Klassifikasie van erge weersomstandighede as ’n nasionale ramp | Classification of severe weather events as a national disaster

English to follow:

20 Januarie 2022

Agri SA verwelkom die Nasionale Rampbestuursentrum (NDMC) se klassifikasie van ’n nasionale ramp ná afloop van die vernietigende reënval en oorstromings in groot dele van die land.

Die organisasie verwelkom terselfdertyd die onlangse reën wat ’n einde gebring het aan die droogtetoestande wat die afgelope ses tot nege jaar die land teister. Hierdie toestande hou egter ’n risiko in vir oeste en infrastruktuur. Padinfrastuktuur is van besondere belang en moet gepriotiseer word.

Die nasionale rampklassifikasie maak voorsiening vir die nasionale uitvoerende gesag om die ramp ingevolge bestaande wetgewing en gebeurlikheidsreëlings te koördineer en te bestuur. Ter versterking kan die Suid-Afrikaanse Nasionale Weermag, die Suid-Afrikaanse Polisiediens of enige ander orgaan van die staat gemobiliseer word om sodoende die ramp in samewerking met rampbestuurstrukture doeltreffend te bestuur.

Impakstudies word reeds onderneem deur provinsiale rampbestuursentrums en die department van landbou om die skade te bepaal wat produsente gely het. Dié studies is noodsaaklik ten einde ’n nasionale ramp te kan verklaar. Fondse sal nou binne die regeringsfeer geherprioritiseer word om die ramp aan te speek, insluitend die dringende herstel van padinfrastruktuur.

Volgens verslae wat ontvang is, het produsente tot 100% oesverliese in sommige distrikte gely en, aangesien produsente aan die einde van die plantseisoen is, kan hulle nie heraanplantings doen nie. As gevolg van die stortreëns het boere ook verliese gely in die vorm van rekord-hoë insetkoste soos onder meer kunsmis en brandstof.

Agri SA neem deel aan die NDMC se National Joint Flood Coordination Committee-vergaderings, waar georganiseerde landbou die geleentheid het om die kritieke behoeftes van produsente aan te spreek en om nouer saam te werk met die regering aangaande die uitwerking wat rampe op produsente het. Agri SA is daartoe verbind om die NDMC te help met die skadebepaling asook versagting van die gevolge daarvan vir die landbousektor.

Navrae:

Andrea Campher Agri SA: Risiko- en rampbestuurder

Willem Symington Voorsitter van die Sentrum van Uitnemendheid: Natuurlike Hulpbronne

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20 January 2022

Agri SA welcomes the National Disaster Management Centre’s (NDMC) classification of a national disaster due to the severe rainfall and flooding in large parts of the country.

The recent rains have also been welcomed due to prolonged drought conditions producers experienced the past 6 to 9 years, however, these conditions have brought severe risks for crops and damage to infrastructure. Road infrastructure is of particular importance to be prioritised.

The national disaster classification allows the national executive, in terms of existing legislation and contingency arrangements, to coordinate and manage this disaster. In strengthening its support, the South African National Defence Force, South African Police Service or any other organ of state can be mobilised to effectively manage the disaster in conjunction with disaster management structures.

Impact assessments are already being conducted by provincial disaster management centres and the department of agriculture to determine the extent of damage suffered by producers. In order to have a national disaster declared, these assessments are critical. Funds will now be reprioritised within the sphere of government to address the disaster, of which the urgent need for producers is to have road infrastructure repaired. Reports have been received that some producers have 100% crop losses in some districts and, as we are at the end of the planting season, producers cannot replant. Record high input costs such as fertiliser and fuel are other losses farmers also experienced by the torrential rains.

Agri SA partakes in the National Joint Flood Coordination Committee meetings of the NDMC, in which organised agriculture have the opportunity to address the critical needs of producers and allow closer collaboration with the government on the impacts suffered by producers. Agri SA is committed to assisting the NDMC in assessing the damage and mitigating the effects on the agricultural sector.

Inquiries:

Andrea Campher Agri SA Risk and Disaster manager

Willem Symington Chairperson of Agri SA’s Natural Resources Centre of Excellence