ABSTRACT
South Africa is a water scarce country with a large proportion of its water in international river basins. Internally, within the country, competing and increasing demands are imposing strains on limited water resources, with significant negative impacts on the ecological functioning of rivers and wetlands, and a failure to meet international agreements. The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) and related institutions are faced with complex decisions in applying policy regarding the allocation of water as the real trade-offs between the competing demands are highlighted.
