Challenges in the regulation of water demand planning in South Africa

South Africa is confronted with the challenges of dual governance systems, ineffective implementation of water legislation, and conflicts arising from differing governance approaches, all of which impede the effective management of integrated water resources. This article aims to understand the significant challenges in regulating water demand planning in South Africa. The research methodology employed in this study consists of a rapid review complemented by open-ended interviews, facilitating data triangulation that enables a comparative analysis between insights gathered from interview participants and the results obtained from the rapid review. The rapid review involved a comprehensive examination of fifty-five articles, of which twelve met the established inclusion criteria for the study. Additionally, five managers from the Vhembe district municipality were interviewed. The key dimensions investigated include an evaluation of study quality, a narrative synthesis of study outcomes, an exploration of the barriers and facilitators associated with implementing water demand planning regulations, and interventions designed to support such regulations. The findings underscore significant challenges in regulating water demand planning in South Africa, including project delays, budget overruns, substandard quality of work, mismanagement of funds, and insufficient service delivery. Recommendations emphasize the necessity of implementing water demand forecasting, which serves as a fundamental component of all planning efforts within the water services sector and aims to project the future water requirements of the designated planning area.