The Democratic Alliance (DA) urgently calls on the Provincial Government to respond following severe storms and destructive hail that have ravaged Bushbuckridge, Nkomazi and Mbombela Local Municipalities over the weekend leaving communities and businesses facing extensive losses.
The extreme weather has caused widespread damage to crops, infrastructure, houses, schools, and equipment, pushing farmers, businesses and local communities towards financial crisis and severely impacting their capacity to recover without swift support.
These storms hit during a crucial phase in the agricultural cycle, resulting in near-total crop losses for many farmers, with likely effects on future production. The financial strain on affected families and farm workers could lead to lasting repercussions for the local economy and food supply stability.
Beyond the agricultural sector, many businesses, local communities have also suffered severe damage. Additionally, power outages have persisted since Sunday, with no clear indication of restoration, further compounding difficulties for affected communities.
In response, the DA has reached out to the MEC of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, and Environmental Affairs, Nompumelelo Hlophe, calling for immediate intervention and relief for the affected farmers. Furthermore, we strongly urge the Office of Premier, Mandla Ndlovu, in collaboration with the MEC of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Speedy Mashilo, to declare Bushbuckridge, Nkomazi and Mbombela disaster areas. Such a declaration would enable a coordinated response to mobilise resources, deliver essential relief, and unlock emergency funding to assist affected communities, farmers, and business owners in rebuilding and sustaining their operations.
Through prompt and coordinated action from the provincial government, vital support can be activated to help the affected to recover and regain stability in the aftermath of this devastating event.