18
1 Green and Ecological Infrastructures and Water Security …
and provincial government and its constitutional mandate centres, in the main, on
the idea of “developmental local government”’. Local governments therefore enjoy
considerable independence when deciding what to do and how to do it within the
constitutional confines. They also play a developmental role that is expressed by
means of inclusive service delivery to all their residents.
With regard to these functions and operational areas, previous research conducted
on the public administration of South African local governments has indicated that
there are a plethora of problems and opportunities (Beall et al. 2000; Parnell et al.
2002; Barichievy et al. 2005; Koma 2010; Meissner et al. 2018a, 2019). These relate
not only to the regulatory landscape in which municipalities operate, but also to
the socio-economic, financial and political surroundings. For instance, Koma (2010)
identified the historical and socio-economic structural conditions that hamper local
governments from achieving the aspirations of a developmental state. Because of
the differences between the historical and socio-economic progression trajectories
of local governments, municipalities often find it difficult to implement strategies
for meaningful service delivery, as defined by their mandatory mission (Koma 2010;
Meissner et al. 2018a). Other socio-economic circumstances that are prevalent, at
a local government level, include the high unemployment rate, accompanied by
elevated poverty levels, housing backlogs and informal settlements, which are issues
that are partly constituted by limited budgets. Experts link these problems directly to
the apartheid legacy of separate development. Coming to grips with, and mitigating,
these challenges requires well-developed and measured policies (Beall et al. 2000),
by-laws and standards (Meissner et al. 2018a).
As already mentioned, in terms of water resources management, and particularly their ambitions with regard to water security, municipalities have legislative
powers and duties regarding water and sanitation services to the communities within
the bounds of their jurisdiction, whether they are urban, peri-urban or rural. These
legislative powers and duties have a direct bearing on the water security of the people.
Even so, water security, at local government level, does not only depend on the correct
interpretation and implementation of various Acts. As stated previously, other social,
political and ideological considerations are at play when it comes to water security
services (Meissner et al. 2018a).
Relating to this argument, the Minister for Provincial and Local Government in
2002, Sydney Mufamadi (cited in Parnell et al. 2002, and Meissner et al. 2018a),
noted the following:
Municipal government is at the heart of the democratic system that has emerged in South
Africa since the political transition. Democracy makes sense when it connects with and gives
expression to, the everyday challenges of ordinary South Africans. This means that municipal
government must be at the forefront of involving citizens in all aspects of governance and
development by providing them with practical and effective opportunities for participation.
Mufumadi’s quote also applies to the overly technocratic approach to green and
ecological infrastructures that seemingly excludes the citizenry from the planning
and implementation of such initiatives. Because of the local governments’ proximity
to its citizens, Barichievy et al. (2005: 370) argue that ‘local government is required
1 Green and Ecological Infrastructures and Water Security …
and provincial government and its constitutional mandate centres, in the main, on
the idea of “developmental local government”’. Local governments therefore enjoy
considerable independence when deciding what to do and how to do it within the
constitutional confines. They also play a developmental role that is expressed by
means of inclusive service delivery to all their residents.
With regard to these functions and operational areas, previous research conducted
on the public administration of South African local governments has indicated that
there are a plethora of problems and opportunities (Beall et al. 2000; Parnell et al.
2002; Barichievy et al. 2005; Koma 2010; Meissner et al. 2018a, 2019). These relate
not only to the regulatory landscape in which municipalities operate, but also to
the socio-economic, financial and political surroundings. For instance, Koma (2010)
identified the historical and socio-economic structural conditions that hamper local
governments from achieving the aspirations of a developmental state. Because of
the differences between the historical and socio-economic progression trajectories
of local governments, municipalities often find it difficult to implement strategies
for meaningful service delivery, as defined by their mandatory mission (Koma 2010;
Meissner et al. 2018a). Other socio-economic circumstances that are prevalent, at
a local government level, include the high unemployment rate, accompanied by
elevated poverty levels, housing backlogs and informal settlements, which are issues
that are partly constituted by limited budgets. Experts link these problems directly to
the apartheid legacy of separate development. Coming to grips with, and mitigating,
these challenges requires well-developed and measured policies (Beall et al. 2000),
by-laws and standards (Meissner et al. 2018a).
As already mentioned, in terms of water resources management, and particularly their ambitions with regard to water security, municipalities have legislative
powers and duties regarding water and sanitation services to the communities within
the bounds of their jurisdiction, whether they are urban, peri-urban or rural. These
legislative powers and duties have a direct bearing on the water security of the people.
Even so, water security, at local government level, does not only depend on the correct
interpretation and implementation of various Acts. As stated previously, other social,
political and ideological considerations are at play when it comes to water security
services (Meissner et al. 2018a).
Relating to this argument, the Minister for Provincial and Local Government in
2002, Sydney Mufamadi (cited in Parnell et al. 2002, and Meissner et al. 2018a),
noted the following:
Municipal government is at the heart of the democratic system that has emerged in South
Africa since the political transition. Democracy makes sense when it connects with and gives
expression to, the everyday challenges of ordinary South Africans. This means that municipal
government must be at the forefront of involving citizens in all aspects of governance and
development by providing them with practical and effective opportunities for participation.
Mufumadi’s quote also applies to the overly technocratic approach to green and
ecological infrastructures that seemingly excludes the citizenry from the planning
and implementation of such initiatives. Because of the local governments’ proximity
to its citizens, Barichievy et al. (2005: 370) argue that ‘local government is required