Question NW1033 to the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development

Reply:

a) The upsurge of locust swarms that have invaded parts of the Republic of South Africa have destroyed some of the grazing land. The grazing land that was destroyed in some farms in the Eastern Cape are (Stytlerville, Willowmore, Jansenville, Klipplaat, Aberdeen and Rietbron) and farms in Northern Cape are (Kenhardt and Marydale). As a result, the farmers indicated that they have to buy the feed for animals in those areas because locusts destroyed the vegetation. Some of the maize plantation farms were affected in Britstown in Northern Cape and Aberdeen in Eastern Cape.

b) The estimated amount which would be required to deal with the spread per year is R218 million and the breakdown is as follows:

• R136 million for procurement of pesticide;
• R30 million for payment of ground control contractors;
• R35 million for payment of aerial spraying contractors to support ground team on inaccessible areas;
• R15 million for procurement of additional spray pumps; and
• R2 million for procurement of personal protective equipment.