Government has set aside R433.524 million from the disaster grants for immediate drought relief funding for the country’s most affected provinces.

The fund, which will be distributed over the 2017/18 and 2018/19 financial years, have been allocated to the Eastern, Northern and Western Cape provinces.

According to Zweli Mkhize, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister, the approval and transfer of the funds is based on the conditions for the Municipal Provincial Disaster Grants, as stipulated in the applicable Grant Framework.

Mkhize has urged the grant recipients to implement the drought relief projects swiftly without any delays.

The department will coordinate the provision of support, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of implementation of relief measures by the provinces and municipalities.

“This will be done through the relevant technical teams/work streams constituted by relevant national government departments and organs of state, as well as the Provincial Disaster Management Centres with relevant provincial or regional government departments and existing structures,” he explained.

“The Inter-Ministerial Task Team (IMTT) [on Drought and Water Scarcity] will continue to monitor the drought conditions throughout the country as well as regularly provide leadership and oversight to the organs of state for appropriate decision making, including the regular review of decisions based on the drought and water shortage conditions within the country, Mkhize said.