The country remains in the grip of one of the worst droughts in recent years, costing the government millions of rands in relief funding.
Many farmers have entered the dry season with meagre animal fodder and water reserves.
Subsistence farmers and rural people have been severely affected, and in some areas farmers have resorted to pumping limited borehole water to assist desperate neighbouring communities.
"The entire region continues to suffer under one of the worst droughts in recent years. Statistics from the South African Weather Services confirm that 2004 rainfall is well below the 10-year average, for KwaZulu Natal in particular.
"The water situation in the province was well below the desired level at the advent of the dry season... in certain areas dam levels are significantly lower than last year and groundwater levels have decreased throughout the province," said Frikkie Brooks, chairperson of the Provincial Emergency Reconstruction Co-ordinating (Percco) committee.
Brooks said there were indications that between June and October this year there would be a 50 percent probability of below-normal rainfall in KwaZulu-Natal.
Department of Agriculture spokesperson Mbongeni Hlophe said the situation remained "serious" and that disaster status had not been upgraded in the province.
About R68-million has already been spent on drought relief, mainly for animal fodder for small-scale farmers and drinking water.
And it is anticipated that a further R100-million would be required to provide relief until the end of December.
Percco has applied to the government for additional funding.