Zuma says drought hindering economic growth
President Jacob Zuma on Thursday conceded that the drought being experienced across South Africa was an impediment to economic growth, but again stopped short of calling it a national disaster.
“One of the domestic constraints to growth in our country currently is the severe drought. It threatens the livelihoods of our people and has pushed most of the farmers to the edge of financial ruin,” Zuma said while opening the National House of Traditional Leaders in Parliament.
Zuma said while several government departments were enforcing plans to to help those affected and reprioritising funding towards drought relief, it would not completely alleviate the plight of farmers.
“There are shortfalls and there is still a need for assistance on the ground. It is a difficult period for farmers and communities alike.
“But working together, we will overcome this hardship. We always overcome our challenges because we work together as South Africans when faced with difficulties,” he said.
Zuma said farmers and ordinary South Africans alike would feel the pinch.
“They have seen their livestock die which has cost a lot of money,” the president said.
“Food prices will go up because of the drought.”
Five provinces – KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga – have been declared provincial disaster areas.
Meat and grain producers have predicted a steep rise in food prices as maize yields are expected to be lower and animals die as a result of a lack of feed and water.
Comments
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
SmartMine IoT has been developed with the mining industry in mind, to provides our customers with powerful business intelligence and data modelling...
VISIT SHOWROOM
From batteries for boats and jet skis, to batteries for cars and quad bikes, SABAT Batteries has positioned itself as the lifestyle battery of...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
