KAGISANO MOLOPO, NORTH WEST — As the November municipal elections approach, North West farmers demand better service delivery to address crippling infrastructure and resource shortages in the rural Kagisano Molopo local municipality. Agricultural workers and landowners are urging incoming councillors to prioritize basic needs, warning that persistent backlogs are threatening their livelihoods and the broader community.
With only a few weeks left before the polls, persistent service delivery backlogs remain a critical issue for many local communities. Commercial, subsistence, and emerging farmers have added their voices to the ongoing concerns, highlighting that they are largely left to fend for themselves when it comes to basic infrastructure.
Speaking on the state of local infrastructure, a commercial and subsistence farmer pointed out that the only tarred road in the area leads to Tosca. Beyond that, the region relies on gravel roads that the spokesperson claims have not been properly maintained in the last 40 years.
“We don’t have gravel roads or proper roads to drive on. It makes our expenses quite high on any vehicle,” the farmer explained, noting that the poor road conditions affect everyone, regardless of whether they are commercial or subsistence farmers. Because of these failures, farmers say they are often forced to maintain the local roads themselves and purchase their own diesel to pump water for both their operations and the surrounding communities.
The farmer expressed deep frustration with the current administration, stating that the government is failing the agricultural sector and urging citizens to carefully consider their choices before heading to the elections to demand a change in leadership.
The lack of basic resources has also taken a devastating toll on livestock. A local cattle farmer revealed that they lost 37 cows due to severe water shortages and a lack of grazing grass.
“Some were pregnant, and there was no grass for grazing,” the cattle farmer said, noting that despite repeatedly asking for water, the animals could not survive. “Hence, I’m voting for those who will help us, listen to us, and take our grievances forward.”
Meanwhile, emerging farmers are also pleading for improved services and basic resources once the new council is elected. An emerging farmer highlighted that the community is still struggling with land and water access, noting that both communal lands and private farms are without adequate water supplies.
Expressing hope in the incoming class of politicians, the emerging farmer noted that newly elected officials will have direct experience with the ground-level challenges facing the community. However, the current reality remains bleak; the spokesperson shared that they have lost 16 cows that are still missing, and local crop farming cooperatives are forced to operate in open, unfenced spaces without electricity.
“Maybe I expect if the coming election can come and do changes for us,” the emerging farmer said, appealing to the authorities to finally maintain the area’s gravel roads and restore essential services to the farming community.
