The decline of rural towns has resulted in a loss of hope for the people who call these towns home, writes Food For Mzansi co-founder and editor-in-chief Ivor Price. He believes the crumbling infrastructure is a reflection of the loss of hope felt by those who live there.
As I drove through the rural towns of Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Gauteng last month, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of despair. The once bustling communities were now mostly ghost towns, the infrastructure decayed, and the people, defeated.
One town that particularly caught my attention was Belfast. I remembered it as a glorious town with a vibrant economy, but now it is unrecognisable.
The roads were in such disrepair that driving through them felt like navigating through a minefield. The recent rains only made things worse, and it was clear that the municipality had given up on maintaining them.
But it was the people who truly broke my heart…
In Kgapane, just outside Modjadjiskloof at the foot of the escarpment in Limpopo, an agriculture economics graduate came up to my colleagues and me. He has been walking around with a certified copy of his degree in a Flip File for months now, hoping to meet someone who could help him land a job. Despite his qualification, he struggled to make ends meet and feared that he might never see a better tomorrow.
It wasn’t just him; I met many young people who were in similar situations. They had dreams and aspirations, but the lack of jobs and economic opportunities left them feeling hopeless. The decline of these rural towns had taken away their future.
The smell of despair
It was truly heartbreaking to witness. Town after town after town was now crumbling under the weight of poverty, unemployment, and neglect. It felt like taking a journey back in time, but instead of nostalgia, all I smelt was despair. Most of the people who live there were filled with a sense of hopelessness, and it showed on their faces.
It is hard to imagine that these towns were once the heart of South Africa’s agricultural economy.
They were the backbone of the country, providing the food that fed the nation. But now, they are shadows of their former selves. The decline of these towns is not just a South African tragedy; it is a tragedy for the entire continent.
The decline of rural towns is not just about crumbling infrastructure; it is about the loss of hope. The people who call these towns home are losing faith in their future. They see no opportunities for growth, no prospects for a better life. They feel like they have been forgotten by their government, and abandoned by their country.
A drop in the ocean
There can be no doubt that the curse of corruption had overtaken municipalities, and they were no longer able to serve their people. Yes, there are many brave attempts from, among others, the agriculture sector but while this is often a glimmer of hope, it was not enough.
We need to see much greater investment in these areas, providing access to jobs and economic opportunities, and rebuilding the infrastructure that is so critical to their success.
Reviving these rural towns would not only benefit the people who live there but also stimulate local economies, create jobs, and boost South Africa’s overall economic growth.
We cannot afford to let these areas fall further into decline. It is time for us to take action, provide hope to those who have lost it, and build a brighter future for all South Africans.
- Ivor Price is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Food For Mzansi. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the publication.
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