BIODIVERSITY PLANNING
IN-DEPTH: Growth doomed if state fails to protect SA’s water-source areas
Water must be at the core of any discussion about economic transformation. The National Development Plan foresees an SA where "in 2030, the country’s social and economic development will reflect an understanding of and an alignment with available water resources. "All main urban and industrial centres will have a reliable supply of water to meet their needs, while increasingly efficient agricultural water use will support productive and inclusive rural communities." The plan says that "water should be recognised as a foundation for activities such as tourism and recreation, further reinforcing the importance of its protection". Without access to water, any discussion about prioritising the poor, redistributing land and uniting South Africans through "inclusive growth" is moot. The economy cannot survive, let alone thrive, without water.Unfortunately, with SA receiving only half of the world’s average annual rainfall, and with 60% of its river ecosystems under threat, water resources...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.