Sanitation in South Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 47-74
Author(s):  
Jackie Dugard
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Minimum Standard ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
The World ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Systemic Problems ◽  
Problems Of Practice ◽  
The Right ◽  
Basic Minimum

South Africa has among the most progressive legal and policy frameworks for sanitation services in the world, including a legally entrenched basic minimum standard for sanitation services and a free basic sanitation policy. Yet, on the ground there are numerous problems. In recent years, some of these problems have given rise to protest action and litigation. This chapter provides an overview of the frameworks, realities, and contestation related to sanitation provision (or under- or non-provision) in South Africa. It first outlines the relevant legal and policy frameworks for sanitation services; then analyses the systemic problems of practice and implementation from a human rights-related perspective; and finally examines the emergence of litigation and protest action in response to the ongoing problems related to sanitation services, highlighting how the content, as well as the realization of the right to sanitation is increasingly being advanced through battles on the streets and the courts.

scholarly journals Legislative and policy frameworks for basic services: A South African comparative study

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 735-739
Author(s):  
Hlako Choma ◽  
Peter Ramphabana
Keyword(s):  
Health Food ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Education Access ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Access To Water ◽  
Basic Services ◽  
Constitutional Right ◽  
The Right

t is common course that equitable access to water and sanitation must be accordingly and primarily regarded as criteria for the realization of other several human rights, such as the right to life, dignity, health, food, adequate standard of living and education. Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is essential to the enjoyment of safety and environment that is not hazardous to human health. The lack of water and sanitation does not only hinder access to other available rights, but also magnifies the vulnerability of women, girls and people with disabilities. Water and sanitation services are of outmost important to the health and wellbeing of all people. South Africa is operating under one of the most outstanding legislative and policy frameworks for basic services in the world, including the Constitutional right of access to sufficient water and right to basic sanitation.

An Analysis of the State’s Obligation to Provide Access to Sufficient Water: A South African Perspective

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 127-140
Author(s):  
Desan Iyer ◽  
Dev Datt Tewari
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
South African ◽  
Economic Rights ◽  
Running Water ◽  
Contentious Issue ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
The World ◽  
African Perspective ◽  
Progressive Policy ◽  
South African Constitution

Abstract Many people in Africa, and around the world, do not have access to pipe or running water despite efforts being made to actualise socio-economic rights. South Africa is no different. The advent of the South African Constitution, as well as a strong commitment to advancing social and economic rights and values, has seen post-apartheid reforms in South Africa as well as an evolving water framework being confronted with new binary challenges. The era of social change has consequently underscored the need for an urgent redress of incongruences that still exist in respect of access to sufficient water. Despite South Africa adopting progressive policy frameworks for water in recent times, stark inequalities between communities in respect of access to sufficient water remain a contentious issue. The article will seek to analyse the developmental mandate of local government’s responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and giving effect to a key socio-economic right in South Africa.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Basic Sanitation Legislative System in Manaus - Amazonas

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. 417-423
Author(s):  
Fabricia Gonçalves dos Santos Medeiros ◽  
Fabiana Rocha Pinto ◽  
David Barbosa de Alencar ◽  
Gisele De Freitas Lopes
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Qualitative Approach ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Brazilian Legislation ◽  
The World ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The City

This study dealt with the legislative system of basic sanitation in the city of Manaus. From this approach we sought to develop the research from the parameters of the Brazilian legislation related to the basic sanitation sector, as well as to identify the important conducts on sustainable development. Understanding the importance of the subject in evidence, it is worth mentioning that Brazil has a considerable volume of freshwater in the world, and likewise, the Amazon has in its watershed much of that water in its rivers. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to analyze the legislative system of basic sanitation of the city of Manaus - Amazonas, in order to understand the actions developed by this system. For the construction of this study, the methodology adopted was the bibliographic research with a qualitative approach, in order to reach the proposed objectives. Regarding the legislation that deals with basic sanitation, many advances in the sector were obtained. Most of the population does not have access to basic sanitation services, even if provided for by Brazilian law.

scholarly journals Water Rights in a Time of Fragility: An Exploration of Contestation and Discourse around Cape Town’s “Day Zero” Water Crisis

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 3247
Author(s):  
Jackie Dugard
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Water Rights ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Interesting Case ◽  
Water Insecurity ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The World ◽  
Legal Frameworks ◽  
Water Scarce ◽  
The Right

South Africa is an interesting case study on the right to water. It is an upper-middle income country with a history and current reality of extreme racialised inequality, including the water services sphere. It is water scarce, and during 2018, Cape Town was expected to be the first major metropolitan city in the world to run out of water. South Africa has one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, which incorporated socio-economic rights including the right to water as explicitly justiciable long before the international right to water was recognised. However, despite clear water-security and water-equity fault lines on the one hand and conducive legal frameworks on the other hand, there has been relatively little water rights contestation in post-apartheid South Africa. It is this paradox and, in particular, how it played out in the clear case of water insecurity in Cape Town’s “Day Zero” crisis that are the subjects of examination in this article. Aiming to make an original contribution to the scholarship on the “Day Zero” crisis by exploring it from the perspective of interlocutors and those affected by it, this article also hopes to contribute towards a better understanding of the nature and application of water rights more broadly.

Apartheid and the Church in South Africa

Worldview ◽  
1973 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
Koji Taira
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
The Body ◽  
Body Of Christ ◽  
Inhibiting Factor ◽  
The World ◽  
Basic Functions ◽  
The Right ◽  
The Church

In order to be truly the body of Christ in the world, the Church seeks the right to give free, unrestricted expression to its basic functions such as worship, proclamation, fellowship, service and teaching. In an avowedly Christian country it legitimately proceeds on the assumption that this right is given. Apartheid legislation and custom, however, place serious restrictions on these basic functions, as well as on the overall administration of the Church.Apart from specific restrictions contained in legislation, there is also the inhibiting factor of uncertainty engendered by the wideness and vagueness of many regulations and laws. A climate of opinion has developed, encouraged by the plethora of regulations and laws, which makes even legally permissible actions seem doubtful and possibly dangerous.

Business partners for development-KwaZulu-Natal pilot project, South Africa: a new approach to the delivery of sustainable water and sanitation services in poor peri-urban areas

2002 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 197-202
Author(s):  
P. Rousseau ◽  
E. Tranchant
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Water And Sanitation ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Business Partners ◽  
Kwazulu Natal ◽  
The World

An innovative tri-sector partnership has been formed in two peri-urban areas in Durban and Pietermaritzburg, in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which aims to provide sustainable water and sanitation services to these previously disadvantaged communities. This forms part of the world-wide Business Partners for Development (BPD) programme initiated by the World Bank to bring together the diverse resources, expertise and perspectives of three distinct sectors: business sector, public sector and civil society, in particular Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO's). The project focus includes infrastructure upgrading, water loss management, community involvement and capacity building, education and awareness on water conservation, health and hygiene, and customer management. The establishment of a common research framework examining impacts and outcomes and an international sharing and learning programme will, it is hoped, lead ultimately to better and replicable practices.

scholarly journals SMEs and product mix decisions: fact or fiction

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 608-616
Author(s):  
Michael C. Cant ◽  
Safura Mohamed Kallier ◽  
Johannes A. Wiid
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Driving Force ◽  
Job Creation ◽  
Jel Classification ◽  
Product Mix ◽  
Economic Growth And Development ◽  
The World ◽  
The Right

Research over the years has shown that in order for any business to survive, the correct product mix must be offered to the market. If the product does not satisfy the needs of the market, its reason for existence can be questioned. This principle applies to all businesses – big or small. The question arises if SMEs adhere to this fact and, if so, how they go about doing this. SMEs over the world make huge contributions to economic growth and job creation and are seen to be a driving force for economic growth and development in any economy. In the highly competitive environment that SMEs operate in, selecting the right merchandise for the right customer is important and, in most instances, its ability to survive or perish. This study aimed to determine if SMEs in South Africa make decisions regarding the product mix and, if so, if they conform to different profiles regarding the decisions that they make. A questionnaire was used to collect the data and was sent to SMEs around South Africa operating in different industries. The results indicated that SMEs in South Africa consider product characteristics, consumer behavior and strategic aspects when making product mix decisions. Keywords: merchandising, product, SMEs, product mix, business, South Africa. JEL Classification: M00, M300, M310

scholarly journals Does the exclusion of a right to basic sanitation in international law impede its legal enforcement?

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siyambonga Heleba
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
United Nations ◽  
International Law ◽  
Rural Populations ◽  
International Organisations ◽  
Cultural Rights ◽  
Legal Enforcement ◽  
The World ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
The Right

ABSTRACT Despite expressly providing for a number of rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) sadly omits the right to basic sanitation. This is a matter of concern as figures released by United Nations agencies and other international organisations paint a bleak picture of the levels of provision (or lack thereof) of basic sanitation around the world. They demonstrate huge and growing disparities in relation to the provision of basic sanitation facilities between urban and rural populations. International law has certainly not helped the situation by omitting this important right in key human rights instruments such as the ICESCR This is also manifested in the tendency by many governments to separate basic sanitation from the right to water. The article argues, however, that this fact alone should not hinder the legal enforcement of this right. Keywords: Basic sanitation, global picture, international law, human rights, legal enforcement

scholarly journals Factors and impacts of informal settlements residents' sanitation practices on access and sustainability of sanitation services in the policy context of Free Basic Sanitation

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-248
Author(s):  
Christophe Muanda ◽  
Jacqueline Goldin ◽  
Rainer Haldenwang
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Informal Settlements ◽  
Global Network ◽  
Western Cape ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Sanitation Services ◽  
Policy Context ◽  
Plastic Bags ◽  
Basic Sanitation ◽  
Generous Support

Abstract Through the Free Basic Sanitation (FBSan) service policy, many informal settlements in South Africa have been provided with basic sanitation facilities. However, access to these facilities remains challenging for many residents. These challenges have compelled residents to adopt a range of alternative sanitation practices. Through interviews, observation and focus group discussions in five informal settlements in the Western Cape, South Africa, 383 randomly selected respondents identified factors that shape their sanitation practices and how these practices impact on access to, and sustainability of sanitation services in the policy context of the FBSan. Residents' sanitation practices include the use of buckets, porta-potties, plastic bags, and existing facilities within and outside their settlements for either defecating or discharging the bucket contents and open defecation. These sanitation practices are informed by factors including safety concerns, poor conditions of the facilities, lack of privacy and choice. These findings suggest that the provision of facilities through the FBSan policy should consider the multiple and varied needs of residents, practices and conditions of their settlements prior to the selection and deployment of facilities to informal settlements in South Africa. This article has been made Open Access thanks to the generous support of a global network of libraries as part of the Knowledge Unlatched Select initiative.

Transforming reality

1988 ◽  
Vol 17 (10) ◽  
pp. 17-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Freire ◽  
Vivian Schelling
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Popular Culture ◽  
Adult Literacy ◽  
Paulo Freire ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Political Awareness ◽  
Educational Method ◽  
The Poor ◽  
The World ◽  
The Right

One of the key figures in the Popular Culture Movement, Paulo Freire is the founder of a revolutionary educational method which brought literacy — and political awareness — to thousands of the poor in Brazil. His books, which have played a key role in adult literacy movements throughout the world, have been banned by many dictatorial governments, including those of South Africa and, most recently, Haiti. Forced into exile from his own country following the right-wing coup in 1964, Freire finally returned in 1980. In São Paulo he talked to Vivian Schelling about his work

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