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The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613875813220352 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Gutas, Thembani Lawrence |
| author2 | Ajam, Tania |
| author_browse | Ajam, Tania Gutas, Thembani Lawrence |
| author_facet | Ajam, Tania Gutas, Thembani Lawrence |
| author_sort | Gutas, Thembani Lawrence |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description |
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132401 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:06.129Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132401 The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board Gutas, Thembani Lawrence Ajam, Tania Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Intergovernmental fiscal relations -- South Africa Water utilities -- Finance -- South Africa Public utilities -- Management -- South Africa Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa Fiscal policy -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Gutas, T. L. 2025. The Impact of Intergovernmental Fiscal Allocations on South African Water Board Performance: A Case Study of Amatola Water Board. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/4f91da99-06ce-4aaa-bd91-0f662116baf5 ENGLISH SUMMARY: The main objective of this study was to assess the performance of Amatola Water Board (AWB) within the context of a multi-level fiscal governance. The water boards, which are established by the Minister of Water and Sanitation in terms of Section 28 of the Water Services Act (No. 108 of 1997), occupy a central role in the water value chain as providers of bulk water supply and reticulation. Water Boards also contribute to building the capacity of water service authorities which purchase bulk water from these water entities in order to provide water services to its communities. In addition, intergovernmental fiscal instruments (such as the Regional Bulk Water Services Grant and the Water Service Infrastructure Grant) are used to finance and deliver on mandates issued by the Minister of Water and Sanitation. These mandates directed to water boards to implement infrastructure grants at local level, are designed to improve access to quality water for communities. The assessment process employed by this study included an analysis of expenditure and delivery performance of the AWB for the 2013/2014 till the 2022/2023 financial years as well as a discussion of the role of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of expenditure performance of the AWB. In this regard, the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders in the water value chain were considered, with particular reference to improving M&E. This study also investigated intergovernmental financing arrangements and found these inadequate to meet the water infrastructure backlog in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Water boards such as AWB face serious challenges, such as financial viability, crippling debt owed by municipalities and administrative instability. The study employed qualitative research methods by administering both questionnaires and online interviews. Focus groups were instrumental in developing a Theory of Change (TOC) as an instrument to improve implementation of bulk water projects in municipalities. The findings of this research show that between 2013/2014 and 2022/2023, the AWB’s expenditure and delivery performance of bulk water project implementation was poor, and significant improvements are required. A large number of respondents are of the view that maladministration, lack of project management skills and the absence of effective oversight instruments over water boards within the Department of Water Services and Sanitation are the main causes of under-performance. Drawing on evidence presented from qualitative findings, the study proposed M&E instruments such as a Logframe as an important tool to improve service delivery outcomes for implementation of bulk water infrastructure. The research findings necessitate a reconsideration of the delivery and intergovernmental financing model for bulk water infrastructure in South Africa. The study demonstrated the chronic incapacity of AWB to fulfil its role as an implementation agent in the Eastern Cape Province. In this regard, municipalities which are water services authorities that demonstrate the ability to implement bulk projects should be given responsibility to implement projects on their own. In addition, a collaborative intergovernmental effort is needed to build the capacity of municipalities to implement water infrastructure projects. It is further proposed that spaces be opened for private players to participate in the water sector space. In this regard, proposals are made for consideration of public-private partnerships as a viable delivery model for water infrastructure. However, in order to promote accountability for performance, it is critical that meaningful public participation spaces are made available for communities to contribute to delivery outcomes and monitor their performance. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die prestasie van Suid-Afrikaanse waterrade binne die verband van multi-vlak fiskale begrotingsbestuur te bepaal. Die waterrade, wat deur die Minister van Water en Sanitasie op grond van Artikel 28 van die Waterdienste Wet (Nr. 108 van 1997) gestig is, speel 'n kernrol in die waterwaardeketting as verskaffers van grootskaalse watertoevoer en netwerk, en dra ook by tot die bou van bekwaamheid van waterdienste-owerhede. Deur die bestaande wetlike raamwerk word waterrade deur die Minister van Water en Sanitasie aangestel om as toepassingsagentskappe vir grootskaalse waterinfrastruktuurprojekte op te tree. In hierdie verband word verskeie tussenregerings begrotings-hulpmiddels gebruik om die mandaat wat deur die Minister van Water en Sanitasie uitgereik word, te finansier en te lewer. Die waarderingsproses wat in hierdie studie gebruik is, het 'n ontleding van die uitgawes en leweringsprestasie van die Amatola Waterraad (AWR) oor die afgelope vyf begrotingsjare ingesluit, asook 'n bespreking van die rol van kontrolering en waardebepaling (K&W) van die AWR se uitgawe-vervulling. In hierdie verband is die rolle en verantwoordelikhede van belanghebbendes in die waterwaardeketting bespreek, met spesifieke verwysing na die verbetering van K&W. Die studie het ook tussenregerings finansieringsreelings ondersoek en bevind dat hierdie onvoldoende is om die agterstand in waterinfrastruktuur in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie te hanteer. Waterrade staan voor ernstige uitdagings soos finansiele lewensvatbaarheid, verlammende skuld wat deur munisipaliteite verskuldig is, en administratiewe onbestendigheid. Die studie het beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe metodes gebruik deur vraelyste en aanlynonderhoude te administreer. Fokusgroepe was van kardinale belang in die ontwikkeling van 'n Teorie van Verandering (TVV) as 'n hulpmiddel om die toepassing van grootskaalse waterprojekte in munisipaliteite te verbeter. Die bevindings van hierdie navorsing toon dat die AWR se uitgawes en leweringsprestasie van grootskaalse waterprojektoepassing tussen 2013/2014 en 2021/2022 swak was, en dat verbeterings benodig word. 'n Groot aantal respondente is van mening dat, wanadministrasie, 'n gebrek aan projekbestuursvaardighede en 'n gebrek aan behoorlike toesigtoepassing binne die Departement van Waterdienste oor waterrade die hoofredes vir die onderprestasie is. Weens die getuienis wat uit beide kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe bevindings voorgele is, het die studie bevind dat kontrolering - en waardebepalingmeganismes ingestel moet word soos byvoorbeeld “Logframe” projekkontrolering. Dit behels die opstel van ‘n logiese raamwerk wat ‘n matriks gee van die projekdoelwit, aktiwiteite en verwagte resultate. Die aanduidings van hierdie bevindings vereis 'n heroorweging van die lewering en tussenregerings finansieringsmodel vir grootskaalse waterinfrastruktuur in Suid-Afrika. Die studie het die onvermoe van die AWR om sy rol as toepassingsagent in die Oos-Kaap Provinsie te vervul, aangetoon. In hierdie verband behoort munisipaliteite wat die vermoe toon om grootskaalse projekte toe te pas, die verantwoordelikheid gegee te word om projekte self-toe te pas. Daar word verder voorgestel dat ruimte geskep word vir privaat rolspelers in die watersektor. In hierdie verband word voorstelle gemaak vir die oorweging van openbare-private vennootskappe as 'n lewensvatbare leweringsmodel vir waterinfrastruktuur. Om egter aanspreeklikheid vir prestasie te bevorder, is dit van kritieke belang dat ruimte geskep word vir openbare deelname, sodat gemeenskappe bydraes kan lewer tot leweringsuitkomste. Doctoral 2025-06-06T06:37:11Z 2025-06-06T06:37:11Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132401 Stellenbosch University xxi, 442 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Intergovernmental fiscal relations -- South Africa Water utilities -- Finance -- South Africa Public utilities -- Management -- South Africa Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa Fiscal policy -- South Africa UCTD Gutas, Thembani Lawrence The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board |
| title | The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board |
| title_full | The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board |
| title_fullStr | The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board |
| title_full_unstemmed | The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board |
| title_short | The impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on South African Water Board performance : a case study of Amatola Water Board |
| title_sort | impact of intergovernmental fiscal allocations on south african water board performance a case study of amatola water board |
| topic | Intergovernmental fiscal relations -- South Africa Water utilities -- Finance -- South Africa Public utilities -- Management -- South Africa Water-supply -- Management -- South Africa Fiscal policy -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132401 |
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