The aim of this study is to examine the likely reasons associated with the lack of water policy implementation and to investigate integrative instruments for the effective implementation of the National Water Act of 1998. The study also needs to acknowledge the challenges involved in establishing integrative policy instruments.
The research objectives for this study are as follows:
to identify integrative policy instruments for the implementation of the National Water Act;
to identify major constraints and challenges affecting the process of the implementation of the National Water Act;
to examine suggestions proposed by the relevant stakeholders (both institutional and local) in relation to the major constraints and challenges affecting the effective implementation of the National Water Act; and
to acknowledge the important links between the National Water Act (NWA) and the Water Services Act (WSA).
This chapter aims at providing a description of the research methodology that was undertaken, in order to satisfy the stated aim and objectives of the study. This study was undertaken based on a case study, in order to provide an insight into the current and future water resource management and water services issues in South Africa. This was also considered in order to enable the researcher to gain the deeper understanding of the water management issues in SA, using a case scenario. Basing the research project on a case study also enabled the researcher to get a better understanding of the links between the two main water Acts that guide water resource management and water services in SA (this was also the fourth objective of the study).
In this study, the Mgeni Catchment was chosen as the case study and was therefore the main focus of the study, with one minor exception made with regard to one of the selected communities. This exception will be explained in more detail later in this chapter. The background to the case study under investigation and the methodology that was undertaken in conducting the study, are described in the sections to follow.
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3.1 Case Study Used for Investigation: the Mgeni Catchment
For the purpose of this study, the Mgeni Catchment has been chosen as the best catchment to suit the proposed investigation, based on its ecological and socio-economic characteristics. The Mgeni Catchment is currently facing the increasing demand for water challenges that are linked to urbanisation, agricultural, urban and industrial development.
Moreover, although the Mgeni Catchment is comprised of a catchment management plan and has the associated water management initiatives in place, such as CMFs, these do not seem effective and sufficient to solve the current and future water management challenges facing this Catchment.
Hence, in order to plan beforehand and to derive the best possible solutions, this Catchment has been chosen as the study area for the proposed research on integrative policy instruments for the implementation of the NWA. It should be noted that, even though the study will be concentrated in the Mgeni Catchment, the outcomes of this investigation can also be applied in other catchments, due to the nature of the research problem.
The Mgeni Catchment comprises an area of approximately 4387 km2 and is one of South Africa‟s most developed catchments supporting agricultural and industrial development and it therefore contributes to a significant percentage of South Africa‟s Gross National Product (GNP) (Tarboton and Schulze, 1991; Jewitt and Kotze, 2000; Schulze et al., 2004;
Archer, 2006). The Mgeni Catchment is home to about 45% (3.5 million) of the population of the KwaZulu-Natal Province (Stat SA, 2011). Currently, the water engineered system within the Mgeni Catchment consists of four main dams, namely, Midmar, with a supply capacity of 237 million m3,supplying mainly Pietermaritzburg and parts of Durban, and the Albert Falls, Nagle and Nanda Dams, with a relative supply capacity of 289 million m3, 23 millionm3 and 242 millionm3,respectively, supplying the City of Durban (Jewitt and Kotze, 2000; Summerton, 2008; Warburton et al., 2010). In addition, there are more than 300 farm dams within the Catchment, supplying water for 18 500 ha of irrigation (Summerton, 2008; Warburton et al., 2010). The Inter Basin Transfers from the Mooi River, with further transfers planned for the Mkhomazi River, are currently the water resources supplementing the Mgeni system (Jewitt and Kotze, 2000; Archer, 2006;
Umgeni Water, 2010 ). However, recent studies reveal that the Mgeni is a relatively stressed system with the high possibilities of additional stream flow reduction activities i.e.
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forestry, predicted for the future (Summerton, 2008; Warburton et al., 2010). The reason behind this potential increase in stream flow reduction activities is directly associated with the rapidly growing demand for water resources and services, stemming from increased population, urban and agricultural development and the lack of knowledge of how development and land cover changes impact on the quantity and quality of water resources (Tarboton and Schulze, 1991; Warburton et al., 2010).
Figure 3.1 The Mgeni Catchment
The Mgeni Catchment Management Plan (MCMP) and the Mgeni Catchment Management Forum (MCMF) were established in response to a major need to manage water resources holistically and to ensure sustainable water resource management in this Catchment.
However, these do not seem to be sufficient to solve the current and future challenges facing water resource management, as well as water services in this Catchment.
The Mgeni Catchment is especially relevant as a research area for this study, as the demand currently exceeds the available yield and is predicted to worsen in the near future.
This calls for more attention to be paid to the management of its water resources. In addition, although the existing participatory activities (CMFs) are insufficient, they are suitable for the objectives of this study. These include examining the water resource
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management and servicing delivery issues that are associated with the lack of water policy implementation in the Mgeni Catchment.
3.2 Research Methodology
This study was conceptualised and undertaken using a mixed research method. Mixed research can be defined as research studies that involve „mixing or combining quantitative and qualitative research techniques, methods, approaches, concepts or language into a single study‟ (Collins et al., 2006 p. 69). Particularly, this study utilised the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods and approaches, in order to allow for the accumulation of more richer and elaborate data and to enable the assessment of different components of this study. This type of research was also specifically chosen over other methods, in order to enable participant enrichment, instrument fidelity and significance enhancement, which is explained further in Step 3 of the framework that was undertaken in the study. Mixing was also done, in order obtain thicker and richer data for the interpretation of the results with confidence and to enable the convergence of the findings.
This study was conducted using the framework developed by Collins et al. (2006). Their framework for mixed research involves thirteen (13) methodological steps that are grouped within three stages:
1. Formulation Stage: (1) determining the mixed goal(s) of the study; (2) formulating mixed research objectives; (3) determining the rationale for the study and the rationale(s) for considering mixing approaches; (4) determining the purpose of the study and the purpose(s) for mixing quantitative and qualitative approaches;
and (5) determining the research question(s);
2. Planning Stage: (6) selecting the sampling design; (7) selecting the mixed research (methods) design; and
3. Implementation Stage: (8) collecting quantitative and/or qualitative data; (9) analysing the quantitative and/or qualitative data; (10) validating the [mixed]
research findings (11) interpreting the mixed research findings; (12) writing the [mixed] research report; and (13) reformulating the [mixed] research question(s).
The following sections and pages will explain the different steps under each stage for this study.
32 3.2.1 Formulation Stage