The agriculture department says it has spent R80-million on the locust-control programme but locust officers have not been paid in six months – while the plague continues to threaten thousands of hectares of crops.
The locust army that has ravaged SA’s countryside has reached the Buffalo City Metro’s doorstep, with a swarm of the voracious insects descending on the Amathole region in Dikeni (formerly Alice) at the weekend.
“It’s not as if we don’t know where drugs are being sold and who is selling them. We know. All that is needed is decisive action on your side.” These words form part of a memorandum from the Border Alliance Taxi Association (Bata)/ Uncedo joint taxi forum in Makhanda. Witnessed by drivers and owners of about 50 taxis, forum convener Lungisa Sixaba handed it to station commander Colonel Mbulelo Pika in front of the Makhanda police station on Thursday.