Perceptions of rural water service delivery:
the case of Ugu District Municipality
T. B. Cele
22358218
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the
Master’s degree in Water Studies at the Potchefstroom Campus of the
North-West University
Supervisor:
Professor J. Tempelhoff
May 2012
Index Acknowledgements 1 Dankbetuigings 2 Abstract 3 Opsomming 5 Chapter 1 7
1 Motivation and Objectives
1.1 Introduction 7
1.2 Motivation 7
1.3 Objectives 8
1.4 Research Question 8
1.5 Central Theoretical Statement 9
1.6 Study Limitation 9
1.7 Research Methodology 10
1.8 Empirical Investigation 10
1.9 Interviews 10
1.10 Sampling 11
1.11 Processing and verification of the data 11
1.12 Ethical clearance 11
1.13 Procedure 12
1.14 Chapters of the study 12
1.15 Summary 12
Chapter 2 13
2 An overview of the relevant literature on water supply
2.1 Introduction 13
2.2 Literature Perspective 13
2.3 The right to an environment which is not harmful 14 2.4 Legislation and Policies on water 15 2.5 Batho Pele (People-first) Principles 16
2.6 Obligations of the State 16
2.7 Progress achieved in providing water to poor people 17 2.8 The challenges in accessing water provision to poor South
Africans
18 2.9 Challenges in accessing water by poor people 18
2.10 Development Principle 20
2.11 Modernisation Theory 20
2.12 Capacity in the spheres of government, NPOs and community Leaders
21
2.13 Summary 22
Chapter 3 23
3 Presentation and interpretation of the data
3.1 Introduction 23
3.2 Research Findings 24
3.3 Rural area wards 24
3.4 Urban and Semi-urban wards 28
3.5 Water Tankers 30 3.6 Communication 30 3.7 Purification Plants 30 3.8 People’s Perceptions 32 3.9 Research limitations 34 3.10Summary 34 Chapter 4 35
4 The responses of politicians and officials
4.1 Introduction 35
4.2 The African National Congress Secretary 35 4.3 The Chairperson of the Water Portfolio Committee 36
4.4 The Ugu District Mayor 36
4.5 Responses from Officials 37
4.5.1 The General Manager Ugu District Municipality
Water section 37
4.5.2 The Institution and Social Development Officer 41 4.5.3 The Customer Relations Officer 42 4.5.4 The Water loss Control Technician 44 4.5.5 The Social Consultant at Ugu District Municipality 44 4.6 Typical responses from Politicians and Officials 46
4.7Summary 47
Chapter 5 48
5 Recommendations
5.1 Introduction 48
5.2 Rural area wards 48
5.3 Water Infrastructure Systems 49
5.4 Water Tankers 50
5.5 Population Growth 51
5.5 Goals of the Public Education Programme 52
5.7Building public awareness 54
5.8 Informative website
5.9 Collaboration of stake holders
55 55
5.10 Conclusion 58
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Acknowledgements
To everyone who has played a vital role, while I was working on this study, I wish to express my sincere gratitude.
First and foremost, I would like to thank my Heavenly Father for granting me the ability to work on this study against all the odds that one faces in the academic journey. My gratitude also goes to my study leader, Prof. Johann Tempelhoff.
Acknowledgement is also given to Ugu District Municipality for opening its doors for me to get all the necessary information relevant to my research. Special thanks must be given to officials in the water section. These are: Mr P. Pawandiwa (General Manager in the Water section) and all the other officials, politicians and community members who participated in this study.
I also want to acknowledge the University of KwaZulu-Natal, for allowing me to borrow books from its libraries; my colleagues in my class of integrated water management, Dudu Magwaza, and Dennis Msweni, for assisting me, despite their busy schedule.
Also my sincere gratitude is given to Mrs Farzanah Loonate, the programme administrative co-ordinator. She was helpful throughout the course. Her commitment and dedication in assisting us motivated me to press on, and never to despair.
And lastly, I would like to thank whole-heartedly my wife and children, for being so tolerant of me, while I used all of their quality family time to finish my studies.
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Dankbetuigings
Graag betuig ek my dankbaarheid aan ieder en elk wat deel gehad het aan my werk met hierdie studie.
Ten eerste, my dank aan my Hemelse Vader vir die geleentheid en die vermoë wat Hy my gegee het om hierdie studie aan te pak. Dit was ‘n uitdaging; en ten spyte van al die struikelblokke het Hy my gehelp om suksesvol te wees.
Spesiale dank gaan aan my studieleier, Prof. Johann Tempehoff, vir sy gespesialiseerde en positiewe bydraes wat vir my en al die ander studente deurgaans beskikbaar was. My waardering aan Ugu distriksmunisipaliteit, by name Mnr P. Pawandiwa (algemene bestuurder-water afdeling), en al die ander amptenare, politici en gemeenskapsleiers wat onbaatsugtig aan my hul tyd en ondersteuning gegee het.
Melding moet ook gemaak word word van die Universiteit van KwaZulu-Natal, wat hul biblioteekgeriewe tot my beskikking gestel het, en ook aan die kollegas in die klas, naamlik: Dudu Magwaza en Dennis Mseni, wat ten spyte van hul besige skedules, altyd behulpsaam was. Groot waardering gaan ook aan me. Farzanah Loornate (administratiewe koőrdineerder). Haar toegewydheid was ‘n aansporing vir ons almal. Sy het ons in moeilike tye onderskraag.
Laaste maar nie die minste nie, innige dank aan my vrou en kinders wat familie tyd ingeboet het, sodat ekmy studies kon voltooi.
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Abstract
The start of the 21th century is notable for the apparent lack of safe drinking water and sanitation. Over one billion people in all parts of the world lack access to clean water. Most live in developing countries, such as Africa. Unsafe water and poor sanitation have been primary causal factors in the vast majority of water-borne diseases, especially diarrheal ones.
The South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996, Chapter 2, Section 24) states: “Everyone has the right:
(a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health and their wellbeing; and
(b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation; promote conservation; ecologically sustainable development, and the use of natural resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development.”
Secondly, section 27 states that:
“Everyone has the right to have access to:
(a) Health-care services, including reproductive health care; (b) Sufficient food and water; and
(c) Social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants, appropriate social assistance.”
These factors have prompted this research within the Ugu District Municipality on the perceptions of inadequate rural water service delivery. This study reveals information on those areas in the Ugu District Municipality, which do not have access to clean water, and on the health hazards that might lead to death if residents’ lack of access to clean water persists.
The Ugu District Municipality, is situated in KwaZulu-Natal Province, and covers a surface area of 5866 km2. There are six local municipalities in this district. These are: Ezinqoleni, Umzumbe,
Umziwabantu, Hibiscus Coast, Umdoni and Vulamehlo. The node is 77% rural and 23% urban, and the total population for this area is 704027 (Ugu District Municipality IDP 2nd
Figure 1: Operational areas of Ugu District Municipality. Source: (Ugu District GIS Section: ARC-GIS Software)
Study key concepts
• Ugu District Municipality, water service delivery, rural areas, ground water, purification plants, water tankers, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), water infrastructure systems.
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Opsomming
Die aanvang van die 21ste eeu word gekenmerk deur die gebrek aan veilige drinkwater en
sanitasie. Meer as ‘n triljoen mense in alle wȇrelddele het geen toegang tot skoon water nie. Die meerderheid van hierdie persone woon in ontwikkelende lande, soos byvoorbeeld op die vasteland van Afrika. Onveilige water en swak sanitasie is die hoofoorsake van watergebaseerde siektes.
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Grondwet (Wet 108 van 1996, Hoofstuk 2, Afdeling 24) verklaar dat: Almal geregtig is op:
(c) ‘n Omgewing wat nie nadelig vir hul gesondheid en welsyn is nie; en
(d) Om ‘n beskermde omgewing te bewoon, tot voordeel van die teenswoordige en toekomstige geslagte, deur redelike wetgewende en ander maatreëls wat besoedelling en ekologiese agteruitgang voorkom; wat natuurbewaring en volhoubare ekologiese ontwikkeling bevorder, asook die gebruik van natuurlike hulpbronne, terwyl geregverdigde ekonomiese en sosiale ontwikkeling voortdurend bevorder word.
Tweedens, verklaar Afdeling 27 dat: Almal is geregtig op toegang tot:
(d) Gesondheidsbewaringdienste, insluitend reproduktiewe gesondheidsbewaring; (e) Voldoende voedsel en water; en
(f) Sosiale sekuriteit, insluitend – wanneer hulle nie daartoe in staat is om hulself en hul afhanklikes te onderhou nie – die toepaslike sosiale hulp.
Bogenoemde faktore het hierdie navorsing in die Ugu disriksmunisipaliteit aangespoor. Die studie handel in ‘n groot mate oor perspektiewe van mense rondom plattelandse waterdiensaflewering.
Hierdie studie behoort inligting beskikbaar te stel aangaande daardie gebiede van die munisipaliteit, wat nie tot skoon water toegang het nie; en wat betref die gesondheidsgevare wat tot sterftes aanleiding mag gee, indien die inwoners se gebrek aan skoon water onverpoos
Ugu munisipaliteit is gesetel in die provinsie van KwaZulu-Natal. Dit beslaan ‘n oppervlakte van 5866 km2. Daar is ses plaaslike munisipaliteite in die distrik. Hulle is: Ezinqoleni, Hibiscus Kus, Umdoni, Umzumbe, Umziwabantu, en Vulamehlo. Die gebied is oorheersend platteland (70%) en stedelik (23%). The totale bevolking is na raming 704 027 persone (Ugu District Municipality IDP 2nd 2011/2012:19).
Figuur 1:Operasionele gebiede van die Ugu wykmunisipaliteit. Bron: (Ugu GIS Afdeling:GIS Afdeling: ARC-GIS sagteware)
Sleutelbegrippe van die studie
• Ugu distriksmunisipaliteit, water dienslewering, plattelandse gebiede, grondwater, reinigingsaanlegte, watertenks, Millennium Ontwikkelingsdoelwitte (MDGs), water infrastruktuurstelsels.
