Impacts of water provision on Alfred Duma Local Municipality, KZN, South Africa
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Date
2023
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The study aimed to explore water provision's impacts on rural areas of Alfred Duma Local Municipality. Rural areas under the jurisdiction of Alfred Duma Local Municipality are provided by the uThukela District Municipality with water via taps installed in their yards. The study was conducted in Alfred Duma rural communities. The objectives of the study were: to evaluate the quality of water governance of uThukela District Municipality for water provision to rural areas of Alfred Duma Local Municipality; to determine the accessibility, availability, and reliability of water supply to the rural households of Alfred Duma Local Municipality; and to identify recommended measures to address poor municipal water supply that affect social and economic development in the rural households of Alfred Duma Local Municipality.
The study adopted an exploratory research design as it focused on exploring the experiences of participants regarding municipal water supply by uThukela District Municipality in their rural areas. Therefore, the study adopted a qualitative research approach to be able to get more out of the participants. The population of the study comprised of the Alfred Duma Municipality councillor, uThukela District Municipality officials from the Department of Water and Sanitation, and Alfred Duma Local Municipality community members. The study made use of semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data to be analysed using thematic analysis.
The study discovered that there are gaps in water governance of uThukela District Municipality, since the communities they serve feel marginalised as they are without water supply that is within their right to have. The study discovered that the accessibility, availability and reliability of the municipal water supply for rural areas is inequitable and dirty, and therefore poor. The clinic, agricultural NPOs and small businesses are negatively affected. The community meetings are only held when there is a protest, and even when held issues raised on water are not addressed in a manner that satisfies the community needs. The communities rely on boreholes, rivers, wells, dams and rainwater harvesting using rain gutters. The communities travel long distances to get water for domestic purposes, and to keep businesses, schools, and NPOs running. The study discovered that the communities call for the establishment of more boreholes closer to households, dams to be released from privatisation, water trucks to be deployed weekly, and coordination, collaboration and cooperation to be adopted effectively in water governance.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Development Studies in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2023].