South Africa classifies drought, water shortages as national disaster

South Africa has classified drought conditions and water supply disruptions in parts of the country as a national disaster.



The classification was announced by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) in a government gazette published on Wednesday.



Elias Sithole, head of the National Disaster Management Center (NDMC) in the CoGTA, said that the decision was made "after having considered reports submitted on drought and the possible interruption of large scale water provision by organs of state in terms of the potential impact and magnitude in the Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape."



"I regard the life safety risk and impact posed by drought and the possible interruption of large scale water provision in these provinces as a potential disaster and ... I classify the disaster as a national disaster," said Sithole.



According to the gazette, following the classification, the primary responsibility to coordinate and manage this national disaster is now designated to the National Executive.