An Analysis of Water Indigent Policies in South African Municipalities through the Lenses of Fraser’s Social Justice Theory- A Study of the Amathole District Municipality

Abstract

The paper ascertains the extent to which the implementation of the water indigent policy within the Amathole District Municipality is meeting the preconditions of social justice as explained in Fraser’s theory of social justice. The theory states that justice can be understood in three separate but interrelated ways. Such are, distributive justice (in terms of a more equitable distribution of resources), the justice of recognition (the equal recognition of different identities/groups within a society) and the justice of representation. The paper employed a qualitative research approach and a case study design. Data was collected using both primary and secondary methods. Thematic analysis was used and the paper revealed that in the context of water service delivery, the Amathole District Municipality’s indigent policies need to be improved in order to effectively address social justice.