The MEC for Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, Mase Manopole, wishes to inform the members of the public not to panic over the brown locusts that have invaded the Northern Cape.
The Department has been inundated with calls from the public, after locusts were spotted in households and playing areas at various towns in the Province. The MEC wish to indicate that due to recent heavy rainfalls, the Province has experienced outbreaks of locusts in various parts of the districts, such as Pixley Ka Seme and ZF Mgcawu.
The latest districts in which locusts were spotted is Namakwa, John Taolo Gaetsewe and Frances Baard.
“The control measures are currently being implemented to curb the new spread of the locusts in Namakwa, John Taolo Gaetsewe and Frances Baard. The current strong winds are supporting the flight and spread of the locusts, especially in to our dwellings,” said MEC Manopole.
MEC assured the public that the locusts are not harmful, however, they can destroy vegetation.
“Unfortunately, we are prohibited by law to control the spread in our dwellings because of the nature of chemical we are using. However, we urge members of the public to chase the locusts away when they are spotted in their yards and also switch off their outside lights at night.”
She further called on farmers and farmer organisations to alert the Department whenever they spot these locusts and work with our officials on the ground to curb the spread.
Farmers and Members of the Public are advised to report the visibility of these swam in their areas to the following departmental officials, Ms. Mulalo Matodzi on 083 326 7773, Ms. Vuyokazi Mpumlwana on 084760 8176 and Dr. Ikalafeng Kgakatsi on 072 198 9882
