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A community-based approach for the operation and maintenance of shared basic water and sanitation services in informal settlements within the municipal jurisdiction of the City of Cape Town
Author(s)
Illing, Cindy
Date Issued
2009
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
Access to basic water and sanitation services in South Africa is considered a basic human
right, and constitutionally, local government is responsible for the provision thereof.
However, in the informal settlements in towns and cities, residents continue to be exposed to
environmental health risks that result from poor and inadequate basic sanitation provision.
Municipalities are under pressure to address the sanitation backlog according to the national
target that is based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The provision of infrastructure alone does not account for the provision of an improved, safer
and more hygienic environment for its users. A badly managed sanitation facility is an
environmental health risk, and it encourages inappropriate and unsafe sanitation practice.
Municipalities cannot claim to meet the sanitation backlog targets unless appropriate and
effective management systems are in place to operate and maintain the basic sanitation
facilities provided.
Through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, local government is encouraged to
develop partnerships to promote economic development and job creation, particularly in
areas of extreme poverty and high unemployment through the delivery of services.
Public participation, social learning, empowerment and sustainability are the key components
of the people-centred development approach that currently guides the delivery of municipal
services South Africa (Davids,I. 2005). The White Paper on Local Government advocates
municipalities to work with communities to find sustainable ways to meet their needs through
an approach that is driven by formulating linkages between development, service delivery
and local citizen participation (Mogale, T. 2005:219). It is also argued that the only way to
effectively link poverty reduction strategies and improved service delivery is through the
formation of partnerships that are based on meaningful participation (Mogale, T. 2003).
Public participation also allows for an opportunity for increased community buy-in and
support that is essential for the sustainable delivery of services to informal settlements so as
to reduce incidents of misuse and vandalism. Communication and collaboration across
municipal departments is also required, as sanitation service delivery in its broad definition,
falls across the Water Services, Health and Solid Waste Departments. Hence the need for an
integrated and inclusive approach to planning is required.
Using a participatory action research (PAR) process, this study proposes to investigate
whether there are local community-based opportunities for the procurement of some of the
operation and maintenance tasks for the recently refurbished public ablution blocks in an
informal settlement within the City of Cape Town. Public ablution blocks are one of the
sanitation technology options available for the provision of shared basic sanitation services
provided to informal settlements within the City of Cape Town. The research is divided into
three stages. The first two stages serve as the building blocks for the third stage of the
research. The objectives are to obtain an improved understanding of the “local knowledge”
at community level, to obtain an understanding of the operation and maintenance activities in
informal settlements currently being undertaken by City of Cape Town, and to initiate
contacts and develop relationships with key stakeholders for their participation in the focus
group discussions in the third stage. The third stage of the research proposes to adopt a
participatory approach involving key stakeholders to identify the opportunities and make
recommendations to the City of Cape Town to consider for the development of an
operational plan for the operation and maintenance of the Khayelitsha Ablution Blocks.
right, and constitutionally, local government is responsible for the provision thereof.
However, in the informal settlements in towns and cities, residents continue to be exposed to
environmental health risks that result from poor and inadequate basic sanitation provision.
Municipalities are under pressure to address the sanitation backlog according to the national
target that is based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG).
The provision of infrastructure alone does not account for the provision of an improved, safer
and more hygienic environment for its users. A badly managed sanitation facility is an
environmental health risk, and it encourages inappropriate and unsafe sanitation practice.
Municipalities cannot claim to meet the sanitation backlog targets unless appropriate and
effective management systems are in place to operate and maintain the basic sanitation
facilities provided.
Through the Integrated Development Plan (IDP) process, local government is encouraged to
develop partnerships to promote economic development and job creation, particularly in
areas of extreme poverty and high unemployment through the delivery of services.
Public participation, social learning, empowerment and sustainability are the key components
of the people-centred development approach that currently guides the delivery of municipal
services South Africa (Davids,I. 2005). The White Paper on Local Government advocates
municipalities to work with communities to find sustainable ways to meet their needs through
an approach that is driven by formulating linkages between development, service delivery
and local citizen participation (Mogale, T. 2005:219). It is also argued that the only way to
effectively link poverty reduction strategies and improved service delivery is through the
formation of partnerships that are based on meaningful participation (Mogale, T. 2003).
Public participation also allows for an opportunity for increased community buy-in and
support that is essential for the sustainable delivery of services to informal settlements so as
to reduce incidents of misuse and vandalism. Communication and collaboration across
municipal departments is also required, as sanitation service delivery in its broad definition,
falls across the Water Services, Health and Solid Waste Departments. Hence the need for an
integrated and inclusive approach to planning is required.
Using a participatory action research (PAR) process, this study proposes to investigate
whether there are local community-based opportunities for the procurement of some of the
operation and maintenance tasks for the recently refurbished public ablution blocks in an
informal settlement within the City of Cape Town. Public ablution blocks are one of the
sanitation technology options available for the provision of shared basic sanitation services
provided to informal settlements within the City of Cape Town. The research is divided into
three stages. The first two stages serve as the building blocks for the third stage of the
research. The objectives are to obtain an improved understanding of the “local knowledge”
at community level, to obtain an understanding of the operation and maintenance activities in
informal settlements currently being undertaken by City of Cape Town, and to initiate
contacts and develop relationships with key stakeholders for their participation in the focus
group discussions in the third stage. The third stage of the research proposes to adopt a
participatory approach involving key stakeholders to identify the opportunities and make
recommendations to the City of Cape Town to consider for the development of an
operational plan for the operation and maintenance of the Khayelitsha Ablution Blocks.
Additional information
Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009
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