Western Cape calls for disaster area declaration

Western Cape farmers could potentially lose 50% of their crop yields during this season due to the drought conditions.

The Western Cape is appealing to national government to declare the region a disaster area, as farmers are seeking financial aid to combat the effects of the drought sweeping through southern Africa.

“Our assessments of the provincial water situation found that more than one region or district municipality in the province was experiencing very dry and water-stressed conditions,” Bloomberg news agency quoted local government, environmental affairs and development planning minister, Anton Bredell, as saying.

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