South Africa's Water Predicament

The book provides a critical evaluation of South Africa's freshwater resources to illustrate the way in which its freshwater resources, water access, services and infrastructure have continued to decline over the past three decades. The continued decline of water governance, management, water service delivery, dilapidated water infrastructure, dysfunctional local governments and overall excessive water degradation is illustrated and emphasized using real-life examples and case studies from various contexts within the country.

The main argument of the book is that South Africa's freshwater resources have declined to such an extent that it can be described as a predicament. Questionable water governance decisions and reactive water management practices have led to no improvement and/or increased degradation of freshwater resources. An overall lack of service delivery exists across the country, in various contexts, leading to further water and social decline.

An inter-disciplinary evaluation of South Africa's current water predicament is provided, major water crises are prioritized, and suitable recommendations are given to transform its predicament into problems which can be addressed. Suitable background information is given to emphasize the necessity of good water governance, management, and service delivery. South Africa's freshwater resources are evaluated with specific focus on the decline of informed water governance, management, service delivery and water quality. Factors requiring urgent attention are determined and suitable recommendations and/or actions are provided.

An evaluation and overall synthesis focused on the transformation of the predicament into problems is provided. Primary water problems are prioritized according to urgency and suitable recommendations are given to assist in transforming the country's current complex water predicament into 'simpler' water problems. Political will, collaboration with researchers, stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and cooperation of civil society is required.

South Africa's already scarce freshwater resources and decaying infrastructure will persist and possibly collapse if no major actions or interventions are implemented.

 

 

Prof Anja du Plessis is an Associate Professor and NRF Y2 rated researcher, specializing in water resource management. Her research is focused upon establishing and evaluating the current state of water resources in terms of availability and quality, identification of water risks and problems, water, sanitation and hygiene service delivery, viable opportunities as well as water governance and water resource management within different contexts. The fundamental part of her continued research is the analyses of water quality and availability, review of water governance and water management decisions and practices, establishment of risks and providing suitable recommendations and/or multidisciplinary strategies to improve and ensure informed decision-making. Lastly, her continued research ultimately aims to highlight the frequency and/or magnitude of growing water crises and contribute by suggesting possible interventions for growing water crises and predicaments, for these crises or predicaments to be transformed into solvable problems, ensuring future water security.