Evaluating the back to basics programme :water provision in Giyani Local Municipality

Abstract

Since the establishment of the “new” local government systems in the post-apartheid South Africa municipalities are increasingly facing persistent challenges of distributing basic water services to all communities. These challenges are more prevalent among municipalities that are largely rural areas and comprised of poor communities. The national government has over the years implemented policies and various support programmes aimed at improving the performance in service delivery. In 2014 The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs introduced the Back to Basics programme to ensure sustainable delivery of basic services, including basic water supplies. However, municipalities continue to experience water services delivery challenges, especially in poor rural areas where huge water backlogs are evident. This research investigated the extent of the B2B implementation in facilitating the long-standing challenges of water supply to rural communities in the Giyani Local Municipality (GLM). GLM was identified as one of the dysfunctional municipalities in South Africa. Data were collected through the use of interviews of water technicians from the GLM, Mopani District Municipality (MDM), an official from Lepelle Northern Water (LNW) and Siyandhani Water Committee member. The results show that inadequate water supply infrastructure; lack of investment in alternative water sources; operations and maintenance of water supply infrastructure; socio-economic conditions of rural communities; water resources management approaches; and poor planning and coordination among key stakeholders are responsible for water supply problems in rural areas. It is argued that these factors are primarily responsible for unsustainable water allocations to rural communities and have a direct impact on the effectiveness of the B2B programme. The research concludes there are spatial inequalities that exist between rural and urban areas spatial in terms of water allocation, and that a more equitable model for local government support underpinned by meaningful participation and water resources management by communities is necessary in ensuring sustainable water provision to rural communities.