While the government has committed R2.1 billion to infrastructure projects for the 2024/25 financial year, farmers have poured out their frustrations over the state of road, rail, and water infrastructure across the country.
The department of public works and infrastructure listed 12 projects ranging from waste water treatment plants, rail, and electricity they will be focusing on.
Despite being the most advanced economy in Africa, the country’s infrastructure is plagued by a myriad of issues, contributing to socioeconomic disparities and hindering overall economic growth.
No financial means for resources
In the heart of South Africa’s agricultural landscape, farmers are grappling with dire infrastructure challenges that threaten their livelihoods and the well-being of their livestock.
Busisiwe Mbane, a pork farmer from the Eastern Cape, expressed her concerns, painting a stark picture of the post-rain landscape.
“The state of infrastructure is very bad for our pigs, especially after the heavy rains. Our shelters are inundated with mud, and many of us lack the financial means to address this issue by purchasing cement for repairs,” she said.
Mbongi Khuzwayo, a livestock farmer in KwaZulu-Natal, describes the local infrastructure as “appalling”. Khuzwayo highlighted the critical water shortage plaguing their community, emphasising its detrimental impact on farming operations.
“The lack of running water and accessible dams, compounded by potential contamination, severely impedes our progress.
“This not only hampers agricultural production but also escalates costs unnecessarily, as for small-scale farmers these are costs that we cannot take because we are barely coping,” Khuzwayo explained.
Lack of water infrastructure
The water crisis poses multifaceted challenges for farmers, extending beyond irrigation to the impact on livestock welfare.
Mbane elaborated on the serious consequences of contaminated dams, stressing the dangers posed to animals.
“When dams are filled with mud, it jeopardises the safety of our livestock. Animals drink from these sources risking becoming trapped, exacerbating the already dire situation,” Mbane said.
According to Mbane, mud in dams makes matters worse and shows the severity of water scarcity during the dry season.
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Other challenges
In addition to water woes, inadequate fencing is a challenge that Khuzwayo and surrounding farmers are plagued with. He added that rampant stock theft plagues the community as insufficient fencing fails to safeguard livestock.
“Without proper fencing, we are vulnerable to rampant stock theft. The absence of protective barriers not only compromises our livelihoods but also forces young boys to forgo education to safeguard our animals,” he said.
“The overarching issue of funding exacerbates these infrastructure challenges, hindering farmers’ ability to implement sustainable solutions.”
Khuzwayo said the need for financial aid to bolster farming endeavours is critical. “Without adequate funding, we are unable to invest in essential infrastructure, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and agricultural stagnation. ”
Bad road infrastructure
Pamela Goldstone, a crop farmer from KwaZulu-Natal, emphasised the pressing need for enhanced irrigation systems and financial support for labour. Despite possessing basic farming tools and land, Goldstone worries over the absence of efficient irrigation, hindering productivity and exacerbating water scarcity.
“The lack of irrigation and labour finance poses significant challenges. Without adequate water supply and resources to maintain our expansive land, our farming efforts are severely hampered,” she said.
Goldstone further highlighted the pervasive issue of water scarcity and theft within her community, highlighting the urgent need for intervention to safeguard vital resources and mitigate losses.
Meanwhile, Tsakani Ngobeni from Hammanskraal in Pretoria raised attention to broader infrastructure deficiencies encompassing transportation, communication networks, sewage, and electricity.
Ngobeni said the state of the routes going to markets is very poor, impacting the quality of produce and resulting in damage and diminished yields.
“The state of transportation and communication infrastructure is deplorable. Inadequate roads not only compromise the quality of our produce but also impede our ability to access vital information and services,” Ngobeni said.
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