National Budget Strategies for South Africa’s Water Crisis
Context
South Africa’s water infrastructure has deteriorated over the past two decades, raising the spectre of a collapse of water supplies to much of the country, and in particular to municipalities in Gauteng – the largest economy in the country. The crisis is argued to be systemic. and results from governance failures at various levels. If it is not resolved, the consequences could have serious implications for South Africa’s economy.
Assignment
Although the water crisis is largely caused by failures in municipal government, an important question arises regarding the possible role of national government in turning the situation around.
Using the multilevel system of financing, provide a critical analysis of approaches that national government could take to address this crisis.
The analysis should be divided into the following three areas.
- First, offer a strategic diagnostic assessment of the causes of the crisis.
- Second, flowing from the diagnostic assessment, identify one strategic aspect that can be addressed through the budget process.
- Third, provide a more detailed proposal on the measures that could be implemented to address the identified strategic aspect.
Please note:
This analysis should be strategic in nature and not focus on the minutiae of any proposal.
You are expected to draw on the module material in your response. With this in mind, where relevant bring in issues related to: the multi-level system of budgeting; improvements to the budget process needed to enhance performance; and aspects relevant to financial management (i.e. post allocation).
It is important to understand that this exercise is a test of your understanding of module material, and you are not in any way expected to venture beyond the issues that have be raised in class, the videos and the readings.
Guidance
Common mistakes you should avoid in your assignment:
- Avoid just dumping module material into your paper. Instead critically engage with the material to establish a considered lens with which to apply to your given context.
- Avoid making unfounded assertions – typically in the form of general opinions where it is assumed there is general agreement.
- Ensure that your paper is structured to communicate a coherent set of well-founded arguments that are support by evidence and sound reasoning.
- Avoid padding the paper to make up the word count.
- Avoid putting too many themes or ideas into a single paragraph. Generally work with one major theme per paragraph.
- Avoid disconnected ideas from one paragraph to the next. It is important to consider the reader in structuring your paper. Don’t confuse them.
- Ensure that the conceptual lens you develop connects coherently with any subsequent application of the lens to a particular context.
Theoretical and conceptual material: Assignments will invariably require that you apply conceptual/theoretical ideas from the readings to an applied context. You are, however, not expected to be an expert on the applied context. The assignment approach is seeking to see how well you are able to use the module material in some practical setting as an important aid to learning.
Corporate Governance Answers: Expert Answers on Above Questions on Water Crisis
Analysis of causes
An analysis of the causes of crisis indicates that there are government failures, under investment and miss allocation, capacity constraints and systemic fragmentation. Corruption and lack of accountability in municipalities along with insufficient investment and poor maintenance of water infrastructure, skills shortages and limited coordination across municipal levels in water planning and financing have all contributed towards the crisis.
Strategic aspect for budget process
One strategic aspect that can be addressed through the budget process is the infrastructure maintenance and rehabilitation funding. By way of allocating funds in the national budget, it can be possible for municipalities to invest in the water infrastructure for its upgradation.
Detailed proposal of measures
The measures that could be implemented in order to address the identified strategic aspect is to provide conditional grants along with performance benchmark, strengthen oversight mechanism, ensure multilevel collaboration and adequate monitoring post allocation.
| Disclaimer: This answer is a model for study and reference purposes only. Please do not submit it as your own work. |
