The Perceived State of Water Security in the Sekhukhune District Municipality and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality

Abstract

In this chapter we report on a stakeholder analysis we conducted in the Sekhukhune District Municipality and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality. With the analysis we wanted to determine the stakeholders’ perceived state of water security in the two study areas. We investigated how people perceive water security and particularly to ask them if the two municipalities had achieved water security for all. We asked this question to the stakeholders during face to face interviews and focus groups discussions. The focus group discussions took place in two communities situated in each municipality: Leeuwfontein and Motetema in Sekhukhune and Inanda and Ntshongweni in eThekwini. The inland situated Sekhukhune has a drier climate and a rural socio-economic profile than what is the case with the coastal eThekwini Municipality. eThekwini is highly urbanised with a complex economy and diverse socio-economic structure. Following a qualitative analysis, we found that water security is a state of mind based on context-specific or localised and individualised perceptions and practices held by individuals. People hold these perceptions and practices based on their experience of water-related threats and/or opportunities and these influence individuals, their surroundings and their interaction with other people. Based on these perceptions we propose a number of policy interventions and response strategies.