Perspectives on the role of stakeholder engagement and participation in river basin management in South Africa: a study of the hennops river
Date
2024
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Abstract
As a country that already faces hydrological and climatological challenges, South Africa’s socio-economic situation further complicates River Basin Management. This is observable through the state of rivers in the Gauteng Province such as the Hennops River. Like other rivers across the country, the state of the Hennops River is alarming, being affected by multiple sources of pollution. The state of the Hennops River Basin is observably affected by Tembisa, a poor former township area that has contributed to the pollution of the upstream Kaalspruit tributary. While the community of Tembisa contributes to the Hennops’ degradation, the potential of stakeholder engagement and community participation in Integrated River Basin Management is yet to be harnessed.
The aim of this study was to investigate in what ways stakeholder and community engagement, mobilisation, as well as participation can be harnessed to promote sustainable River Basin Management considering the Hennops River Basin as a case study. The objectives of this study were to (1) analyse existing policies and frameworks which promote stakeholder engagement and community participation in River Basin Management in South Africa, (2) identify challenges and opportunities that hamper and facilitate sustainable River Basin Management through stakeholder engagement and community participation in South Africa, taking the Hennops River Basin as a case study, (3) create a sustainable model through which stakeholder engagement and community participation can be harnessed towards effective River Basin Management, and (4) Contribute to the body of knowledge on the role of stakeholder engagement and community participation in River Basin Management. Through a research design involving key stakeholders and the community, new insight was gathered about their potential through engagement and participation. Data were gathered from Key Informants, interviews, focus group discussions, as well as clean-up campaigns, which included a campaign hosted by the researcher.
Findings of this study suggest that although policy supports the engagement, participation, as well as the mobilisation of stakeholders and the community, implementation thereof has been challenged. At community level, implementation is further challenged through community disinterest, a lack of support or funding for disparate initiatives, and lack of political will to address community issues. Key stakeholders, namely NGOs have taken it upon themselves to address River Basin Management. However, their initiatives are self-reliant and therefore unsustainable.
Several conceptual models to address River Basin Management in South Africa are proposed. These models address (1) the implementation of policy through the establishment of effective institutions, (2) the role of the NGO in River Basin Management, (3) the funding of small projects or initiatives, (4) an approach to wicked problems in the community, and (5) the relationship between government, stakeholders, and the community. Together, these models are argued as some of the ways the potential role of stakeholder engagement and community participation can be harnessed as part of a framework for sustainable River Basin Management
in South Africa. Opportunities exist to better understand stakeholder engagement and community participation, particularly in the context of leadership and agency. The framework presented as the result of this study opens the doorway to new possibilities for the implementation of policy and new approaches to water governance
Description
A research report submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Faculty of Science, School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2024
Keywords
River basin management, Hennops, Kaalspruit, Sustainability, Water resource management, UCTD
Citation
James, Lucien. (2024). Perspectives on the role of stakeholder engagement and participation in river basin management in South Africa: a study of the hennops river [PhD thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg]. WireDSpace.https://hdl.handle.net/10539/41879