Western Cape Premier Alan Winde has welcomed the national government's declaration of the province's drought as a national disaster. He says this enables authorities to act preventatively, reallocate funds, and use the disaster as a risk management tool. Dam levels are around the 50% mark.
The national government's declaration has classified the drought in the Western Cape as a national disaster, a move that Premier Alan Winde has enthusiastically supported. Winde emphasizes that it allows authorities to be proactive, reallocate funds, and treat the situation as a risk management tool. With dam levels at about 50%, he warns of the need to prepare for a longer summer season and drier years.
Winde explains that this changes how the crisis is managed, directing funding to the most affected areas. Collaboration between national, provincial, and local governments prioritizes the most vulnerable municipalities. For instance, Minister Bredell and his team will meet with the full council in Knysna on Friday to ensure agreed actions are implemented.
"So, that means it enables us to manage it differently, with funding directed towards areas where the issues are the worst. Of course, we are managing it between national, provincial and local government, with specific focus on those local governments that are most at risk. For example, Minister Bredell and his entire team will meet with the full council in Knysna on Friday to ensure that when we agree that something must happen, it does happen," Winde says.
This measure comes amid ongoing water shortages and the need for coordinated efforts to mitigate the drought's impact.
