South Africa has declared that the drought afflicting parts of the country as a national disaster, following assessments by relevant state institutions.

The decision was announced through the Government Gazette by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA).

According to Elias Sithole, Head of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) under CoGTA, the classification was made after evaluating reports submitted on drought conditions in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape, as well as the risk of large-scale disruptions to water supply systems managed by state entities.

Sithole stated that the drought and potential water supply failures in these provinces pose a serious threat to human safety, describing the situation as a potential disaster that warranted national-level classification.

With the declaration published in the Government Gazette, the primary responsibility for coordination and management of the disaster has now been transferred to the National Executive, enabling broader intervention and resource mobilization.

Calling for collective action, Sithole urged all organs of state to strengthen their support for existing emergency measures and to ensure the implementation of effective steps that would allow the National Executive to address the impacts of the disaster efficiently.

He also encouraged government bodies, the private sector, communities and individuals to enhance targeted drought mitigation practices, improve water conservation efforts, and strengthen risk-avoidance programs on both the supply and demand sides of water use.

Earlier in January, South Africa had already declared a national disaster following severe weather conditions and widespread flooding that affected several provinces, including Limpopo, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and North West.

The latest classification highlights the country’s growing vulnerability to extreme climate events and underscores the urgent need for coordinated national responses to water scarcity. (ILKHA)