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This is a vital discussion for all our public services (including housing and education) to meet our constitutional obligations in an era of resource constraint. However, it is surprising that Muller makes no mention of urbanisation and its impact on the geographical distribution of the country’s population.
The growing concentration of people in cities and towns presents a valuable opportunity because public services and infrastructure can be provided far more economically than in dispersed, low-density settlements. The “savings” from concentrated provision could then allow for higher norms and standards for households.
Population concentration in cities has other important benefits in terms of enabling economic development, attracting private investment, job creation and revenue generation, all of which would help to fund the water pipes and other social infrastructure required to meet the needs of the growing population.
Prof Ivan Turok NRF research chair, University of the Free State
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
LETTER: How our cities can enable better services
Mike Muller calls for more analysis and debate about what norms and standards of water supply are feasible as we plan for the future (“There are no water supply backlogs — just difficult decisions”, March 3).
This is a vital discussion for all our public services (including housing and education) to meet our constitutional obligations in an era of resource constraint. However, it is surprising that Muller makes no mention of urbanisation and its impact on the geographical distribution of the country’s population.
The growing concentration of people in cities and towns presents a valuable opportunity because public services and infrastructure can be provided far more economically than in dispersed, low-density settlements. The “savings” from concentrated provision could then allow for higher norms and standards for households.
Population concentration in cities has other important benefits in terms of enabling economic development, attracting private investment, job creation and revenue generation, all of which would help to fund the water pipes and other social infrastructure required to meet the needs of the growing population.
Prof Ivan Turok
NRF research chair, University of the Free State
JOIN THE DISCUSSION: Send us an email with your comments to letters@businesslive.co.za. Letters of more than 300 words will be edited for length. Anonymous correspondence will not be published. Writers should include a daytime telephone number.
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Published by Arena Holdings and distributed with the Financial Mail on the last Thursday of every month except December and January.