farmers in the Free State, have farmed for over 3 Generations and maybe more. Their tractors and vehicles are being repossessed due to debts not being paid because of the harsh 5 year drought. They have never been helped by the Government and now 150 farmers are in risk of losing their farms. The Government had a long term plan to never help them as they needed their farms for their own families etc. These farmers are not your Mickey Mouse farmers. They are your huge commercial farmers.
ONAFHANKLIK 