Essay on the History of Service Delivery, Access to Water, and Sustainable Development Since the End of Apartheid

In 1994, it was estimated that some 12 million people across South Africa lacked adequate water supply, while some 21 million, which is almost half of the nation’s total population in 1994, were without adequate sanitation facilities^[1]. Notably, the issue was direr in the more impoverished rural areas located in, the more affluent urban areas. Aside from the huge gaps in service delivery, apartheid’s fragmented institutional systems across the country provided a substantial difficulty. As a result, when it came to water supply and sanitation, the previous administration did not create a single department to handle these responsibilities^[2]. As a result, appointing the department to control water supply and offer sanitary services to the people was left to the homeland government and the local municipality.

According to the municipalities, the major problem was in relation to water tariffs^[3]. Notably, the water tariffs were unmanageable for most people who lived in poor rural areas, contributing to unequal distribution of water. This seemed to opposed the provisions of the Water Services Act 108 of 1997, chapter 1, section 3, which states that everyone has the right to access basic sanitation and water supply. In addition, it argues that the authority should ensure there are reasonable measures put in place to actualized these rights. Therefore, imposing high tariffs, limiting people from accessing basic water supply and sanitation, deprived people of the same rights they are assured in the constitution. Therefore, due to the elected government’s commitment to the bill of rights, they were focused on implementing basic principles such as the supply of clean drinking water to achieve the bill of rights provisions. These were termed as the presidential lead projects. Among them was the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF), which was used as the primary implementing agent in bringing water to the un-served communities. Based on this project, it was evident that the presidential lead projects were impressive. That is, it was stated that between 1994 and 2004, 13.4 million additional South Africans were given with basic water supplies through various government programs, including 10 million individuals who were directly served by DWAF.

Besides, the provision of sanitation services lagged behind water supply in the country; however, by 2004, 6.9 million additional people were beneficiaries of proper sanitation facilities^[4]. Most of them benefited as part of the housing programs under the so-called “presidential lead projects.” Furthermore, while the constitution had laid down the right to an adequate supply of water, there were no particular ways of practical implementation; therefore, the Water Services Act (WSAct) No. 108 of 1997 was enacted first to provide a general definition of basic water supply and basic sanitation. In addition, the WSAct expounded on the municipalities’ Constitutional responsibilities by setting out in no uncertain terms that these organizations should ensure that all people have access to safe water and sanitation hence being the main reason with this act precede the National Water Act, No. 36 of 1998^[5]. However, Tempelhoff stated that the Act, of 1998 marked a distinctly South African breakthrough, an argument which I support^[6]. Notably, the National Water Act introduced the concept of the reserve as the main priority in the allocation of water resources hence ensuring that adequate water resources will be made available for basic human needs.

Projects like the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) have been very significant to solving the issue of unequal water supply in South Africa. According to Nelson Mandela, the water project was the vehicle to a sharply focused development environment, contributing to the reconstruction of South Africa. Based on the articles, it is due to such projects that the South Africans are able to access safe water and sanitation services. According to Statistics South Africa, South Africa’s population has increased from approximately 39 million people in 1994 to about 51.7 million in 2011. The survey indicated that a remarkable 91.2% of the population has access to piped water at their backyards^[7]. Therefore, comparing the 1994 water supply percentage to the current one, it is evident that there a significant improvement. Personally, our local community is supplied by the local water system.

Conclusively, since ANC took over, it is evident that they have achieved significantly in terms of water supply and sanitation services. Besides, in 1994, it was estimated that some 12 million people across South Africa lacked adequate water supply, while some 21 million, which is almost half of the nation’s total population in 1994, were without adequate sanitation facilities. However, considering that South Africa’s population has increased from approximately 39 million people in 1994 to about 51.7 million in 2011, according to Statistics South Africa. The survey indicated that a remarkable 91.2% of the population has access to piped water at their backyards. Therefore, due to proper strategies in relation to the water supply, the ANC regime has overseen such achievement.

Bibliography

Gouws, C., I. Moeketsi, S. Motloung, Johan Tempelhoff, G. Van Greuning, and L. Van Zyl. “SIBU and the crisis of water service delivery in Sannieshof, North West Province.” TD: The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa 6, no. 1 (2010): 25-56.

Naidoo, Prishani. “Struggles around the commodification of daily life in South Africa.” Review of African Political Economy 34, no. 111 (2007): 57-66.

Republic of South Africa. Water Services Act 108 of 1997, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

Tempelhoff, Johann. South Africa’s water governance hydraulic mission (1912–2008) in a WEF-Nexus context. AOSIS, 2018.

Von Schnitzler, Antina. “Citizenship prepaid: Water, calculability, and techno-politics in South Africa.” Journal of Southern African Studies 34, no. 4 (2008): 899-917.

[1] Gouws, C., I. Moeketsi, S. Motloung, Johan Tempelhoff, G. Van Greuning, and L. Van Zyl. “SIBU and the crisis of water service delivery in Sannieshof, North West Province.” TD: The Journal for Transdisciplinary Research in Southern Africa 6, no. 1 (2010): 25-56.

[2] Tempelhoff, Johann. South Africa’s water governance hydraulic mission (1912–2008) in a WEF-Nexus context. AOSIS, 2018.

[3] Von Schnitzler, Antina. “Citizenship prepaid: Water, calculability, and techno-politics in South Africa.” Journal of Southern African Studies 34, no. 4 (2008): 899-917.

[4] Naidoo, Prishani. “Struggles around the commodification of daily life in South Africa.” Review of African Political Economy 34, no. 111 (2007): 57-66.

[5] Republic of South Africa. Water Services Act 108 of 1997, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

[6] Tempelhoff, Johann. South Africa’s water governance hydraulic mission (1912–2008) in a WEF-Nexus context. AOSIS, 2018.

[7] Naidoo, Prishani. “Struggles around the commodification of daily life in South Africa.” Review of African Political Economy 34, no. 111 (2007): 57-66.