Suchergebnisse

Carletonville is a gold-mining town in western Gauteng province, South Africa, and is located in the Merafong City Local Municipality's geographical area of responsibility. It is one of the richest gold-producing areas in the world but unfortunately the current state of the town's infrastructure is in shambles and the environment is in a pitiful state because of human activities that have caused massive physical changes. Geohydrological aspects such as complex geology and the compartmentalisation of the groundwater into seven areas separated by syenite dykes, of which five have been dewatered to facilitate the gold-mining, have made it the research area of choice. Unfortunately, this led to the formation of hundreds of new sinkholes between the towns of Westonaria and Carletonville and eventually the evacuation of the old town of Bank, abandoning the area and declaring it unsuitable for human settlements. To try and identify possible reasons for this unfortunate state of the human-induced environmental change all along the Wonderfontein Spruit draining the area, the author using a comprehensive literature review, study of geological maps and databases as well as through data collection and semi-structured interviews with selected role-players and stakeholders identified basic essential geographical, geohydrological, organisational and municipal management aspects of significance for consideration. These steps were all a part of an attempt to improve the nature and extent of basic water-, sanitation-, human settlements- and environmental management in the Westonaria, Carletonville and Khutsong areas.

Local government in South Africa (SA) has come a long way from the period when there were over 1200 racially segregated municipalities. From more than 800 municipalities after 1996, they have been merged to currently 284 municipalities which now cover every 'millimetre' of the country, and are focused on growing local economies and maintaining the provision of a lot more diverse and complex basic municipal services to all their citizens and especially to geographical areas and citizens that were previously neglected. This transformed local government environment has brought about many changes in the nature and extent of basic public services delivered at the grassroots level of this developing country with its limited resources and unlimited needs – especially in the areas of potable water supply and sanitation services. This article will firstly highlight the changed environmental context of public service delivery in the local government sphere of the country before the transformation in relevant legislation will be reported on. Subsequently the nature and extent of current realities of local governance, dynamics and challenges regarding the diverse and complex public services by a typical Category B Local municipality will be identified in the real SA out there. The use of the Politics – Administration System Model by Easton for environmental management analysis will also be illustrated. Lastly, for easy classification of typical characteristics and challenging issues in the dynamic municipal government sphere of SA, the SWOT-analysis format will be used. ; https://doi.org/10.4102/td.v5i1.149

Der Artikel will die Notwendigkeit einer systematischen Umweltpolitik für Südafrika unterstreichen. Er beginnt mit einem historischen Überblick über Ansätze von Umwelt- und Ressourcenschutz, die bis auf das Jahr 1652 zurückgehen. Anschließend werden kurz einige Ursachen für die zunehmende Ressourcenbelastung genannt. Empfehlungen zur Verbesserung der Umweltpolitik und des Problembewußtseins in der Bevölkerung richten sich an Regierung und Verwaltung (DÜI-Spl)

The rapid global development is mostly economically driven and made up of complex country-specific problems. Although sustainable development (SD) is a well established concept and an urgent global challenge, differing levels of progress had been made in organisations, communities and countries. To facilitate consistency of understanding, the authors accept the definition of 'sustainable development' as including the economic, social and environmental dimensions. Furthermore, they argue that these dimensions are not functioning as separate silos but are interdependent and grounded in legislated governance frameworks from where co-operative governance (COG) realizes as an option to facilitate an integrated approach. The article discusses the challenges in the facilitation of COG and suggests practical guidelines for implementation to facilitate improved integration. ; https://doi.org/10.4102/td.v7i1.257

It is by now common knowledge that South Africa is a water scarce country and that the correct public management of its potable water sources such as the transportation of it as well as the purification of the used water is of utmost importance. In the history of South Africa, the supply of potable water and basic sanitation services to all the inhabitants has never been higher on the national, provincial and especially the local government sphere agendas than since the end of April 1994. Even though the Mooi River valley area has always been described as water rich, it might in the near future be described as "water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink"! The city of Potchefstroom gathers its potable water from surface- and groundwater in the Mooi River Catchment. The water is collected, stored and released from the Boskop Dam from where it is transported in a 12km long open-on-top cement canal to the water purification works of the City. In an ad hoc field visit by the authors, it was discovered that the water canal is broken and being polluted in a variety of ways before it reaches the purification works. Improvement of this inefficient management situation is also currently quite impossible seeing that the Department of Water Affairs' workforce has declined to a mere 20 people to maintain the whole of the Mooi River valley. The article starts off with a historical water related background of Potchefstroom identifying some historical happenings and developments of importance with reference to the development related to Potchefstroom and especially the source and transport of its potable water. Thereafter the article highlights some important water resources related legislation, which is obviously not being adhered to. Important role-players involved with the public management of the potable water supply for the city residents of Potchefstroom are furthermore identified. Lastly the way forward is addressed and some recommendations on the improvement of the transport of the City's potable water through the dolomite underlain area are given.

It is by now common knowledge that South Africa is a water scarce country and that the correct public management of its potable water sources such as the transportation of it as well as the purification of the used water is of utmost importance. In the history of South Africa, the supply of potable water and basic sanitation services to all the inhabitants has never been higher on the national, provincial and especially the local government sphere agendas than since the end of April 1994. Even though the Mooi River valley area has always been described as water rich, it might in the near future be described as "water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink"! The city of Potchefstroom gathers its potable water from surface- and groundwater in the Mooi River Catchment. The water is collected, stored and released from the Boskop Dam from where it is transported in a 12km long open-on-top cement canal to the water purification works of the City. In an ad hoc field visit by the authors, it was discovered that the water canal is broken and being polluted in a variety of ways before it reaches the purification works. Improvement of this inefficient management situation is also currently quite impossible seeing that the Department of Water Affairs' workforce has declined to a mere 20 people to maintain the whole of the Mooi River valley. The article starts off with a historical water related background of Potchefstroom identifying some historical happenings and developments of importance with reference to the development related to Potchefstroom and especially the source and transport of its potable water. Thereafter the article highlights some important water resources related legislation, which is obviously not being adhered to. Important role-players involved with the public management of the potable water supply for the city residents of Potchefstroom are furthermore identified. Lastly the way forward is addressed and some recommendations on the improvement of the transport of the City's potable water through the dolomite underlain area are given.

All South Africans, especially, those involved with the development and management of its water resources should be aware that South Africa is generally an arid to semi-arid region, with an average rainfall of approximately 500 mm per annum, compared to a world average of 860mm. Consequently, potable water is a very scarce resource, and is often the biggest prohibiting factor for development of, for example, new residential areas in a town or city. Hence a public service rendering municipality like the Tlokwe (Potchefstroom) City Council will have to, in its quest to manage its potable water supply more effectively, efficiently and economically, take cognisance of aspects such as: · The origin of its potable water; · The nature and extent of the storage and treatment of the potable water; · The manner in which the potable water is distributed to the users and consumers; and · The manner in which the wastewater is collected, treated and managed. The authors of this article are of the opinion that the aforementioned can only be taken care of effectively by incorporating a physical environmental management perspective in its municipal governance.

• Opsomming: Inwoners van Suid-Afrika behoort deurlopend herinner te word dat hulle 'n waterarmland bewoon en dat kennis oor die fisiese omgewing en die aard en omvang van effektiewe openbare bestuur van watervoorsiening van strategiese belang is. Die oppervlakte- en grondwater wat in die rivieropvanggebiede saamvloei is hidrologies en geohidrologies verbind deur die hidrologiese kringloop. Laasgenoemde manifesteer in 'n natuurlike omgewing wat nie net gekenmerk word deur 'n toestand van wye diversiteit en kompleksiteit nie, maar ook deur die behoefte aan goed gestruktureerde openbare dienslewering op veral die plaaslike regeringsfeer. Teen die einde van April 1994 was die voorsiening van openbare drinkwater en basiese sanitasiedienste aan al die landsinwoners op al die owerheidsfeer- en veral die plaaslike regeringsfeeragendas die hoogste in die openbare diens geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika. Gevolglik is die Regering nie net meer gemoeid met die verskaffing van genoegsame drinkwater alleen nie, maar ook met die fasilitering van die implementering van 'n holistiese en geïntegreerde benadering aangaande die effektiewe, doeltreffende en ekonomiese bestuur van die ontwikkeling, vervoer, opgaar, behandeling en verspreiding van water. As die enigste bestuurder en bewaarder van die land se waterbronne is die Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou (DWAF) sedert veral die oorgang na 'n demokratiese bestel in 1994 proaktief in die evaluering van bestaande beleidsdokumente sowel as die voortbring van verbeterde wette en uitvoerbare openbare beleid aangaande waterbestuursaspekte in die land. Dit is ook opmerklik dat primêre nasionale wetgewing aangaande die bestuur van openbare water sedert die 1956 - en die jongste 1998 waterwetgewing transformasie ondergaan het en dat die mees optimale voertuig tot meer effektiewe, doeltreffende en ekonomiese implementering van die nuwe getransformeerde openbare waterverwante wetgewing die 284 munisipaliteite in die land is. Dit is dan ook op hierdie regeringsfeer waar die spreekwoordelike 'motorkarwiel die teerpad tref' en die sukses al dan nie, van nuut geïmplementeerde openbare beleid evalueer kan word. Die fokus van die artikel is om vanuit 'n dissiplinêr geïntegreerde perspektief die toepassing van watergewing in Suid-Afrika op munisipale owerheidsfeer krities in oënskou te neem.

• Opsomming: Inwoners van Suid-Afrika behoort deurlopend herinner te word dat hulle 'n waterarmland bewoon en dat kennis oor die fisiese omgewing en die aard en omvang van effektiewe openbare bestuur van watervoorsiening van strategiese belang is. Die oppervlakte- en grondwater wat in die rivieropvanggebiede saamvloei is hidrologies en geohidrologies verbind deur die hidrologiese kringloop. Laasgenoemde manifesteer in 'n natuurlike omgewing wat nie net gekenmerk word deur 'n toestand van wye diversiteit en kompleksiteit nie, maar ook deur die behoefte aan goed gestruktureerde openbare dienslewering op veral die plaaslike regeringsfeer. Teen die einde van April 1994 was die voorsiening van openbare drinkwater en basiese sanitasiedienste aan al die landsinwoners op al die owerheidsfeer- en veral die plaaslike regeringsfeeragendas die hoogste in die openbare diens geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika. Gevolglik is die Regering nie net meer gemoeid met die verskaffing van genoegsame drinkwater alleen nie, maar ook met die fasilitering van die implementering van 'n holistiese en geïntegreerde benadering aangaande die effektiewe, doeltreffende en ekonomiese bestuur van die ontwikkeling, vervoer, opgaar, behandeling en verspreiding van water. As die enigste bestuurder en bewaarder van die land se waterbronne is die Departement van Waterwese en Bosbou (DWAF) sedert veral die oorgang na 'n demokratiese bestel in 1994 proaktief in die evaluering van bestaande beleidsdokumente sowel as die voortbring van verbeterde wette en uitvoerbare openbare beleid aangaande waterbestuursaspekte in die land. Dit is ook opmerklik dat primêre nasionale wetgewing aangaande die bestuur van openbare water sedert die 1956 - en die jongste 1998 waterwetgewing transformasie ondergaan het en dat die mees optimale voertuig tot meer effektiewe, doeltreffende en ekonomiese implementering van die nuwe getransformeerde openbare waterverwante wetgewing die 284 munisipaliteite in die land is. Dit is dan ook op hierdie regeringsfeer waar die spreekwoordelike 'motorkarwiel die teerpad tref' en die sukses al dan nie, van nuut geïmplementeerde openbare beleid evalueer kan word. Die fokus van die artikel is om vanuit 'n dissiplinêr geïntegreerde perspektief die toepassing van watergewing in Suid-Afrika op munisipale owerheidsfeer krities in oënskou te neem.

The demarcation of municipal boundaries in post-apartheid South Africa is characterised by objections from affected communities. Beyond polarising-affected communities, proposed redeterminations regularly elicit destruction of public infrastructure and even loss of life. Hostilities over municipal boundaries which were drawn in the rural areas for the first time. This article is drawn from the highly publicised demarcation unrests experienced in the Vuwani area as a result of the newly established Collins Chabane Local Municipality in the Limpopo province. Findings reflected in this article emanated from data collected through the questionnaire, interviews and secondary data sources. Empirical evidence uncovers low levels of public participation in demarcation process by the residents. Actually, more people in Vuwani participated in the anti-demarcation protests in objection to the new municipality. The fact that violent protests regularly accompany municipal demarcation objections in South Africa could reflect an urgent need to improve the facilitation of meaningful public participation in the municipal demarcation process.

When the South African Government in 1998 re-demarcated its 283 municipalities so that they completely cover the country in a "wall-to-wall" manner, their main focus was on growing local economies and maintaining the provision of an increased number of diverse and more complex basic municipal services to new geographical areas consisting of millions of citizens who might previously had been neglected. In most of the instances the newly established and merged municipalities were demarcated according to geographical aspects inherited from the previous political dispensation, historical municipal areas and magisterial district farm names. The fact that these municipal government jurisdictions for the purpose of improving co-operative municipal- and integrated water resources management (IWRM), in most instances do not correspond with environmental and physical land features such as the demarcated surface water (rivers) drainage regions' boundaries, could lead to the ineffective, inefficient and non-economic municipal management of water, sanitation and environmental services. The aforementioned is a case with reference to water services management in the Free State Province town of Lindley located in the Vals River catchment and the Nketoana Local Municipality's area of jurisdiction. An extensive literature review, the use and study of geographic tools such as maps, orthophotos and information data bases, as well as two field visits to the area, enabled the researchers to identify the essential geographical, geo-hydrological and municipal management aspects of importance for the potable water service providers and managers in the Lindley municipal area. The researchers argue that effective trans-boundary municipal management through simunye-type co-operative governance and IWRM must be facilitated in the Vals River surface water catchment between the respective local- and district municipalities for the benefit of the Lindley, Arlington, Steynsrus and Kroonstad communities. ; https://doi.org/10.4102/td.v10i1.22

• Opsomming: In hierdie artikel word die evolusie van plaaslike regering in Suid-Afrika sedert 1652 oorkoepelend beskou met 'n spesifieke klem op veral plaaslike bestuur vanaf 1994 Suid-Afrika bestuur het, het dit spoedig nodig geblyk in die Kaapprovinsie. Nou 'n nuwe politieke bestel dat die aard en omvang van die transformasie van plaaslike regering in terme van die verskillende bevolkingsgroepe en politieke ideologieë van die vorige politieke bestelle ondersoek en beskryf behoort te word. 'n Aantal wetgewende voorskrifte aangaande transformasie in die land se plaaslike regeringstrukture word in die artikel aangespreek. Dit word onder andere aangevoer dat die grondwetlike en ander wetgewende behoeftes en voorskrifte asook die openbare diensleweringsagterstande die skuif na ontwikkelende plaaslike regering met uitgebreide openbare raadpleging en deelname bewerkstellig het. Die historiese plek en rol van die vorige Swart plaaslike owerhede en die Indiër en Kleurling Bestuurskomitees onder die vorige Nasionale Party regering word ook onder die loep geneem. Laastens word daar 'n opsomming verskaf aangaande die pre-interim, interim (1993 tot 1998) en finale fase (2000) van die herstrukturering van die Suid-Afrikaanse plaaslike regeringsfeer.