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The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities
Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025.
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2026
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| _version_ | 1867614082460286976 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Mosima, George |
| author2 | Ajam, Tania |
| author_browse | Ajam, Tania Mosima, George |
| author_facet | Ajam, Tania Mosima, George |
| author_sort | Mosima, George |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134717 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:22.874Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/134717 The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities Mosima, George Ajam, Tania Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Water consumption -- Measurement -- South Africa Water-supply -- Government policy -- South Africa Water utilities -- Management -- South Africa Municipal services -- South Africa Infrastructure (Economics) -- South Africa Water conservation -- South Africa UCTD Thesis (MPA)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. Mosima, G. 2025. The Potential Viability of Emerging Technologies for Improving Water Management in South Africa: A Case Study of Selected Water Service Authorities. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/d4a7f07e-2040-44d5-bc52-32ab13d12e8b ENGLISH SUMMARY: South Africa faces critical water scarcities, which is exacerbated by ageing infrastructure, a growing population, non-revenue water losses, illegal water connections, vandalism and theft, a culture of non-payment for municipal water services by citizens, a lack of political will, which refers to insufficient commitment, action or leadership from government and political decision-makers to effectively address South Africa’s water challenges and climate change responses. Municipalities, as Water Service Authorities (WSAs), are constitutionally obligated to provide dependable water and sanitation services but face major challenges, such as deteriorating infrastructure due to the lack of adequate maintenance, limited financial resources and growing demand for water. This thesis explores the potential viability of selected emerging digital technologies – such as smart metering, Sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), drones, big data analytics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Blockchain for improving water management in selected South African municipalities, with a focus on the Western Cape. A qualitative, exploratory research design was utilised in this study with a case study approach. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with municipal officials, including those in water management, the billing of water, information technology, finance and engineering, water sector experts, academics, key stakeholders and document analyses. A sample of twenty-five (25) respondents, with direct experience in water service delivery and technology adoption, were selected through purposive sampling and snowballing sampling to participate in the study, ensuring relevant and diverse insights. Thematic analysis was used to identify patterns and draw conclusions from the qualitative data, using coding and categorisation to systematically interpret responses and documents. The study focuses on how these technologies may improve water monitoring, leak detection, predictive maintenance and demand management. It recognises substantial opportunities: digital tools may give real-time data on water flow rates and pressure levels, consumer water usage patterns, allow for early identification of system problems on undetected leaks, illegal connections, the deterioration of infrastructure and pump or valve failures, optimise water distribution, facilitate evidence-based decision-making on allocating maintenance budgets, prioritising upgrades, planning future infrastructure investment and responding to drought or water shortages. However, the study also identifies significant barriers to adoption, such as cost effectiveness, a lack of technical skills within municipalities, inadequate legislative frameworks and an aversion to organisational change. The findings show that while emerging water management technologies have significant potential for tackling South Africa's water concerns; their implementation necessitates a planned, context-sensitive approach. This involves making targeted investments in critical infrastructure, including smart water meters, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems, pressure and flow sensors, drone-based surveillance tools and the Internet of Things (IoT) networks for real-time monitoring. Investments are also required in digital billing systems, cloud-based data management platforms and predictive maintenance tools that detect faults before they escalate into failures. Furthermore, implementation requires the development of specific technical and operational skills within municipalities. These include data analytics and interpretation, sensor calibration and maintenance, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, Internet and Communications Technology (ICT) systems integration, Machine Learning (ML) applications for predictive modelling and cybersecurity to protect digital infrastructure. Equally important are project management and change management capabilities to support successful technology adoption and organisational transformation. The study recommends fostering intergovernmental and public-private partnerships and harmonising policy and regulatory settings to encourage technological innovation. Practical recommendations for policymakers and municipal leaders are offered to reap the benefits of digital transformation in the water sector, contributing to the broader conversation about sustainable water governance. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika staar kritieke waterskaarsthede in die gesig, vererger deur verouderde infrastruktuur, ’n groeiende bevolking, nie-inkomste waterverliese, onwettige waterverbindings, vandalisme en diefstal, ’n kultuur van nie-betaling vir munisipale waterdienste deur burgers, en klimaatsverandering. Die gebrek aan politieke wil verwys na onvoldoende toewyding, aksie of leierskap van die regering en politieke besluitnemers om Suid-Afrika se wateruitdagings doeltreffend aan te spreek. Munisipaliteite, as Waterdiensowerhede (WDO), is grondwetlik verplig om betroubare water- en sanitasiedienste te lewer, maar hulle staar groot uitdagings in die gesig, soos infrastruktuur verweer weens onvoldoende instandhouding, beperkte finansiele hulpbronne en ‘n toenemende vraag na water. Hierdie tesis ondersoek die potensiele lewensvatbaarheid van opkomende digitale tegnologiee – soos slim meting, sensors, die Internet van Dinge (IoT), hommeltuie, Groot Data-ontleding, Kunsmatige Intelligensie (KI), en ‘blockchain’ – om waterbestuur in gekose Suid-Afrikaanse munisipaliteite te verbeter, met spesifieke fokus op die Wes-Kaap. ’n Kwalitatiewe, verkennende navorsingsontwerp is gebruik in hierdie studie met ’n gevallestudiebenadering. Data is ingesamel deur middel van semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude met munisipale amptenare – insluitend waterbestuursamptenare, waterrekeningkunde, inligtingstegnologie, finansies en ingenieurswese – asook met watersektor-kundiges, akademici, sleutelbelanghebbendes en deur dokumentanalise. ’n Steekproef van vyf-en-twintig (25) respondente met direkte ervaring in waterdienslewering en tegnologie-aanvaarding is deur doelgerigte en sneeubal-steekproefneming gekies om deel te neem, wat relevante en uiteenlopende insigte verseker het. Tematiese analise is gebruik om patrone te identifiseer en gevolgtrekkings uit die kwalitatiewe data te maak deur gebruik te maak van kodering en kategorisering om antwoorde en dokumente sistematies te interpreteer. Die studie fokus op hoe hierdie tegnologiee watermonitering, lekkasiedeteksie, voorspellende instandhouding en vraagbestuur kan verbeter. Dit erken beduidende geleenthede: digitale hulpmiddels kan regstreekse data voorsien oor watervloei en drukvlakke, verbruikers se waterverbruiksprofiele, vroee identifikasie van probleme soos onopgespoorde lekkasies, onwettige aansluitings, infrastruktuurverswakking en pomp- of klepfoute moontlik maak, waterverspreiding optimaliseer, en bewysgebaseerde besluitneming ondersteun – insluitend die toekenning van instandhoudingsbegrotings, prioritisering van opgraderings, toekomstige infrastruktuurbeplanning en reaksie op droogtes of waterskaarste. Die studie identifiseer egter ook belangrike hindernisse vir aanvaarding, soos koste-effektiwiteit, ’n gebrek aan tegniese vaardighede binne munisipaliteite, onvoldoende wetgewende raamwerke en weerstand teen organisatoriese verandering. Die bevindinge toon dat, hoewel opkomende waterbestuurtegnologiee aansienlike potensiaal het om Suid-Afrika se waterprobleme aan te spreek, hul implementering ’n beplande, konteks-sensitiewe benadering vereis. Dit behels gerigte beleggings in kritieke infrastruktuur, insluitend slimwatermeters, SCADA-stelsels (Toesighoudende Beheer en Dataverkryging), druk- en vloei-sensors, hommeltuig-gebaseerde toesiginstrumente, en IoT-netwerke vir regstreekse monitering. Verdere beleggings is nodig in digitale rekeningsisteem, wolk-gebaseerde databestuursplatforms, en voorspellende instandhoudingsinstrumente wat foute kan opspoor voordat dit tot groter mislukkings lei. Verder vereis die implementering die ontwikkeling van spesifieke tegniese en operasionele vaardighede binne munisipaliteite. Dit sluit in data-analise en interpretasie, sensor-kalibrasie en -instandhouding, GIS (Geografiese Inligtingstelsel) kaartwerk, integrasie van IKT-stelsels, masjienleer vir voorspellende modellering, en kuberveiligheid om digitale infrastruktuur te beskerm. Net so belangrik is projekbestuur en veranderingbestuursvermoens om suksesvolle tegnologie-aanvaarding en organisatoriese transformasie te ondersteun. Die studie beveel aan dat interregerings- en publiek-private vennootskappe bevorder word, en dat beleids- en regulatoriese raamwerke geharmoniseer word om tegnologiese innovasie aan te moedig. Praktiese aanbevelings word aan beleidmakers en munisipale leiers gebied om die voordele van digitale transformasie in die watersektor te benut wat bydra tot die breer gesprek oor volhoubare waterbestuur. Masters 2026-01-05T09:11:52Z 2026-01-05T09:11:52Z 2025-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134717 Stellenbosch University xviii, 156 : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Water consumption -- Measurement -- South Africa Water-supply -- Government policy -- South Africa Water utilities -- Management -- South Africa Municipal services -- South Africa Infrastructure (Economics) -- South Africa Water conservation -- South Africa UCTD Mosima, George The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities |
| title | The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities |
| title_full | The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities |
| title_fullStr | The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities |
| title_full_unstemmed | The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities |
| title_short | The potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in South Africa : a case study of selected water service authorities |
| title_sort | potential viability of emerging technologies for improving water management in south africa a case study of selected water service authorities |
| topic | Water consumption -- Measurement -- South Africa Water-supply -- Government policy -- South Africa Water utilities -- Management -- South Africa Municipal services -- South Africa Infrastructure (Economics) -- South Africa Water conservation -- South Africa UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/134717 |
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