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Master
Afrique du Sud
2003
Water resource management in South Africa
Titre : Water resource management in South Africa
Auteur : Berjak, Leonie Karen
Université : University of KwaZulu-Natal
Grade : Master of Science (LL.M.) 2003
Résumé
South Africa is a semi-arid country virtually surrounded by water, yet fresh water is a scarce commodity
and much of the population is currently without potable water. Water is the essence of life and a
renewable resource that changes through the hydrological cycle. The 1996 Constitution produced a new
framework for water legislation in South Africa, culminating in National Water Act, 1998 and the Water
Services Act, 1997. This study assesses the change in the approach to water resource management
brought about by these Acts. In addition, the Water Research Act, 1971 was reviewed.
This legislation introduces an holistic approach of integrated water resource management that
recognises mutual dependence of water and land management at local catchment level to ensure
sustainability. Water is also no longer divided between private and public sectors, but is deemed to be a
national resource under the trusteeship of the State for the benefit of present and future users to ensure
the Constitutional right of access to sufficient water. Additional important features include : recognition of
the hydrological cycle ; the concept of a Reserve ; change of institutional responsibility from national to
catchment management with associated cooperative governance and public participation ; receiving
water quality objectives of the individual resource ; and demand manaqernent approach to water supply.
Implementation of this approach is through a two-tier strategy, namely a national water research strategy
and catchment management strategies for each defined water management area, that w ill Iink to the
water services development plans. The national strategy filters fundamental principles to each
catchment strategy, focusing on the water resource as well as potential pollution sources. In turn, each
catchment strategy will provide information for input into the national strategy and water resource
information system. The water services development plan will provide data for the water services and
water resources national information systems, as well as the catchment strategy. However, the National
Government policy of providing basic water services free may hinder the financial sustainability in .
effectively providing this function. These strategies and plans are part of a planning process that
requires review and progressive improvement and change according to the changing needs of both the
resource and society. The institutions responsible for driving this process are the catchment
management agency for the catchment strategy and the water services authority for the water services
development. Overall the approach to water resource management in South Africa is based on
classification of river systems ; determination of the reserve ; international obligations ; and equitable and
sustainable allocation of the remaining resource through licensing and registration.
Although integration and sustainability are complex issues, the Acts provide a competent framework for
the link between water resources protection and water services provision. Success and sustainability of
water resources management in South Africa is dependent on cooperative governance, integration of
environmental factors, public participation and education, administrative compliance and financial
capacity
Mots clés : Law. ; Water resources development – South Africa
Page publiée le 6 juin 2013, mise à jour le 25 mai 2018