Exploring the improvement of the water infrastructure within the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality

Abstract

Access to reliable and safe water remains a critical development challenge in rural South Africa, particularly in arid regions reliant on groundwater. This study examines strategies to improve rural water supply systems in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality in the Northern Cape Province, where water service delivery remains unreliable despite ongoing infrastructure investments. Adopting a qualitative interpretivist paradigm, the study employs a mono-method approach comprising a literature review and semi-structured interviews with one executive from each district water service authority. Guided by an integrated economic, governance, institutional, and systems-based framework, the research identifies key systemic, operational, and financial factors that influence water infrastructure effectiveness. The findings indicate that governance weaknesses, institutional fragmentation, ageing infrastructure, and capacity constraints significantly undermine sustainable water service delivery. The study proposes strategic interventions to strengthen governance, improve infrastructure planning and maintenance, and enhance institutional coordination. By offering context-specific insights, the study contributes to the understanding of rural water supply challenges and provides practical guidance for improving sustainable and equitable water service delivery in the John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality and comparable rural settings.