WATER challenges for rural communities under the Zululand district municipalities are soon to be a thing of the past.

WATER challenges for rural communities under the Zululand district municipalities are soon to be a thing of the past.

Zululand district mayor Zanele Magwaza-Msibi secured R300million from the Netherlands to assist with water issues.

The province's poorest district is made up of five local municipalities - Nongoma, Ulundi, Uphongolo, Abaqulusi and Edumbe. .

Magwaza-Msibi said the money would be coming in phases over three years.

"We have huge water challenges in our district because of drought and the fact that we are made up of only rural areas," Magwaza-Msibi said.

"It's a known factthat rural municipalities do not have a tax-base, meaning they are unable to raise money and rely on national government.

"That is why I had to personally go out and get funds from outside businesses and countries."

She said the funds would be allocated to all five local municipalities

Magwaza-Msibi said they were expecting the money to start coming in from May.