Community struggles concerning 'pre-paid' water meters in Phiri

摘要

ABSTRACTudSouth Africa, like numerous other developing countries throughout the world, faces increasinguddemands for public services in urban areas (Rondinelli and Kasarda, 1993). South Africa’s accessudto basic services such as water has clearly become part of social security/ citizenship. The researchudreport investigates and elucidates the role of privatisation in the basic service delivery context. Itudargues that the GEAR policy framework blocks the resources required to achieve social citizenshipud(Cock 2000). This gave rise to community struggles concerning prepaid water meters in Phiri,udSoweto. These struggles are examined and competing discourses surrounding public versus privateudsector participation in basic service (water) provision are also explored.udThe argument in this research report is two-fold. First, it establishes a view of water as anudeconomic good, with the democratic government reducing the municipal problems of delivery toudeconomic markets or private corporations. Second, it examines the perspective that water is audhuman right issue contained in the Bill of Rights. These two counter-arguments perpetuateudstruggles in relation to access, affordability and supply of water. The research seeks to examineudthese opposing arguments and further explores the impacts these struggles have on future deliveryudand access of such ‘life need’ as water. This exposure is done through the collection of Secondaryuddata and empirical evidence obtained using various qualitative data gathering techniques.udAlthough the advantages of prepaid water meters are recognised, the dominant argument in thisudreport is in line with Dependency Theory. This maintains that the socio-economic inequalities asudwell as the socio-environmental injustices widespread in the policies of privatisation excludeudvarious sectors of the population from full access to essential necessities such as water. Theseudinjustices are rooted in the fact that water is treated as a commodity to be sold and not as a basicudhuman right (Maema 2003). To deny water to people reduces their citizenship and therefore theudachievement of full citizens’ rights for the community of Phiri has become one of the crucialudbarometers for the realisation of the depth and sustainability of South Africa’s democracy (Khunouud2000). The research findings obtained suggest that the government does realise its responsibility toudprovide basic water services. Nevertheless, it delegates this responsibility to private institutions;udhence making it an individual responsibility to gain access to water at a cost. This form of attemptudin South Africa gives a clear reflection of Adam Smith’s “commercial society” which isudviiiudencompassed and endorsed by privatisation and the capitalist endeavours. However, this is inudcontrast with the principles enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, whichudmandate the government to ensure the progressive realisation and maintenance of access toudavailable basic services. The research report, however, suggests that some educational programmesudneed to be developed and promoted to inform and equip the public on how best to preserve water.udThis endeavour is gradually envisaged under the auspices of emerging corporatised utilities.