The effects of water scarcity on rural communities: A case of Ga-Dankie village, Blouberg Municipality

The main objective of the study was to examine the effects of water scarcity in rural communities. The democratic South African government introduced services such as food and water provision to eradicate poverty in rural communities. However, to succeed in water supply, the local government must provide services to the area under its jurisdiction. In South Africa, the provision of water is a democratic right of each citizen. According to Section 27 of the Constitution, everyone has the right to have access, among other rights, to sufficient water and food. The first municipal elections were held in 2000, and the municipalities were formed as the third independent sphere of the government to address past injustices in providing portable water, sanitation, and refuse removal electricity through development projects.The study adopted qualitative research methodology to understand the effect of water scarcity in rural communities. In the study, data collection instruments such as semi-structured questionnaires, interviews, and document study were used. In terms of qualitative research design, semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data. Furthermore, purposeful and random sampling was used. The research findings revealed that there is water scarcity in the rural area that negatively affects the health of community members, agricultural activities, livestock, and businesses. The water supply in the rural area of the municipality is not satisfactory. As a result, this research advocates that the Blouberg Local Municipality should use the Intergovernmental Relations Forum to address the problem of water provision in the Ga-Dankie village.