Water resources planning and management in the Olifants Basin of South Africa: past, present and future

• Published in: Irrigation and River Basin Management pp. 145 - 168
• Main Authors: Lange, M. de, Merrey, D. J, Levite, H, Svendsen, M
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Wallingford, UK CABI Publishing 2005; CABI
• Subjects: Africa; Africa South of Sahara; Anglophone Africa; catchment areas; catchment hydrology; citizen participation; Commonwealth of Nations; Community of Portuguese Language Countries; demand; Developing Countries; government agencies; institutions; Least Developed Countries; Management of land & natural resources; planning; politics; Portuguese Speaking Africa; poverty; public agencies; SADC Countries; social participation; Southern Africa; stakeholders; subsaharan Africa; Threshold Countries; water allocation; water balance; water composition and quality; water legislation; water management; water policy; water quality; water resource management; water resources; water supplies; water supply; water use; watershed management; watersheds; Africa South of Sahara; South Africa; Mozambique
• ISBN: 9780851996721; 0851996728
• DOI: 10.1079/9780851996721.0145

This study analyses the management of a South African river basin under the old regime and policies, and that envisioned under the new set-up. The analysis employs a matrix of essential functions and key actors to identify the extent of coverage, gaps and overlaps, extent of participation, and needs for coordination. Emphasis is given on the Olifants River Basin, one of the pilot basins in which the new approach is being developed and tested. The Olifants River Basin is located in the northeastern corner of South Africa and southern Mozambique. This basin is divided into five hydrologic areas generally regrouped in four ecological regions: (i) Upper Olifants which correspond to the Highveld region; (ii) Upper Middle and Lower Middle Olifants represent the Middleveld region; (iii) Steelpoort basin assimilated to the mountain area; and (iv) Lower Olifants situated in the Lowveld region. The basin hydrology (including water supply, demand, balance and quality), as well as the legal, policy and institutional environment (water policy and water law) are discussed. Government agencies, boards and agencies, farmers, industrial firms, environmental advocacy groups and Development banks are the key actors involved in river basin management. A list of the essential functions for river basin management crossed with the key actors is provided. Water resources management and water services provision such as domestic, industrial and agricultural uses are explored. Also discussed are the additional attributes (political and informational attributes, legal authority and resources) of well-functioning basin governance systems with respect to the Olifants basin. Finally, some key themes which will characterize the future of integrated water resources management are discussed. These are: single source of authority and power, poverty and poor representation of the neediest sector, from administrative to public processes of water allocation, and growing water quality issues.