The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga is pleased to announce the successful adoption of its motion in the Provincial Legislature this week, calling for the classification of the widespread veld fires affecting the province as a provincial disaster.
These catastrophic fires, which have ravaged parts of both Mpumalanga and neighbouring provinces, have consumed thousands of hectares of grazing land, destroyed properties, killed livestock, and damaged critical agricultural equipment. This devastation threatened the livelihoods of numerous farmers and rural communities across all Mpumalanga districts.
The DA has long emphasised the necessity of classifying these fires as a provincial disaster to unlock much-needed disaster relief funds and accelerate emergency procurement processes. The delay in this declaration has hindered the province’s ability to respond effectively to the crisis, further jeopardising food security and the well-being of affected communities. The DA maintains that decisive, accountable governance is crucial in disaster management, especially in times of urgent need.
The DA has consistently raised concerns over the Premier’s failure to declare the veld fires a provincial disaster, despite the extensive damage and devastating impact on our agricultural sector and rural economy. We have questioned the Premier and the MEC for Agriculture earlier this year during the Budget Speech and again during the opening of the Provincial Legislature, but our calls went unanswered.
With the adoption of this motion, the DA will continue to monitor the government’s response to the disaster and ensure that necessary measures are implemented to provide relief to those affected by the fires. The people of Mpumalanga deserve leadership that prioritises their safety, security, and livelihoods in the face of such disasters.
The DA will also remain steadfast in holding Premier Mandla Ndlovu accountable for his delayed response, as the failure to act swiftly and decisively has had dire consequences for farmers and rural communities across the province.
We urge the provincial government to expedite the process of declaring these fires a provincial disaster and to make use of all available resources to provide the so much needed relief to all affected people in Mpumalanga.
The DA is committed to ensuring that the province’s disaster management protocols are strengthened, and that the necessary support is provided to rebuild and recover from this devastation.