KZN drought: Food security at risk, says Chamber
The Pietermaritzburg Chamber of Business says it's the poorest communities who're suffering the most due to the drought.
With plans by the uMgungundlovu District Municipality to introduce water restrictions, the chamber's CEO Melanie Veness is encouraging all businesses to heed calls to conserve the scarce resource.
Veness says the drought has had a devastating impact on the agricultural sector particularly on farms with livestock where the shortage of water means not enough food.
"There's been an incredible impact in the maize sector. I'm afraid that down the line it looks like we're going to have to import maize. So yes, it's a widespread impact. I think that everyone has to take some sort of responsibility for it.
"My understanding is that we have about four months supply in our region here. People will have to make a concerted effort to save as much water as possible," she said.
(File photo: Getty Images)