Water and sanitation provision in eThekwini Municipality: a spatially differentiated approach

Abstract

The rescaling of responsibilities in water governance in South Africa has enabled strong water services authorities, such as the eThekwini Water and Sanitation Unit (EWS) in eThekwini Municipality, to play a leading role in shaping water and sanitation policy in South Africa. Yet water governance in the city is complex, shaped by the interactions of multiple social, economic, political and environmental relations in a transforming, fast-growing city that still reflects the legacy of apartheid. This paper identifies and explores the four dominant water governance discourses evident at present in the municipality, namely “water as a human right”, “water as an economic good”, “the spatial differentiation of service provision” and finally, “experimental governance and incremental learning”, which frame the current approach adopted by EWS. These discourses provide the context for the reforms undertaken in water and sanitation provision post-apartheid in eThekwini Municipality.

Spatial analyses of threats to ecosystem service hotspots in Greater Durban, South Africa

“…Durban contains urban, peri-urban and rural environments, with approximately two-thirds of the municipal area being rural or semi-rural, where a large proportion of local inhabitants are indigent and directly reliant on ecosystem services for basic needs ( Roberts & O’Donoghue, 2013 ; Sutherland et al, 2014 ). Social challenges in Durban include high levels of poverty; many densely populated informal settlements; unequal basic service delivery; high rates of urbanisation and dual governance arrangements, whereby eThekwini Municipality jointly administers communal land in the rural northwest and southwest areas of the municipality with the Ingonyama Trust Board (under the jurisdiction of traditional councils) and provincial government ( McLean et al, 2016 ; Sutherland et al, 2014 ; Davids et al, 2016 ). These challenges have often meant that socio-economic development priorities have taken preference over environmental and biodiversity concerns ( Roberts, 2008 ).…”

Participatory Instruments and Practices in Urban Governance

“…The current confl ation of the ruling party (African National Congress -ANC) and the state has reduced space for transformative participation , because too many invited spaces have become politically dominated and controlled. In response, municipal managers try to create apolitical spaces for participation (Sutherland 2014).…”

Scenario Building as a Process and Tool in Urban Governance

“…Durban, a regional hub in South Africa with a population of 3.6 million, is a 'Sprawling metropolis' in terms of archetype, though with 41.8 % of the population living in poverty (Sutherland et al 2014 ). Durban is considered a leader in both water provision and climate change adaptation strategies, implemented by effective department heads who are part of a strong and relatively autonomous municipality.…”

“…Durban is transparent with its data (a great deal of the municipality's information, e.g. on water and sanitation services, environmental planning and climate change protection, can be found online); however, information and knowledge fl ow readily in this network of experts who adopt a managerial approach in engaging with the public at large (Sutherland et al 2014 ). The city is governed top down, in a technical and managerial manner (see Chap.…”

“…7 ). This does not lead to the rigidity foreseen in Shell's Mountain scenarios but to a spirit of experimental learning and innovation (Sutherland et al 2014 ) driven by strong leaders in the provision of water and sanitation and the municipality's climate change adaptation strategies. Furthermore, Durban is a powerful municipality, which strengthens its capacity for implementation, within the frameworks imposed by national and provincial government policy and legislation.…”