Distributive justice : water allocation reform in the Greater Tzaneen Municipality

Abstract

The thesis investigates deliberateness in water allocation to historically disadvantaged individuals (HDIs) through a water infrastructure development project, the Great Letaba River Water Development Project (GleWaP) within a context of water allocation reform (WAR). WAR is a programme set to redress past discriminatory laws and practices in the allocation of water in South Africa and seeks to address racial and gender inequalities inherited from past political epochs. The study interrogates the concept of individual water rights for women in a context where the collective is prioritised over the individual. The qualitative study uses data collected from 73 participants using interviews, two focus group discussions and surveys. John Rawls’ theory of distributive justice and Jacques Derrida’s deconstruction theory are applied to interrogate water allocation discourses and processes to understand whether genuine justice can be achieved through water allocation reform. The study is set within the critical social theory paradigm where the interlinkages between power, politics, race and gender are interrogated in search of social justice. Study findings reveal that the intentions of WAR as articulated in the goals are far from achievable with other variables such as land ownership still to be addressed. After several years, WAR remains steeped in theoretical rhetoric while lacking in practicality, as victims of past discriminatory practices still have no access to water resources, while legislation continues to protect and benefit a minority. The study identifies deficit thinking as one of the challenges in the implementation of the reform strategy. It concludes that the water allocation reform strategy does not break away from colonial and apartheid concerns for white beneficiaries as there does not seem to be a deliberate attempt to allocate water to predominantly black historically disadvantaged individuals. The thesis thus recommends measurable outcomes for water allocation reform, development of a vibrant black rural water economy, and the use of expropriation of water as a measure to speed up water reform.