3. Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETDs) - All submissions

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Water resources development--South Africa

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    Effectiveness of outcomes-based management on domestic water supply at local government level
    (2017) Mogaladi, Ramatsobane Shoky
    Effectiveness of outcomes-based management policy on water supply at local government level . The South African government introduced outcomes-based management in 2009 as an approach for implementation of the National Development Plan and government programmes. The policy facilitates achievement of government outcomes and subsequently the National Development Plan goals. One of intended outcomes of the policy is 100% of households have access to sustainable and reliable water supply by 2030. Despite some successes in the implementation of some principles of the policy, there have been water supply challenges in most municipalities threatening achievement of this outcome. This research seeks to assess and examine aspects that facilitate the South African government’s outcomes-based management policy to achieve its intended outcomes and water supply outcomes in Madibeng and Rustenburg Local Municipalities. The research employed qualitative research strategy, comparative case study research design, purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews. Key research data sources are officials at middle and senior management from national and provincial government, the two municipalities, South African Local Government Association as well as citizens’ representatives. The study found that managerial and technical aspects at institutional level limit the feasibility of the South African Government achieving its intended outcomes and water supply outcomes in both municipalities. Furthermore, the study found that there are inconsistencies and different challenges in implementation of the policy within and across the three government spheres and institutions and that application of the policy principles is stronger at macro level, but weaker at institutional level. Further, the study found that implementation of the aspects of outcomes-based water supply in Rustenburg is improving in comparison to Madibeng Municipality. The hindrances to achieving water supply outcomes include growing informal settlements; ageing water supply infrastructure; inadequate water services capacity and resources and poor water services monitoring and evaluation. The research concludes that the aspects that anchor 4 the policy’s success and achievement of its intended outcomes and water supply outcomes are political commitment, functional intergovernmental machinery and institutional technical capacity because the other weaknesses of the systems are centred on these three aspects. The study is qualitative, therefore, the results cannot be generalised to other municipalities and government outcomes. The significance of this research is that it identified critical aspects facilitating and hindering achievement of the policy with respect to water supply in two municipalities with different success rates to establish explanations that make one better than the other; thus providing knowledge that can be utilised for improving the implementation of the policy and outcomes-based water supply strategies. Key words: outcomes-based management, performance management, water supply, service delivery Johannesburg, August 2016
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    The effect of water scarcity on health and development: the case of Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages in Ngaka Modiri Molema district, North West
    (2017) Lolwana, Nonkululeko Felicia
    Water is one of the key and most fundamental and indispensable natural resource. Without it nothing on the universe will function. Water scarcity is a global reality threatening economic and societal development. The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of community members in Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages in the Ngaka Modiri Molema District about water scarcity and its effect on health and development. A qualitative research approach and a case study design were employed during the study. Purposive sampling was used to select participants. The study comprised of thirteen participants: ten community members (five participants from each village; both male and female), the municipality manager (particularly from water and sanitation sector) and two ward councilors (one per ward: Lomanyaneng ward 5 and Majemantsho ward 21). A semi structured interview schedule was used during the in-depth interviews with the municipality manager and two ward councilors, and a focus group guide was used to facilitate the focus group discussions with participants from the two villages. The interviews and the two focus groups were voice recorded during the process of data collection. The collected data was transcribed and analyzed through thematic content analysis. Key findings revealed that water scarcity have detrimental effects on the health and development of the communities in Lomanyaneng and Majemantsho villages. The Ngaka Modiri Molema District water service delivery was perceived as very poor and is attributed to poor planning, poor water supply, and poor water infrastructure. Recommendations made were the need; to increase communal taps, need for drainage system to recycle water, needs assessment for identification of needs, proper planning and outreach programmes to disseminate knowledge on how to conserve and use water, and constant monitoring of Jojo tanks and inspection of drinking water.
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    Water management at a base metals refinery
    (2016) Osman, Ayesha
    Most mineral processing plants have high water requirements for their operational activities. These plants often function in an environment where water is becoming increasingly scarce. An increase in population will result in an increased demand for water, potentially beyond the limits of supply, and hence increased competition for the resource. In South Africa, Gauteng and the North West Province are likely to be first to experience a shortage of potable water. The key to a sustainable future lies in understanding and utilising resources more efficiently. This holds especially for industries who seek to minimise water usage through better management of resources. The two tools used in this study are the Water Accounting Framework (WAF) and Water Footprinting (WF) method. This research assisted a refinery in the North West Province understand its water usage and move towards operating in a more sustainable manner. Site water management was improved and the objective of this research fulfilled by: (i) Surveying the potable water and the storm water systems with a view to assessing the current water accountability and determining methods to improve accountability; (ii) Determining the water balance for the site and presenting it in the form of a water balance sheet; (iii) Reporting water usage in accordance with the Minerals Council of Australia’s “Water Accounting Framework for the Minerals Industry”; (iv) Calculating the water footprints of the refinery; and (v) Evaluating the water usage at the refinery and identifying ways in which water savings could be achieved. It was seen that the biggest consumer of water was the boilers and utilities section and the biggest loss of water was through evaporation. The refinery potable water requirement (2 280 m3/y) amounted to 0.16% of the daily water use for the Bojanala Platinum District. Four reports (outputs) were generated using the WAF. The four reports generated provide a good indication of the movement of water into, out of and during a process. WFs were calculated for the process. The blue WF was calculated to be 832 363 m3 and the green WF was calculated to be 261 970 m3. The product WF was 43.9 m3/t of base metal produced. There was no grey WF as the site does not discharge polluted water. This research provided an opportunity for the refinery to improve water efficiency onsite as well as improve reporting standards. Water usage was reported using global reporting tools to set a benchmark for the base metals industry.
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    Institutional capacity for water conservation: a case study of Sedibeng District Municipality
    (2016-07-14) Likontsane, Surprise C.
    Since the democratic transition in 1994, the role of local government has changed dramatically. Local governments are now expected to play a far more active role in their constituencies. As such, municipalities are expected to implement broader national policies and legislatures. The literature reviewed as part of the research indicated that most municipalities are faced with inadequate performance skills to manage and sustain their projects. This particular study seeks to understand the institutional and human resources strengths and weaknesses that help or hinder Sedibeng municipality to actively pursue water conservation through implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) principles. In pursuit of this purpose, a qualitative research approach was adopted with interviews conducted with Sedibeng Municipality’s seven senior officials and community members. The main findings of this study revealed that the key technical department of the water sector in Sedibeng has capacity challenges at individual and organizational level. Of special concern is the failure of the municipality to give ongoing training to staff, so as to pass on modern advanced knowledge and new technological innovation skills. This is further compounded by the mismatch between the qualifications and job descriptions of some staff members. The study also finds that public-private partnership between the municipalities and private companies is needed in the water sector to promote water conservation and thus provide a better level of service delivery. The research concludes that institutional capacity is a prerequisite for the implementation of IWRM principles. In regard to this study, it has been established that to some extent Sedibeng District Municipality has the required institutional capacity in terms of organizational arrangement to harness the principles of IWRM. The accomplishment of IWRM depends profoundly on financial and human capacity of each municipality. Therefore, the key recommendation is that the municipalities should employ individuals based on merit and work experience to ensure efficient management of funds and effective execution of water related projects. Key words: Water Conservation, IWRM, Institutional capacity, Sedibeng, Emfuleni
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