This study sought to investigate the complexities and challenges posed by the adoption of a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) as a mechanism for delivering services in a South African local government context. The rationale of using PPP is to be effective, efficient, accountable and transparent. The study highlights the post-apartheid government's efforts to transform water services delivery through introducing various policies and legislation in order to provide water services to communities that were previously denied access to reliable and portable water supplies. This study looks at both positive and negative aspects of public service management in general and has identified New Public Management (NPM) as a theory that seeks to address the inadequacies commonly attributed to classic public service management. PPP is an example of emerging model of service delivery from the New Public Management school of thought. New Public Management, the study's adopted theoretical framework, is concerned with reformation in a public sector organization (in this case the local government), so that it can perform effectively and efficiently. Another area of concern in New Public Management is ensuring that the public sector organizations provide decision makers with sound advice on all aspect of policy: conceptualization, review, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. The research methodology that this study used was a qualitative approach. Secondary sources of data were employed, while the method of data analysis was content analysis. Themes emerging from the data formed the basis for analysis in line with the adopted theoretical framework. The findings were based on the four sets of objectives of the study, using research questions as a guide. The process involved applying New Public Management (NPM) concepts to the case study. An examination of the manner in which networks have been managed in Nelspruit. Also examined is the legislative and policy framework that allowed and accommodated the inclusion and operation of PPP. Opportunities and threats surrounding the Greater Nelspruit Utility Company (GNUC) Concession were also identified. Finally, lessons and implications in the usage of the PPP approach as a mechanism of water services delivery concludes the discussion on the findings. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2006.

Policy implementation is a critical stage in the policymaking process. It is about putting public policy into action. It becomes more challenging to implement policies in a multi-organisational context. This research aims to uncover the different aspects of policy implementation in a multi-organisational context. The Free Basic Water Policy is analysed in particular the financial implication of providing free basic water as a basic service in municipalities. In establishing the distribution of basic services it is important that the understanding of local governance in post-apartheid South Africa is elaborated upon. Hence this study is one of local governance and the financial implications of providing free basic water to local citizens in general and to indigents in particular. The municipality chosen as a case study is Msunduzi municipality. This municipality has undergone some challenges in terms of their fiscal management. This in turn impacts their ability to deliver basic services. This study argues that policy implementation in a multi-organisational context should look into understanding the structure of an organisation and the processes therein to help explain the challenges that occur in policy implementation. The main findings of this research were that the structure of organisations depends greatly on the features of the organisational context. It is the organisational environment such as the structures in place, political life and processes that direct organisations. Coordination and cooperation proved to be vital for policy implementation in the context of Msunduzi Municipality, given that there is sharing of resources and information. / Thesis (M.Soc.Sci.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

This was a study of the devolution of water and sanitation management functions from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry and Rand Water Board to Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality. This affects the functions and the infrastructure that goes with it. This exercise is the fulfilment of the provisions of Water Services Act that empowers municipalities to become Water Services Authorities and where capacity exists to also become Water Services Providers. It was found that though constitutionally, water and sanitation functions resort under municipalities, in the area of study, the Tshwane municipality did not directly deliver these functions. This happened due to the fact that Tshwane did not have human capacity to deal with the functions, they provided the funding as a subsidy to Rand Water Board who in turn provided financial support to Odi Retail Water that is currently responsible for water and sanitation management as a subsidiary to Rand Water Board. The following are recommendations derived from the findings: That the political activities be raised in the areas to encourage people to pay for their services and take responsibility for meter reading on their own like it is happening in Denmark. In Denmark each household reads meters for both water and electricity personally and submits the readings to the municipality for billing. As a result the municipality did not employ special meter readers and by so doing they safe on salaries. That greater resource allocation is made to cover the shortfalls that were experienced due to lack of management capacity and other resources that would enable Tshwane municipality to run the functions on their own. That capacity building and support for professionals be streamlined on the current Odi Retail Water staff for future absorption by municipality. 4. That promotion of community-based development be continued to encourage community ownership on water management functions. This could be done through the formation of community water associations. While community-based approaches are now accepted as the norm, the necessary: capacity to support them in most cases does not generally exist at the higher levels (national, district and local) and Tshwane needs to look at this. Communities currently remain uninterested in taking part in wider water management for a number of reasons, including lack of ownership or control over decisions; lack of real power to make allocation and use decisions; high transaction costs of involvement; and poorly developed frameworks by which the views of large communities can be represented at stakeholder fora. Therefore, Tshwane must make sure that community's interest is supported in all respect. If the municipality cannot handle these functions on its own, then privatisation should be considered for efficient and effective water and sanitation management and provision. / Thesis (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2002

The increasing demand for water to provide for South Africa's growing population has resulted in increasing pressure being placed on the country's limited water resources. Water developments however cannot be undertaken without considering the water resource base and the key policy frameworks that governs its use and protection. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry as the custodian of water resources in the country initiated the implementation of the National Water Act during 1999. It has therefore the mandate to ensure that the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources be achieved in an equitable, efficient and sustainable manner, to the benefit of society at large. The National Water Act prescribes that the Minister of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry develop a system for the classification of all significant water resources to ensure its protection and sustainable utilisation. The classification system is to be used to determine the class and resource quality objectives of all significant water resources. In the absence of a formal classification system, a framework was developed through this research study in order to guide both the development of a classification system and the implementation, hence ensuring an overarching structure within which intergrated water resource management can be achieved. The main goal of this framework was to seek an appropriate balance between protecting significant water resources and at the same time promoting water resource utilisation in support of socio-economic development. This framework was executed in the preliminary determination of the Reserve for the Thukela River catchment to ensure that informed and calculated decision-making processes are followed once significant water resources are classified.

<p>This thesis examined a pre-paid water metering pilot project which was implemented in Klipheuwel , Cape Town, South Africa in 2001. It was anticipated that the implementation of pre-paid water meters would help improve the management of water service delivery in the Cape Metropolitan Area. However, just four years after its implementation the project has collapsed.</p>

South Africa is classified as an arid to semi-arid region and water scarcity in South Africa has been identified as a key factor limiting socioeconomic development in the next century. In the Algoa region, the total urban plus agricultural water demand is expected to exceed the supply by the year 2005. The Kouga Working for Water Project aims to increase the base flow to the existing dams which supply the Port Elizabeth metropolitan area through the eradication of invasive alien trees in the riparian areas of the Krom and Kouga catchments. This thesis analyses the economic efficiency of optimal catchment management as a water supply scheme. A cost-benefit analysis is conducted for the Kouga eradication programme, and its desirability is evaluated in terms of the net present value (NPV) and the internal rate of return (IRR) criteria. In order to compare the cost-e~i.ciency of the eradication programme to alternative water supply augmentation schemes the Unit Reference Value (URV) is calculated for the project. The NPV for the project is calculated using a discount rate of 7% and amounts to nearly R24 million. This positive NPV indicates that the project is economically desirable in that it results in the improvement of human welfare. The IRR decision rule supports this finding. The URV of the eradication scheme is found to be competitive to that generated by more conventional schemes. Considered in the evaluation of the project are a host of environmental benefits that accompany the eradication of alien vegetation. This is in contrast to alternative schemes which result in several detrimental impacts to the environment. The economic analysis concludes that the eradication of alien vegetation is an efficient and desirable alternative water supply augmentation scheme. The conclusions drawn from the analysis of the eradication programme in this catchment area can be extended to other catchment areas, with the aim of promoting the most efficient supply of water.

Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / Access to basic water and sanitation services in South Africa is considered a basic human right, and constitutionally, local government is responsible for the provision thereof. However, in the informal settlements in towns and cities, residents continue to be exposed to environmental health risks that result from poor and inadequate basic sanitation provision. Municipalities are under pressure to address the sanitation backlog according to the national target that is based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG). The provision of infrastructure alone does not account for the provision of an improved, safer and more hygienic environment for its users. A badly managed sanitation facility is an environmental health risk, and it encourages inappropriate and unsafe sanitation practice. Municipalities cannot claim to meet the sanitation backlog targets unless appropriate and effective management systems are in place to operate and maintain the basic sanitation facilities provided. Through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, local government is encouraged to develop partnerships to promote economic development and job creation, particularly in areas of extreme poverty and high unemployment through the delivery of services. Public participation, social learning, empowerment and sustainability are the key components of the people-centred development approach that currently guides the delivery of municipal services South Africa (Davids,I. 2005). The White Paper on Local Government advocates municipalities to work with communities to find sustainable ways to meet their needs through an approach that is driven by formulating linkages between development, service delivery and local citizen participation (Mogale, T. 2005:219). It is also argued that the only way to effectively link poverty reduction strategies and improved service delivery is through the formation of partnerships that are based on meaningful participation (Mogale, T. 2003). Public participation also allows for an opportunity for increased community buy-in and support that is essential for the sustainable delivery of services to informal settlements so as to reduce incidents of misuse and vandalism. Communication and collaboration across municipal departments is also required, as sanitation service delivery in its broad definition, falls across the Water Services, Health and Solid Waste Departments. Hence the need for an integrated and inclusive approach to planning is required. Using a participatory action research (PAR) process, this study proposes to investigate whether there are local community-based opportunities for the procurement of some of the operation and maintenance tasks for the recently refurbished public ablution blocks in an informal settlement within the City of Cape Town. Public ablution blocks are one of the sanitation technology options available for the provision of shared basic sanitation services provided to informal settlements within the City of Cape Town. The research is divided into three stages. The first two stages serve as the building blocks for the third stage of the research. The objectives are to obtain an improved understanding of the “local knowledge” at community level, to obtain an understanding of the operation and maintenance activities in informal settlements currently being undertaken by City of Cape Town, and to initiate contacts and develop relationships with key stakeholders for their participation in the focus group discussions in the third stage. The third stage of the research proposes to adopt a participatory approach involving key stakeholders to identify the opportunities and make recommendations to the City of Cape Town to consider for the development of an operational plan for the operation and maintenance of the Khayelitsha Ablution Blocks.

M.Ing. / An investigation was conducted on on-site leakage in selected suburbs of Johannesburg to determine the average leakage flow rate of water lost per property, as well as the distribution patterns of leakage flow rates for two categories of properties: Residential (single domestic houses on stands) and Other (non-domestic and large domestic users). The incentive of this research project, funded by the Water Research Commission (WRC) of South Africa, was to provide figures and to gain insight into the magnitude of water lost at the consumer level, also defined as "on-site leakage". Little was published on on-site losses compared to water losses in municipal distribution systems. The key information for this study was collected through physical inspection of a group of randomly selected properties and by means of measurements taken from municipal water meters used for billing purpose. The project was assisted by Johannesburg Water (Pty) Ltd who provided a list of 233 properties having water meters of less than five years old. These properties were chosen at random and included properties whose meters were replaced due to meter failure or customer complaints. The results of the research show that overall 64 % of investigated properties had measurable on-site leakage at an average rate of 22.9 I/h per property, equivalent to a monthly volume loss of 16.5 kl per property. The median rate was 5.7 I/h per property, translated into a volume loss of 4.1 kl/month per property. An analysis of the data revealed that the general extreme value distribution and its derivatives (Frechet, Wakeby, Exponential and Gamma) provide good descriptions of the distribution of on-site leakage rates. The apparent losses resulting from metering errors were also estimated. The results of this study should be of interest to water engineers and to decision-makers involved in water demand management. It could form a basis for further investigation in the analysis of on-site leakage on a large scale in South Africa by systematically monitoring all segregated categories of users throughout different cities and towns in South Africa.

Magister Scientiae - MSc / The increasing demand for water to provide for South Africa's growing population has resulted in increasing pressure being placed on the country's limited water resources. Water developments however cannot be undertaken without considering the water resource base and the key policy frameworks that governs its use and protection. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry as the custodian of water resources in the country initiated the implementation of the National Water Act during 1999. It has therefore the mandate to ensure that the protection, use, development, conservation, management and control of water resources be achieved in an equitable, efficient and sustainable manner, to the benefit of society at large. The National Water Act prescribes that the Minister of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry develop a system for the classification of all significant water resources to ensure its protection and sustainable utilisation. The classification system is to be used to determine the class and resource quality objectives of all significant water resources. In the absence of a formal classification system, a framework was developed through this research study in order to guide both the development of a classification system and the implementation, hence ensuring an overarching structure within which intergrated water resource management can be achieved. The main goal of this framework was to seek an appropriate balance between protecting significant water resources and at the same time promoting water resource utilisation in support of socio-economic development. This framework was executed in the preliminary determination of the Reserve for the Thukela River catchment to ensure that informed and calculated decision-making processes are followed once significant water resources are classified. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae - MPhil / This thesis examined a pre-paid water metering pilot project which was implemented in Klipheuwel , Cape Town, South Africa in 2001. It was anticipated that the implementation of pre-paid water meters would help improve the management of water service delivery in the Cape Metropolitan Area. However, just four years after its implementation the project has collapsed. / South Africa