How the current water crises will impact social inequality experienced in South Africa
When an individual does not have access to safe and affordable water to satisfy her or his basic needs, we call that person "water insecure". When a large number of people in area are water insecure for a significant period of time the we can call that area "water scarce".
Social inequality is the existence of unequal opportunities and rewards for different social positions or statuses within a group or society. Due to apartheid, South Africa is seen as a totally divided country, which has led to social inequality.
Level 6b water restrictions have been implemented recently in the City of Cape Town, to help us stretch our dwindling supplies through summer and avoid day zero.
Will anyone be spared?
"Economically essential" sites will be spared the shut-off, says city officials, as will impoverished informal settlements that already rely on communal taps. The regional government has said health facilities - both public and private - will also be guaranteed water supplies. Schools spared any initial shut-off. Minister of Water and Sanitation, Nomvula Mokonyane, said the following words when addressing Tafelsig residents about the City of Cape Town's "mismanagement" of water, " water is for the rich and the poor. Water is for all South Africans."
The scarcity of water, mostly impacts the poor or underprivileged working communities who already have a few basic resources. In the poorer communities there are many people who cannot survive on the required water quota, while many of the areas are not receiving water at all.
Cape Town officials have tried to respond to the crises in a democratic way, opening up natural springs at the base of Table Mountain. However, the springs are far away from the city's informal settlements, and there is no available public transportation for them to travel to gain access.
The drought currently devastating parts of South Africa will cause the countries farmers to lose up too R10 billion this year. Worst affected are KwaZula- Natal, the Free State, Limpopo, North West and the Northern Cape, where farmers growing white maize, yellow maize, soya beans and sunflowers have have incurred major food losses
Increase in Food Prices
A report released by the UN's food and nutrition working group last month found this drought is the country's worst since 1992 this has caused a decline in maize production that has already led to an increase in food prices of 6.4%. This increase in food prices will have an effect on all social classes, especially the poor in return, as their income will not increase to balance the increase in food prices.
Social Consequences
Water scarcity can have far reaching consequences for a community, with a lack of clean water, it all nut guarantees to disrupt the day to day running of a household. This is particularly true in low-income communities where individuals often do not have the disposable income to buy bottled water when taps are switched off. In theses communities, a lack of water can have a devastating effect. Water is crucial to health, so households have a tendency to deteriorate when it comes to their level of health when water is removed from the equation. Social inequality has played a role in the past and will continue playing its part in the future, especially with this looming water crises.
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