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VIEWPOINT-The Devastating Decline of South Africa’s Small Farming Towns

VIEWPOINT-The Devastating Decline of South Africa’s Small Farming Towns

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When travelling through the South African countryside, one cannot help but notice the many small towns that once thrived on farming and agriculture.
These rural communities, which historically formed the backbone of the country’s agricultural economy, are now struggling — and in many cases, slowly dying.It is devastating to witness how years of poor governance and incompetent management have destroyed what were once vibrant towns.
Most of these rural centres were in relatively good condition when the ANC came into power. Infrastructure was maintained, roads were functional, water supply was reliable, and basic services were generally acceptable.Today, the picture is very different. Roads are in a shocking state of disrepair, often potholed or completely washed away. Water systems are failing or non-existent in many areas. Municipal services have collapsed in far too many towns, with refuse collection, electricity supply, and sewage systems frequently breaking down. 
Most of the roads leading to these towns are also in terrible condition. The gravel roads that were once regularly maintained by the provincial government are now largely neglected. Each town used to have its own grader and dedicated team responsible for maintaining the network of smaller farm roads on a weekly basis.
Today, those teams no longer operate. If you visit the municipal depots, you will often find graders, trucks, and other machinery lying abandoned and rotting away.
Each town used to have a well-maintained graveyard. The graves were neat, and each one had a steel plaque with a number engraved on it. Today, you will struggle to find even one of those plaques left — they have all been stolen.Sport facilities, which were once the heart and soul of these towns, have mostly fallen into disrepair or disappeared entirely.
The vibrant community life they supported is now largely gone.Most businesses have closed down. While each town may still have an agricultural co-op, a food store, a doctor, and perhaps one or two car dealerships, the majority of banks have shut their branches.
At the same time, thousands of people in these small towns sit around with nothing to do, unemployed and without hope for the future.The contrast between past functionality and current decay is stark.
The destruction of these small towns is not just an infrastructure problem — it represents a profound failure of local governance that directly impacts the lives of farmers, agricultural workers, and entire rural communities.
These towns will never be rebuilt to their former glory. What once existed in perfect order has been lost, possibly forever. Farmers and their families were the true heart of these communities.
Today, corruption remains one of the biggest obstacles to recovery. Incompetent councillors and mayors too often look after only themselves, with their hands deep in the cookie jar. Lacking the necessary experience and integrity to run a town effectively, they continue to preside over decline instead of development.

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