An Assessment of How Polokwane Local Municipality Executes their Mandate in Water Supply to Matlou and Letsokoane Residents

Abstract

The main aim of this study is to assess water supply in general and specifically to “assess on how the Polokwane municipality executes their mandate in terms of water supply to Matlou and Letsokoane Residents. This was done on a case study about Matlou and Letsokoane inhabitants were chosen as a setting for the study. A mixed method approach was used for the study combining structured questionnaires and open-ended interviews. The findings of the study have showed that there is poor water supply to two affected rural communities by the Polokwane local municipality . Amongst contributing factors the increase in population growth in that area is a major problem as well as residents tampering with infrastructure , theft and no interventions by political representatives when there is no water. This has resulted in inadequate provision of clean water resources . Water supply Value chain model has been proposed emanating from the findings of the research study to be implemented by the Polokwane local municipality to curb the problem of water supply to the rural communities. Lessons that can be learned from this study include the following: consultation with the communities through ward councilors which include educational aspect such as preservation of water as a source of human life, providing a compelling case for concertizing the community with an attempt to reduce illegal activities as cited in the study regarding the steeling of water taps.

Keywords; Polokwane local municipality; mandate; water supply; Matlou; Letsokoane residents

References

Anderson, J. E. (2011). Public policymaking: An introduction wadsworth political science. Part of Cengage Learning.

Asha, A. A. (2014). Towards effective planning and implementation of development initiatives at the local level in Capricorn District Municipality. Limpopo Province.

Babbie, E. and Mouton, J. (2010). The practice of Social Research. (10th ed.). Oxford University Press Southern Africa.

Beyers, L. J. E. (2015). Service delivery challenges within municipalities in the Capricorn District of Limpopo Province. Journal of Human Ecology, 50(2), 121-127. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321207173_Service_Delivery_Challenges_within_Municipalities_in_the_Capricorn_District_of_Limpopo_Province

Bless, C., Higson-Smith, C., & Sithole, S. L. (2013). Fundamentals of social research methods: An African perspective. Juta and Company

Blignaut, J., & Van Heerden, J. (2009). The impact of water scarcity on economic development initiatives. Water, 35(4), 415-420.

Cooper, H. (1998). Synthesizing research: A guide for literature reviews (3rd ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.

Cullis, J., Strzepek, K., Tadross, M., Sami, K., Havenga, B., Gildenhuys, B., & Smith, J. (2011). Incorporating climate change into water resources planning for the town of Polokwane, South Africa. Climatic Change, 108(3), 437-456.

Department of Water and Sanitation. (2014). Resource directed measures: Reserve determination study of selected surface water and groundwater resources in the Usuthu/Mhlathuze Water Management Area. Pongola Floodplain—EWR Report—Hydrodynamic Modelling. Pongola Floodplain–EWR Report.Report Produced by Tlou Consulting.

De Vaus, D. (2002) Surveys in Social Research (5th Edition). Routledge.

De Vos, A. S., Strydom, H., Fouché, C. B., & Delport, C. S. L. (2005). Research at grass roots. – For social sciences and human service profession (3rd ed.). Pretoria.

Dikotla, M. A., Mahlatji, M. R., & Makgahlela, L. A. (2014). Knowledge management for the improvement of service delivery in South Africa's municipalities. Journal of Public Administration, 49(3), 847-859.

Fontana, A., & Frey, J. (1994). The art of science. The Handbook of Qualitative Research, 361-376.

Goldin, J. A. (2010). Water policy in South Africa: Trust and knowledge as obstacles to reform. Review of Radical Political Economics, 42(2), 195-212.

Hedden, S., & Cilliers, J. (2014). Parched prospects-the emerging water crisis in South Africa. Institute for Security Studies Papers, 11, 16.

Hirji, R., Davis, R., Brown, F.A (2009). Improving water security for sustainable livelihoods and growth in Tanzania.https://documents.worldbank.org/en/publication/documentsreports/documentdetail/424361468133185803/improving-water-security-for-sustaining-livelihoods-and-growth-in-tanzania

Jabeen, S., Mahmood, Q., Tariq, S., Nawab, B., & Elahi, N. (2011). Health impact caused by poor water and sanitation in district Abbottabad. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 23(1), 47-50. https://ayubmed.edu.pk/JAMC/23-1/Sadia.pdf

Jagals, P. (2012). The impacts of rural small-community water supply interventions in rural South Africa. Department of Environmental Health. Tshwane University of Technology.

Kayser, G. L., Moriarty, P., Fonseca, C., & Bartram, J. (2013). Domestic water service delivery indicators and frameworks for monitoring, evaluation, policy and planning: a review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 10(10), 4812-4835. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823337/

Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2001). Practical research: Planning and designing. Merritt Prentice Hall.

Mc Millian, J. H., &. Schmacher., S. (1997). Research in Education (5th ed.). Harper Colins College.

Mokoena, O., & Mander, M. (2009). Water quality assessment in the Olifants River, South Africa: A case study. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, 100, 201-206.

Moriarty, P., Batchelor, C., Fonseca, C., Klutse, A., Naafs, A., Nyarko, K., Pezon, C., Potter, A., Reddy, R., & Snehalatha, M. (2011). Ladders for assessing and costing water service delivery. IRC International Water and Sanitation Centre. https://fr.ircwash.org/sites/default/files/Moriarty-2011-Ladders.pdf

Mouton, J. (2005). How to succeed in your master's and doctoral studies: A South African guide and resource book. Van Schaik.

Muller, M. (2007). Free basic water—a sustainable instrument for a sustainable future in South Africa. Environment and Urbanization, 20(1), 67-87. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956247808089149

Odeku, K. O., & Konanani, R. H. (2014). Poor water service delivery: an exposition of the plight of the Phiri community in Soweto, South Africa. Studies of Tribes and Tribals, 12(1), 161-170.

Richards, J. A. (1999). Remote sensing digital image analysis: An introduction. Springer-Verlag.

Reform, L., & Tenants, L. (1996). Republic of South Africa. Government Gazette,

Ruiters, C., & Matji, M. P. (2015). Water institutions and governance models for the funding, financing and management of water infrastructure in South Africa. Water Sa, 41(5), 660-676. https://www.wrc.org.za/wp-content/uploads/mdocs/3129.pdf

Ritchie, J., & Lewis, J. (2003). Qualitative research practice—a guide for social science students and researchers. Sage Publications Ltd. \

Seale, G. C., Gobo, G., Gubrium, J. F., & Silverman, D. (2004). Qualitative research practice. Sage Publishers.

Skovdal, M., & Adebe, T. (2012). Reflexibility and dialoque:Methodological and socio-ethical dilemmas in research with HIV-affected children in East Africa, Ethics , Policy & Environment, 15(1),77-96. https://childethics.com/library/journal-articles/reflexivity-dialogue-methodological-socio-ethical-dilemmas-research-hiv-affected-children-east-africa/

Welman, C., Kruger, F., & Mitchell, B. (2005). Research methodology (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press.

Wright, R. C. T., Friman, M. C,. & Brockhurst, M. A. (2018). Cross- resistance is modular in bacteria-phage interactions. PLOS Biology, 16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30281587/