Water Wheel July/Aug 2025: Water Rights

Abstract

Many places experience regular water shortages or cut-offs. Some people struggle to access water for drinking, household use and commercial use (mines, factories and agriculture). In other areas, tap water is of poor quality, with dangerous waterborne illnesses, such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhoeal diseases resulting. Water protests and dehydration are commonplace. As a researcher who studies equitable economies, water services and education, I set out to identify the problems that have caused precarious water provision in the Chris Hani District Municipality in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province. This municipality is a hub of sixtowns, where 849 000 people live, mostly (63,8%) in rural areas. For years, the people of this municipality have experienced collapsing water systems and broken sewage treatment plants. Over 35% of households have no taps in their homes or have to share outdoor taps that are more than 200 metres away from the home. My research findings were based on 10 interviews with municipal officials and water consumers.

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