The eight case studies did not cover all of these options, but did offer insights into the following distinct (although at times overlapping) institutional types. more >

Through collaborative research and discussions, WD-SA sought to understand the process of choosing institutional approaches, as well as the impact different approaches have had on the quality and level of services received by residents.

Stakeholders of the WD-SA process were looking for the research to cast some light on a number of issues. In the first instance, attempts were made to obtain data on a common set of indicators for all the cases, in order to try and generate some level of inter-case comparison. However, under circumstances where accurate and comparable data were scarce, a considerable amount of the research effort was put into obtaining the perspectives of case-level stakeholders on the institutional experiences – including input from selected communities in poorer areas on the various WSPs and how their experience of services changed as institutional arrangements were adjusted over time.

Working Group members discussed findings from each the eight cases, reflecting on the richness and complexity of contexts and issues.  They then reviewed a cross cutting issues document prepared by Mary Galvin, Liane Greeff, and Glen Robbins. This document extracted a wide range of possible conclusions arising from the primary research.  Stakeholders did not endorse all of these conclusions, but chose the key conclusions that emerged most strongly as the basis for developing the WD-SA final synthesis report.  However there was agreement that the cross cutting issues document would be made available as a resource for other researchers; its conclusions serve as an index of issues to enable further exploration of WD-SA full case study reports. 

• Click here to watch DVD on WD-SA Research Methodology
  
  
• Click here to view questions used to guide research conducted with water service providers (WSPs) and the users of water (community members).

Methodological limitations
While the researchers used the same method for each case study, the data available from municipalities was uneven within and amongst areas… more >

Case Study findings:

Bushbuckridge

		Click here to watch DVD on this case Bushbuckridge has faced enormous institutional upheaval since 1994 as a result of the consolidation of former homeland provision, the impact of provincial and municipal demarcation, and the formation of a local water board. These changes have impacted significantly on municipal provision of water and sanitation services. This case study examines how a low capacity local municipality in a very poor area has weathered these changes and what overall conclusions can be drawn from its experience. The case study is based on municipal, financial, and participatory community research. Editor: Anne Mayher and Erin Raab Community Researchers: Anne Mayher and Tsitsi Mukamba Municipal Researcher: Abraham Vermeulen Full Report Case Study Summary PowerPoint Presentation

		Click here to watch DVD on this case All of South Africa’s urban municipalities - particularly in metropolitan areas - are struggling to provide adequate services in rapidly expanding informal settlements. In Cape Town, issues arising from the municipality’s approach to contracting out sanitation services to small scale private sector providers were brought to the attention of WD-SA stakeholders by some of its members: no regulation and a violation of human rights in key legislation, particularly for workers employed to empty bucket/ container toilets. Is the City outsourcing its problems, with consequences exacerbated by poor strategic planning, inadequate oversight and misleading official statistics? This case study focused on sanitation services in informal settlements in and around Cape Town. It adds an important dimension to our understanding of the role of the private sector in concessions and management contracts, and underlines the critical point that municipalities remain responsible for the way services are provided, even where aspects of service delivery are outsourced. It is based on City of Cape Town documents and interviews conducted with municipal officials, service providers and community leaders between August 2008 and January 2009, and household interviews in five informal settlements. Editor: Karen Goldberg Community Researchers: Senza Kula, Mpumelelo Mhlalisi, Nombuyiselo Ngali and Zikhona Ngesi Municipal Researcher: Karen Goldberg Full Report Appendices A -E to the full report Appendix F to the full report Case Study Summary PowerPoint Presentation

iLembe

		Click here to watch DVD on this case This case study examines one of South Africa’s three private sector concessions in a historical perspective, from its initial negotiation to the present day. It considers provision by the Siza Water concession as well as provision by the iLembe Municipality; while clearly not a fair comparison, it serves to highlight the contrast in issues faced by the providers and the constraints they face in responding to these issues. This case study is instructive in that it shows the dangers of a municipality with low capacity attempting to strengthen its capacity by drawing in the private sector without adequate capacity or external support to contract, monitor, and re-negotiate the contract. The case study is based on municipal, financial, and participatory community research. Editor: Glen Robbins Community Researchers: Sbu Khanyile and Makhosi Wiese Municipal Researchers: Glen Robbins and Nick Swan Financial Researcher: Werner Zybrands Full Report Case Study Summary PowerPoint Presentation

		Click here to watch DVD on this case Click here to watch participatory video on this case Ugu has been rated highly in the National Benchmarking Initiative – it is a case of committed officials delivering significant improvements to water and sanitation services. WD-SA explored its successes, raising new questions by exploring a qualitative component. Ugu has made huge progress in addressing backlogs, but they are still large – what constraints in the sector hold the municipality back from addressing these? What is the experience of users in terms of provision, payment, and communication with the municipality? How do municipalities reconcile the urgent need to expand service coverage with significant bulk supply constraints? Are existing funding mechanisms sufficient to provide water services to all in the long term? The case study is based on municipal, financial, and participatory community research. Editor: Erin Raab Community Researchers: Duduzile Khumalo and Nondumiso Mqadi Municipal Researchers: Wiseman Luthuli and Alana Potter Financial Researcher: Werner Zybrands Full Report Case Study Summary PowerPoint Presentation

uThukela

		No DVD available In 2004, three municipalities in KwaZulu Natal formed the uThukela Water (Pty) Ltd as part of a multi-jurisdictional service delivery partnership (MJSDP). While the concept was sound, its implementation was compromised by inter-municipal dynamics, political tensions, and an assumption that the benefits would be realised despite weak financial planning and operational management. Does that mean the multi-jurisdictional model should be discarded? WD-SA stakeholders explored what positive lessons can be learned from uThukela Water that could inform the use of this model in other areas. WD-SA modified its standard methodology for this case: there was not a participatory community research component, and the bulk of the research was geared towards examining the institution’s decision-making processes and related dynamics. Researcher and Editor: Glen Robbins Research Assistants: Ariel Bright, Cyriaque Hakizimana, Welcome Mwelase and Tasmi Quasi Full Report Case Study Summary PowerPoint Presentation

		Click here to watch DVD on this case WD-SA stakeholders refer to the case of the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality as “public-public-private”. It is a public-public partnership, as the City of Johannesburg (CoJ) owns the water services utility that was established to provide water services, Johannesburg Water (Pty) Ltd (JW). However, in its initial phase of operations, the decision was made to bring in external expertise through a five year management contract with the private sector company Johannesburg Water Management (Pty) Ltd, or JOWAM, a subsidiary of the Suez Group of France and minority shareholders. This case study explored water and sanitation service provision by JW during the period of JOWAM’s management contract (2001-2006) and beyond, in the wider context of the City’s governance and settlement approaches. It draws on data from JW and the CoJ, interviews with key officials, and community focus groups and interviews in four very different areas of the City. Editors: Carina van Rooyen,Thea De Wet,Ingrid Marais and Marcel Korth Community Researchers: Morgan Thaba, Sikile Mchunu and Marcel Korth Municipal Researchers: Carina van Rooyen Full Report Case Study Summary

		Click here to watch DVD on this case South Africa’s expansive rural areas pose serious challenges to those responsible for providing water and sanitation services. This case study shows how the Chris Hani District Municipality has worked with community based organisations and contracted support agencies to provide services in hundreds of small rural settlements. It examines the nature of these providers and notes that these CBOs are now becoming commercial micro-providers. Is this a model that could be applied usefully in other rural areas located far from the administrative hub? The case study is based on municipal, financial, and participatory community research. Editor: Lesley Steele Community Researchers: Febbie Masango, Mncedisi Soxujwa and Buntu Dumizweni Municipal Researchers: Lesley Steele,Tanya Jacobs and Febbie Masango Full Report Case Study Summary PowerPoint Presentation

		No DVD available Maluti has consolidated the provision function previously undertaken by two water boards in previous homeland areas and towns into a new public utility wholly owned by the municipality. It has signed a management contract with a local company associated with the Suez Group of France. The case study provides important insights into the application of the public-public-private approach, first used in Johannesburg, to a municipality with less capacity serving a relatively remote area with significant rural challenges. This case is particularly interesting given the growing trend internationally toward management contracts. The case study is based on municipal, financial, and participatory community research. Editor: Anne Mayher and Glen Robbins Community Researchers: Brand Nthako and Sibusiso Khanyile Municipal Researcher: Anne Mayher Financial Researcher: Cobus Oosthuizen Full Report Case Study Summary PowerPoint Presentation