Water resource management in the era of fiscal austerity : an exploration of the challenges of managing the Rietvlei dam and Centurion lake in the City of Tshwane, South Africa

Abstract

The strain brought to bear on fiscal resources of municipalities in South Africa has had a negative effect on the ability by these municipalities to fulfil their obligations; that of delivering quality services to residents, especially the poorest of the poor. Inability to collect adequate revenue; the general hardships related to the global economic recession; competition over resources, all these form an interplay of factors that have a bearing on the City of Tshwane' ability to manage and deliver water resources. Successful efforts to maintain good quality water resources have not been balanced with the ability to increase access to poorer sections of the municipality. The lack of an integrated approach to the management of water resources, which should be guided by the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) framework has led to a top-down and bureaucratic approach to the management of the resources, leading to both the exclusion of communities and other stakeholders. This thesis acknowledges the municipality's ability to manage quality issues. It however raises critical questions about ability to deliver services to the poor, and their exclusion from managing of water resources.