Climate change and water insecurity in rural uMkhanyakude District Municipality: an assessment of coping strategies for rural South Africa

Abstract

The vulnerability of Africa to climate change extremes and eventual impacts is extremely high due to the weak coping strategies prevalent in the continent. The peculiarity of South Africa to these vulnerabilities, especially for water security, is an issue of socioeconomic and policy issue. Based on the premises of human security, the study assesses the coping strategies of rural communities in South Africa, focusing on uMkhanyakude District Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal province, given the effects of climate change-induced water scarcity on the area. The study employed a multilayered descriptive mixed method triangulation approach. It focused specifically on the connection between water and climate change and the adopted everyday vertical and horizontal coping strategies. The findings revealed a strong correlation between the behavioral and traditional coping strategies in the study area, water depletion/scarcity, and climate change. It also showed that government institutions are reactionary in their response to climate change-induced impacts. The study, therefore, recommends a pre-resilience mechanism that makes institutions and individuals proactive rather than adopting a reactionary post-resilience strategy in response to the effects of climate change-induced water security.

A conceptual framework for gender and climate mainstreaming to mitigate water inaccessibility in ruralsub‐SaharanAfrica

“…Climate change will continue to shape water availability and therefore affect access in SSA. Climate change is altering the frequency and timing of events, affecting the amounts and quality of water available in the short and long term (De Wit & Stankiewicz, 2010;Hosea & Khalema, 2020;Kisakye & Van der Bruggen, 2016;Mukheibir, 2020aMukheibir, , 2020bOjo et al, 2004;Patrick, 2021;S anchez & Rylance, 2018). Although this can have a positive effect in some regions, highintensity rainfalls can be difficult to capture for use, with most of it being lost through runoff.…”

“…For example, voice strategies take the form of complaints, demonstrations, and the formation of associations to help address water supply challenges. They include engaging in collective action (Bisung, 2021; Bukachi et al, 2021; Bulled, 2018; Kelly et al, 2017; Patrick, 2021). For this to occur, individuals need to hold sufficient agency, power, and social capital.…”

“…Households can also adapt to water inaccessibility through “exit strategies” by finding, and potentially treating, alternate water sources. Some of these include water sharing, recycling water, increasing water storage capacity, using alternative sources including bottled/sachet water, and migrating to meet their needs (Arku et al, 2015; Asoba et al, 2019; Bernard & Joyfred, 2020; A. Brewis et al, 2021; Bukachi et al, 2021; Dickin et al, 2011; Emenike et al, 2017; Hamlet et al, 2021; Hofstetter et al, 2008; Jeil et al, 2020; Majuru et al, 2018; Marcatelli, 2013; Mushavi et al, 2020; Newcomer et al, 2017; Ngwenya & Kgathi, 2006; C. Nounkeu et al, 2019; Patrick, 2021; Pearson et al, 2017; Pearson et al, 2021; Schlamovitz & Becker, 2021; Twisa & Buchroithner, 2019; Venkataramanan et al, 2019; Walker, 2019; Yillia et al, 2021). Unsurprisingly, in Mozambique, Van Houweling (2016) found that during the long dry season, nearby wells and streams often dry up, forcing water fetchers to travel greater distances to alternative sources to obtain water.…”

Climate Change Impacts and Challenges of Combating Food Insecurity in Rural Somkhele, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

“…The adverse effects of climate change also affect rural households more significantly due to their limited financial, human and technical resources and a lack of support and assistance from the municipal and provincial government [14]. Unfortunately, a short-term strategy to combat drought has been shifting from cropping to livestock for those who have the latter, but this reduces natural capital [22]. Like many provinces in South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal's food security has been and will be heavily affected by climate change.…”

What is there to drink? Water (in)justice in the democratic South Africa

“…Similarly, Lebek et al (2021) examines the implications of unequal levels of household water insecurity, the effects on their health and productivity and on their power relations with other households among rural communities. In addition, Patrick (2021) assessed the coping mechanism for climate change-induced water scarcity in uMkhanyakude District Municipality. In other provinces of South Africa (including Eastern Cape), research on the household water insecurity remain underexplored.…”