3.4 Analysis
109
As has already been mentioned (p. 9), the feasibility study that Respondent 9 refers
to is in the form of a cost-benefit analysis, which utilises empirical data and which
is, by default, positivist planning (Meissner 2015a) or development that is framed
by positivism. We can draw a similar conclusion from the River Horse project that
Respondent 5 spoke about. The empirical data, therefore, will not only relate to the
feasibility of funding, but also in terms of the potential impact it could have on the
rivers that Durban depends on for its water resources.
When it comes to initiatives, such as the establishment of a water fund, Respondent
11’s opinion about eThekwini’s enterprises is as follows:
eThekwini won the Greening award again this year, which is an indication that impressive
work has been done. While there are pockets of excellence, much more needs to be done,
on a significant scale, to contain global warming and to reduce greenhouse gases, transport
costs, water and energy consumption and waste generation. “Sexy Projects”… get votes and
‘appear’ to address service delivery, while, in reality, they tend to deal with the symptoms
and with unsustainable reactive measures. What is the cost-benefit of floating wetlands
for removing nutrients and converting polluting chemicals, compared to that of properly
managed exotic aquatic-weed control?
Here again, there is talk of cost-benefit thinking and the reduction of measurable
elements relating to the environment, such as greenhouse gases and transportation
costs, as well as a reduction in energy consumption. Respondent 11 quoted Duncan
Hay at length, with regard to the water quality problems encountered in the uMngeni
River basin. In 2017, Hay said that:
What is abundantly clear is that our river basin [the uMngeni] is in a very unhealthy and
steadily-deteriorating ecological state - it is being subjected to slow, but intense, violence…
In order to reverse this state, an immediate, integrated, multi-agency response on a large
scale is required. For this, technical and financial resources are required. These resources
are available either in-house, in the various management agencies, or as grants and loans.
A lack of resources is not the issue. We need inspired political and technical leadership in
order to mobilise the state, civil society and the business sector to solve the problems. We
are all in this together.
This quote also contains normative elements, namely, political and technical leadership and collaboration, with the response to this activity being framed in positivist
language. Hay recommends that collaboration should occur in a structured and in
triangular fashion involving three actors or groupings, namely, the state, civil society
and business (Meissner and Jacobs 2016).
On a completely different matter, when I asked him about the social and financial
costs and benefits of green infrastructures, Respondent 12 indicated that:
With regard to financial aspects, I think we have a lot of financial support for operational
matters like research, assessments and staffing. The problems come in when we deal with
the capital aspects. I have been saying it for four years. All the international support we are
getting has to do with operational support for research and assessments. What we need more
funds for is largely for the implementation of capex.
Respondent 12’s concern was more for the maintenance and upgrading of capital
expenditure, especially the physical infrastructure, such as water reticulation systems
109
As has already been mentioned (p. 9), the feasibility study that Respondent 9 refers
to is in the form of a cost-benefit analysis, which utilises empirical data and which
is, by default, positivist planning (Meissner 2015a) or development that is framed
by positivism. We can draw a similar conclusion from the River Horse project that
Respondent 5 spoke about. The empirical data, therefore, will not only relate to the
feasibility of funding, but also in terms of the potential impact it could have on the
rivers that Durban depends on for its water resources.
When it comes to initiatives, such as the establishment of a water fund, Respondent
11’s opinion about eThekwini’s enterprises is as follows:
eThekwini won the Greening award again this year, which is an indication that impressive
work has been done. While there are pockets of excellence, much more needs to be done,
on a significant scale, to contain global warming and to reduce greenhouse gases, transport
costs, water and energy consumption and waste generation. “Sexy Projects”… get votes and
‘appear’ to address service delivery, while, in reality, they tend to deal with the symptoms
and with unsustainable reactive measures. What is the cost-benefit of floating wetlands
for removing nutrients and converting polluting chemicals, compared to that of properly
managed exotic aquatic-weed control?
Here again, there is talk of cost-benefit thinking and the reduction of measurable
elements relating to the environment, such as greenhouse gases and transportation
costs, as well as a reduction in energy consumption. Respondent 11 quoted Duncan
Hay at length, with regard to the water quality problems encountered in the uMngeni
River basin. In 2017, Hay said that:
What is abundantly clear is that our river basin [the uMngeni] is in a very unhealthy and
steadily-deteriorating ecological state - it is being subjected to slow, but intense, violence…
In order to reverse this state, an immediate, integrated, multi-agency response on a large
scale is required. For this, technical and financial resources are required. These resources
are available either in-house, in the various management agencies, or as grants and loans.
A lack of resources is not the issue. We need inspired political and technical leadership in
order to mobilise the state, civil society and the business sector to solve the problems. We
are all in this together.
This quote also contains normative elements, namely, political and technical leadership and collaboration, with the response to this activity being framed in positivist
language. Hay recommends that collaboration should occur in a structured and in
triangular fashion involving three actors or groupings, namely, the state, civil society
and business (Meissner and Jacobs 2016).
On a completely different matter, when I asked him about the social and financial
costs and benefits of green infrastructures, Respondent 12 indicated that:
With regard to financial aspects, I think we have a lot of financial support for operational
matters like research, assessments and staffing. The problems come in when we deal with
the capital aspects. I have been saying it for four years. All the international support we are
getting has to do with operational support for research and assessments. What we need more
funds for is largely for the implementation of capex.
Respondent 12’s concern was more for the maintenance and upgrading of capital
expenditure, especially the physical infrastructure, such as water reticulation systems