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A detailed analysis of evolution of water rights in South Africa: An account of three and a half centuries from 1652 AD to present#
Open accessAbstract
This study reviews the changing scene of water rights in South Africa over the last three and a half centuries and concludes that they have come full circle, with some modifications, since the invoking of Dutch rule in the Cape in 1652 AD. The study stipulates that adoption of a modern rights structure is a welcome change and a progressive step taken by the democratic government; however, its success depends to a great extent on the institutional efficiency of the state which performs the role of trustee or custodian of the water resource. The responsibilities of trusteeship with respect to managing water rights or permits are met through a decentralised decision-making system. The management of water rights/permits thus depends on the administrative and judicial efficiency of organisations and government departments. Therein lurks thedanger of corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency, and insecurity of permits, and hence enough potential to stifle the long-term incentives to invest in the water sector.
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“The 1956 National Water Act, building upon the previous Act, retained and further refined the distinction between private and public water (Tewari 2009).”
From Exclusion and invented water scarcity: a historical perspective from colonialism to apartheid in South Africa (2024) · cites this paper as Tewari 2009
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“Consequently, the National Water Act (1956 ) merged riparian rights with the state's dominus fluminis sta -tus, consolidating power and control over water in the apartheid government's hands (Kidd 2009: 92; Tewari 2009: 701).”
From Exclusion and invented water scarcity: a historical perspective from colonialism to apartheid in South Africa (2024) · cites this paper as Tewari 2009: 701
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“The settler administration did not implement a uniform policy for indigenous communities, as water rights were granted to specific groups such as 'colonists,' 'Dutch,' 'British,' and 'Afrikaners' (Tewari 2009).”
From Exclusion and invented water scarcity: a historical perspective from colonialism to apartheid in South Africa (2024) · cites this paper as Tewari 2009
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“It delineated the rights to use public water for agricultural, urban, and industrial purposes.”
From Exclusion and invented water scarcity: a historical perspective from colonialism to apartheid in South Africa (2024) · cites this paper as Tewari 2009
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“This legislation established stringent water abstraction, allocation, and utilisation regulations, effectively centralising authority and decision-making within the state apparatus.”
From Exclusion and invented water scarcity: a historical perspective from colonialism to apartheid in South Africa (2024) · cites this paper as Tewari 2009: 701
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Metadata
- Authors
- Tewari, D.
- Affiliations
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
- Corresponding author
- Tewari, DD
- Venue
- Water SA
- Publisher
- Academy of Science of South Africa
- Published
- 2009-12-15
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 5
- ISSN
- 0378-4738 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2155562122
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 21
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 15.56
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Licence
- cc-by
- Locations
- Water SA (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Law › Water Resources and Governance
- Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Water Governance and Infrastructure
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Water Resource Management and Quality
- Keywords
- water rights, South Africa, Cape Colony, water governance, decentralized decision-making, water permits, institutional efficiency, corruption, bureaucratic inefficiency
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