Addressing Spatial Exclusivity Through Water and Sanitation in Makonde Village, Thohoyondou

Abstract

In most rural areas, the provision of water and sanitation is not defined by appropriate standards – instead, it has been left to the whims of politics and politicians to define the type and level of water and sanitation to be granted to the poor rural households. Using the case study of Makonde village in Thohoyandou (South Africa), this paper argues that the adoption and implementation of appropriate water and sanitation services is a response to an existing and conducive policy framework. Due to policy lag and uncertainty, rural areas end up falling into the ‘political trap' where households are used as political pawns to fulfill councilors' political ambitions. This is in addition to other aggravating huddles that impact negatively on service delivery, such as lack of integration in sectoral plans. This paper concludes by recommending that the only way to achieve consistency and efficiency in the provision of water and sanitation is to rationalize policies and the policy environment through an inclusive political will.