Drought was high on the agenda when cooperative governance MEC Fikile Xasa met mayors and managers from all Eastern Cape municipalities in Mthatha yesterday.
The province is one of the worst affected by drought in the country with the OR Tambo, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi, Amathole and Alfred Nzo districts all declaring themselves disaster areas.
Xasa met about 100 mayors, deputies, council speakers and municipal managers at the OR Tambo Hall in Southernwood.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Xasa said his department was looking at ways of responding.
“We are awaiting a pronouncement from the national disaster management team.
“ declared themselves disaster areas but the disaster management team has to follow its own processes and pronounce.
“There was a view that we are not as badly affected as other provinces but the people on the ground, the farmers, are the ones who know the effects of the drought,” he said.
Xasa said Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane had offered support in linking Dutywa dam to another water source.
He said the OR Tambo district would also be helped in completing a water project in Coffee Bay.
In Alfred Nzo district, the water reticulation system from the Ludeke Dam outside Mbizana would be worked on.
“The dam is overflowing but there is no way to take that water to the people,” said Xasa.
He said R33-million had been set aside for the refurbishment of boreholes in the OR Tambo and Sarah Baartman districts.
The OR Tambo district municipality is revamping wetlands and constructing reservoirs across the district.
Another topic discussed was the demarcation process where eight Eastern Cape municipalities are set to merge to form four new municipalities.
The proposed new names are Raymond Mhlaba for the merged Nkonkobe and Nxuba municipalities in the Amathole district.
Lukhanji and Tsolwana in the Chris Hani district will be called Enoch Mgijima, while Gariep and Maletswai in Joe Gqabi will be named Walter Sisulu.
Sarah Baartman’s Camdeboo, Ikhwezi and Baviaans will merge to form Karoo Mohair municipality with the seat in Graaff-Reinet.
The final names of all the new municipalities still have to be finalised and formally announced to the public.
Also high on the agenda are the municipal audit outcomes, which were to be presented by the auditor-general’s office, and the debts owed by municipalities.
Drought relief top priority as mayors meet
The province is one of the worst affected by drought in the country with the OR Tambo, Chris Hani, Joe Gqabi, Amathole and Alfred Nzo districts all declaring themselves disaster areas.
Xasa met about 100 mayors, deputies, council speakers and municipal managers at the OR Tambo Hall in Southernwood.
Speaking to the Daily Dispatch yesterday, Xasa said his department was looking at ways of responding.
“We are awaiting a pronouncement from the national disaster management team.
“ declared themselves disaster areas but the disaster management team has to follow its own processes and pronounce.
“There was a view that we are not as badly affected as other provinces but the people on the ground, the farmers, are the ones who know the effects of the drought,” he said.
Xasa said Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane had offered support in linking Dutywa dam to another water source.
He said the OR Tambo district would also be helped in completing a water project in Coffee Bay.
In Alfred Nzo district, the water reticulation system from the Ludeke Dam outside Mbizana would be worked on.
“The dam is overflowing but there is no way to take that water to the people,” said Xasa.
He said R33-million had been set aside for the refurbishment of boreholes in the OR Tambo and Sarah Baartman districts.
The OR Tambo district municipality is revamping wetlands and constructing reservoirs across the district.
Another topic discussed was the demarcation process where eight Eastern Cape municipalities are set to merge to form four new municipalities.
The proposed new names are Raymond Mhlaba for the merged Nkonkobe and Nxuba municipalities in the Amathole district.
Lukhanji and Tsolwana in the Chris Hani district will be called Enoch Mgijima, while Gariep and Maletswai in Joe Gqabi will be named Walter Sisulu.
Sarah Baartman’s Camdeboo, Ikhwezi and Baviaans will merge to form Karoo Mohair municipality with the seat in Graaff-Reinet.
The final names of all the new municipalities still have to be finalised and formally announced to the public.
Also high on the agenda are the municipal audit outcomes, which were to be presented by the auditor-general’s office, and the debts owed by municipalities.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos