| Summary: | The start of the 21th century is notable for the apparent lack of safe drinking water and
sanitation. Over one billion people in all parts of the world lack access to clean water. Most live
in developing countries, such as Africa. Unsafe water and poor sanitation have been primary
causal factors in the vast majority of water-borne diseases, especially diarrheal ones.
The South African Constitution (Act 108 of 1996, Chapter 2, Section 24) states: “Everyone has
the right:
(a) To an environment that is not harmful to their health and their wellbeing; and
(b) To have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through
reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
promote conservation; ecologically sustainable development, and the use of natural
resources, while promoting justifiable economic and social development.”
Secondly, section 27 states that:
“Everyone has the right to have access to:
(a) Health-care services, including reproductive health care;
(b) Sufficient food and water; and
(c) Social security, including, if they are unable to support themselves and their dependants,
appropriate social assistance.”
These factors have prompted this research within the Ugu District Municipality on the
perceptions of inadequate rural water service delivery. This study reveals information on those
areas in the Ugu District Municipality, which do not have access to clean water, and on the
health hazards that might lead to death if residents’ lack of access to clean water persists.
The Ugu District Municipality, is situated in KwaZulu-Natal Province, and covers a surface area
of 5866 km2. There are six local municipalities in this district. These are: Ezinqoleni, Umzumbe,
Umziwabantu, Hibiscus Coast, Umdoni and Vulamehlo. The node is 77% rural and 23% urban,
and the total population for this area is 704027 (Ugu District Municipality IDP 2nd
2011/2012:19). === M. Development and Management (Water Studies), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012
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