Masters Degrees (Military History)

Permanent URI for this collection

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/15144

Browse

Browsing Masters Degrees (Military History) by Subject "Local government -- South Africa"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Exploring management practices of water resources and infrastructure at local government level as a threat to water security in South Africa
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2020-12) Botha, Johannes Hendrikus; Liebenberg, J. C. R.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Military Science. School for Security and Africa Studies: Military History.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Water resources management at local government level were explored as a threat to South Africa's national security. This study made use of a qualitative descriptive approach and an extensive literature review. The background to the current state of water affairs in South Africa and the management of water resources are discussed. The local government was chosen as the unit of analysis, as it serves the people in their communities. A theoretical and conceptual descriptive research approach was used and supported by accessible literature to create a connection between management theory and the current state of water management in South Africa. It is proposed that South Africa should make every effort to identify and address all water-related challenges that may contribute to water insecurity. Public entities are the backbone of the country’s water sector, spanning from catchment management agencies to municipal water service providers. They guarantee that there is water in the taps and that wastewater is treated. All businesses and all households use water and dispose of water; therefore water is everyone's business. South Africa’s rivers and streams are polluted every day, seemingly without any consequence management. The evidence shows that there is a loss of strategic direction and a struggle, if not some confusion, at local government level to get the fundamentals right. The basics need to be in place in business so that there is a sound basis from which to build and move forward. The same principle must apply to water management. Under normal circumstances, evidence shows that municipalities are unable to deal with even basic services such as clean water and sanitation, maintenance and repair of existing infrastructure. It is doubtful that local government will be able to deal with these challenges under extraordinary circumstances when extreme events such as droughts and floods take place as a consequence of climate change. Service delivery records indicate that local government is not rendering effective and efficient municipal services to all people. Some municipalities are entirely dysfunctional. In an attempt to identify poor management practices at local government as a threat to water security, it became evident that in cases where municipalities fail to render safe drinking water and dispose of wastewater responsibly, those municipalities are in breach of Section 24 of the Bill of Rights. Inappropriate and cavalier management practices deny South Africans a prosperous and secure future, as water is the cornerstone to the country’s future. Food security and water security are linked, and like a set of dominos that falls due to poor management practices, without water security, national security can come under threat.