Eric Nealer

Challenges regarding potable water supply management by South African municipalities

Local government in South Africa (SA) has come a long way from the period when there were over 800 racially segregated municipalities scattered all over the country. Since the new Constitution took effect in October 1996 and the Local Government: Municipal Demarcation Act was promulgated in July 1998, the municipalities have been merged into currently 284 municipalities which now cover the country in a ‘wall-to-wall’ manner, and are focused on the provision of an increased number of diverse and complex basic municipal services to geographical areas and citizens that were maybe previously neglected. To achieve the last-mentioned, the municipalities’ outer boundaries have been re-demarcated, newly merged municipalities with new organisational structures and policies have been established and transformed organisational arrangements have been incorporated for more accessible and transparent citizen participation (Craythorne, D.L. 2006. Municipal administration: The handbook. Cape Town: Juta. p. 51-54). This paper highlights the nature and extent of a transformed local government sphere in South Africa, some important legislation, and some relevant challenges regarding water affairs and municipal governance. Hopefully this research will contribute to the cultivation of an environment conducive to consolidating local governance and water management knowledge creation in the local government sphere of SA.

Environmental Management Complexities AndRumours Impeding The Effective Application OfScientific Research And Results To AddressPossible Health Risks In The West RandGold Mining Region Of South Africa

Gold mining in South Africa has been taking place since the late 19th Century. This activity has produced a wealth of richness for the country, but also has contributed to create environmentally destructed environments. The West Rand Municipal region is the area of focus in this paper. Possible negative environmental health outcome scenarios in especially the pollution of the area’s water resources – have been speculated on in scientific reports and in occasional whistle blowing efforts. Some include official reports with regard to a radioactive contamination of the physical and man-changed environment; nonradioactive chemicals found in the residues and wastes produced by gold mining; radon gas and windblown dust. Primarily because of whistle blowing efforts, as based on scientific reports, concerns regarding human health became more intense. The paper mainly provides a concise historiography regarding the close to 100 years of environmental research by especially scientists on the West Rand region, and references to possible health risks. In conclusion ideas will be exchanged on current environmental remedial actions with a motivation for definite health related research to support environmental remedial processes.