Hon Chair, hon President, with regard to the strategic interventions in our economy and domestic industries, I would like to point out that the extreme drought in the Northern Cape that has been prevailing for the last five years has reached a pinnacle. The people are really suffering there. This drought will lead to job losses - more than 62 000 jobs. If we don't receive higher than expected rainfall very soon, more than 1 million cattle would have starved by the end of this year in the Northern Cape. I
am not talking about sheep and wildlife. So, that is only cattle. The farmers in the Northern Cape are really suffering.
The Northern Cape is in desperate need of strategic interventions, to protect the economy and the farming industry.
Afrikaans:
Die boere in die Noord-Kaap is die ruggraad van die ekonomie in die Noord- Kaap en daardie boere het nodig dat u die Noord-Kaap spoedig as 'n droogterampgebied verklaar. My vraag is: Wanneer gaan u dit doen?
English:
How can we then ensure the required budget and legislation to action this mitigating effect on this drought that we so desperately need?
Afrikaans:
Die boere in die Noord-Kaap het u vandag nodig. Hulle het nodig dat u so spoedig as moontlik hierdie droogte in die Noorde-Kaap tot 'n droogterampgebied verklaar. Dankie.