FOUR Limpopo municipalities have been declared disaster areas because of the persistent water crisis.

Affected areas of the Makhado and Thulamela municipalities in the Vhembe district, and Greater Letaba and Greater Giyani municipalities in the Mopani district, have been hit by a water shortage as dams and boreholes run dry.

Water Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica visited Giyani this week and found the situation to be worse than she had expected.

The taps in communities around Giyani are dry . The Middle Letaba and Nsami dams are rapidly running out of water. Communities have to rely on boreholes.

Sonjica said the country would be hit by serious shortages in the next 20 years if climate changes persist.

She said Giyani needed urgent intervention and t required at least R15million to draw water from the Nandoni Dam, which is overflowing.

"I will report my experiences to President Jacob Zuma and hope we will find a solution soon," Sonjica said.

She urged communities to use water sparingly.