ABSTRACT
The development and exploitation of South Africa's water resources prior to 1994 were influenced by successive governments’ apartheid policies. This created a situation whereby only a minority of the population received preference in water allocations, particularly the white-dominated agricultural sector. Historical records show that South Africa started contemplating the development of irrigation schemes in the 1860s. A close reading of historical records shows that it was not only government that played an active part in implementing irrigation projects. Non-state actors, like the church and individual landowners, were also active. The discovery of diamonds and later gold catalysed the establishment of water transfer schemes to cater for burgeoning urban populations, particularly in Kimberley and Johannesburg, respectively. With the advent of apartheid in the mid-20th century the trajectory changed and focused on water infrastructure development for mainly urban areas and the white-dominated irrigated commercial farming. This created a situation where persons classified as native/black and coloured received less water than their white countrymen. A change in government in 1994 that introduced a democratic system was influential in changing the situation. At first, the African National Congress-led government made good on its promises to deliver water services to urban and rural areas in which formerly disadvantaged communities resided. Under the Zuma administration, widespread corruption in the form of state capture stalled progress in making water available to former disadvantaged municipalities. South African politics, therefore, had a major influence, over a period of 160 years, to develop the country's water resources.
