Community struggles concerning "pre-paid" water meters in Phiri
Date
2008-08-26T09:59:11Z
Authors
Legodi, Piet Mamatsha
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
South Africa, like numerous other developing countries throughout the world, faces increasing
demands for public services in urban areas (Rondinelli and Kasarda, 1993). South Africa’s access
to basic services such as water has clearly become part of social security/ citizenship. The research
report investigates and elucidates the role of privatisation in the basic service delivery context. It
argues that the GEAR policy framework blocks the resources required to achieve social citizenship
(Cock 2000). This gave rise to community struggles concerning prepaid water meters in Phiri,
Soweto. These struggles are examined and competing discourses surrounding public versus private
sector participation in basic service (water) provision are also explored.
The argument in this research report is two-fold. First, it establishes a view of water as an
economic good, with the democratic government reducing the municipal problems of delivery to
economic markets or private corporations. Second, it examines the perspective that water is a
human right issue contained in the Bill of Rights. These two counter-arguments perpetuate
struggles in relation to access, affordability and supply of water. The research seeks to examine
these opposing arguments and further explores the impacts these struggles have on future delivery
and access of such ‘life need’ as water. This exposure is done through the collection of Secondary
data and empirical evidence obtained using various qualitative data gathering techniques.
Although the advantages of prepaid water meters are recognised, the dominant argument in this
report is in line with Dependency Theory. This maintains that the socio-economic inequalities as
well as the socio-environmental injustices widespread in the policies of privatisation exclude
various sectors of the population from full access to essential necessities such as water. These
injustices are rooted in the fact that water is treated as a commodity to be sold and not as a basic
human right (Maema 2003). To deny water to people reduces their citizenship and therefore the
achievement of full citizens’ rights for the community of Phiri has become one of the crucial
barometers for the realisation of the depth and sustainability of South Africa’s democracy (Khunou
2000). The research findings obtained suggest that the government does realise its responsibility to
provide basic water services. Nevertheless, it delegates this responsibility to private institutions;
hence making it an individual responsibility to gain access to water at a cost. This form of attempt
in South Africa gives a clear reflection of Adam Smith’s “commercial society” which is
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encompassed and endorsed by privatisation and the capitalist endeavours. However, this is in
contrast with the principles enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, which
mandate the government to ensure the progressive realisation and maintenance of access to
available basic services. The research report, however, suggests that some educational programmes
need to be developed and promoted to inform and equip the public on how best to preserve water.
This endeavour is gradually envisaged under the auspices of emerging corporatised utilities.
Description
Keywords
water-meters, water-supply, municipal services