The Free Basic Water Policy, Planning for Social Justice and the Water Needs of HIV/AIDS Affected Households in South African Townships
Date
2006-11-14T07:17:22Z
Authors
Tsiri, Makgabo Hendrick
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Abstract
South Africa is a constitutional state. The constitution is the supreme law of the country
(RSA, 1996). Any of the state laws, policies and programmes that are inconsistent with
the constitution are invalid, thus they have no legitimate standing. In the preamble of its
constitution, the post apartheid South Africa sworn itself as a country recognising the past
injustices, hence planning for the society based on social justices, in order to improving
the quality of life of all citizens and free the potential of each person. The Bill of Rights
is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa, as it encompasses all human rights,
especially socioeconomic rights, whose fulfilment will contribute towards realisation of
equal and united society based on social justice. However, the post apartheid South
African government adopted a Free Basic Water policy as a way of adhering to the
constitutional requirements of ensuring that everyone has the right to sufficient water.
Access to clean sufficient water has been identified as a crucial requirement for Care and
Prevention to the HIV/AIDS affected households. In the midst of socioeconomic
inequalities, scarce water resources and high HIV/AIDS prevalence confronting the post
apartheid South Africa today, the Free Basic Water policy guarantees every household of
eight; irrespective of its socioeconomic status and health concerns, 6kl/6000 litres of
water every month free. The local government has been blamed for not being responsive
these special water needs of the poor HIV/AIDS households, especially in townships
areas, where water is mostly provided on cost-recovery. However, little attention has
been paid on the difficulty faced by the local government authorities in this regard. The
report argue for a need of collaboration between planners and others major stakeholders,
to come up with group-conscious water policy that will guide for planning of a society
based on social justice. However, the research recommends that this policy should not
only be guided by / concerned with justice and fairness in the distribution of basic needs
of the society with special needs. More important, this new policy should be fair, thus
account for the sustainability of the water resources, since South Africa is regarded as
water-scarce country.
Description
Student Number : 0104363F -
MSc research report -
School of Architecture and Planning -
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
Keywords
free basic water policy, social justice, gear, local authorities, HIV/AIDS and care and prevention, sufficient clean water