AGRICULTURE NEWS - A research report by the Public Affairs Research Institute on the financial state of South Africa’s municipalities shows that the large majority of municipalities in South Africa are not even equipped to plug a few potholes, never mind respond to large-scale disasters such as regional droughts.

According to the report, around 30 municipalities were in a state of almost total collapse, while many faced operational and financial challenges, and more than 100 had unfunded budgets in the last financial year.

To understand how weak municipalities have exacerbated the degree to which people are suffering, take the Tzaneen Dam as an example.

Farmer’s Weekly previously reported how the current drought has resulted in the water level of the dam dropping to about 7% of full capacity.

However, the situation has been made worse due to delays in raising the dam wall, which has led to the dam currently being capable of holding only 60% of its maximum capacity.

Read the full article here on the Caxton publication, Farmer's Weekly.