Water allocation is not flowing through to small-scale farmers
SA has not adequately reformed the licence system and rural users are at a disadvantage
Radical economic transformation is on the lips of many South Africans, including President Jacob Zuma who has said that "radical economic transformation … will take us on a path to inclusive growth and a better life for all." The ANC’s document on radical economic transformation for its July policy conference unpacks its vision on this inclusive growth path. The party is to be congratulated for the level of attention given to the role of water in this document. Perhaps the timing is right — coming out of a severe drought tends to focus the mind. One of the points made in its document is that the issue of water rights and the control over the allocation of water rights needs to be resolved, mirroring the insistence in the National Development Plan that the process of issuing water permits is in need of serious improvement. These comments should extend beyond the challenges that large water users have had in getting water permits and acknowledge the greater hurdles facing small water ...
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