Fragmented Water Governance, Institutional Problems and Questionable Decisions

Abstract

Despite natural limitations of water supply, lack of financing and institutional problems all being important factors, poor governance is often the primary cause of water crises on a global scale. Water governance has emerged as one of the most important topics of the international water community within the twenty-first century primarily due to increased water stress and rising water awareness across the globe.

Even though South Africa has world class water resource management legislation and policies, its overall water governance and management practices have been heavily criticised and found wanting. Cooperation is a major requirement however, the lack of coordination and communication is quite evident in the country’s water governance structures and departments. The overall understanding of the interrelatedness of water services and resource management has been found to be either lacking or poor, not only within local government but within the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), the country’s main custodian of its water resources, as well.