The survey found that while the proportion of respondents connected to running water remains high (92% in 2023-24), the proportion of respondents who believe the water in their home is “always clean” will increase in 2020-21. It was found that the number decreased from 75% to 60% in 2017. From 2023 to 2024. (Photo by Phill Magakoe/AFP)
More than half (64%) of respondents to the Gauteng Regional Observatory's (GCRO) seventh quality of life (QoL) survey are concerned about water scarcity in Gauteng.
This is up from 44% in 2020-2021, and is a “reversal of trends” seen in GCRO's previous survey, when confidence in the state's water supply had increased.
A key finding is that the quality of life index has fallen to “all-time low levels” in two consecutive surveys, in 2020-21 and 2023-24.
The current dataset consists of 13,795 Gauteng residents, with respondents randomly sampled from their homes in each district. Data was collected from August last year to April this year.
The survey “aims to provide a regular picture of what life is like for Gauteng residents,” said research strategy director Graham Goetz.
“We look at the socio-economic situation, satisfaction with services and government, values, socio-political opinions and other characteristics of Gauteng residents.”
Water issues in Gauteng
Environmental, extreme events and disasters findings show Gauteng is struggling to balance demands on limited water resources, ensure access to water for all residents, combat pollution and flooding, and meet infrastructure upgrade requirements. , facing water security challenges, including dealing with inadequate sanitation facilities.
One significant issue was the water outage in October 2022, when Rand Water imposed Level 2 water restrictions to manage supply shortages to the city's reservoirs.
Water supply issues also occurred during intensive load reduction periods in 2022 and 2023.
The survey also found that while the proportion of respondents connected to running water remains high (92% in 2023-24), the proportion of respondents who believe the water in their home is “always clean” will increase by 2020. It was also found that the number decreased from 75% in 2021 to 60%. % in 2023-24. This is partly influenced by the respondents' experience with water outages.
“36 percent of respondents who experience daily or weekly water outages are dissatisfied with their water, compared to only 8 percent of respondents who rarely experience water outages,” the report states. There is.
Regarding satisfaction with water, Midvaal had the highest percentage of respondents who were satisfied (88%), while Tshwane and Emfuleni had the lowest percentage (both 67%). Satisfaction with water decreased in all other Gauteng municipalities.
abnormal situation, disaster
According to the survey results, 55% of respondents reported that their household had been severely affected by an environmental event or disaster within the past 12 months.
These are heatwaves (27%), burst water and sewer pipes (19%), air pollution (16%), floods (14%) and thunderstorms (12%).
Respondents in the City of Johannesburg were affected by heatwaves (37%), lightning strikes (19%), floods (19%), hail (14%), air pollution (19%), and shaking and cave-ins (17%). reported. %).
Respondents in Sedibeng City were more likely to report having been affected by a burst water/sewer pipe (34%) or water pollution (9%).
These percentages vary by housing type.
Respondents in informal settlements reported experiencing harm or damage from flooding (29%), heatwaves (28%), and air pollution (24%), whereas respondents in formal settlements reported being affected by heat waves (27%) and water; burst sewer pipes (19%);
70% of respondents said they did not have insurance for their household assets.
Water engineers and water experts think of water problems as water management problems. “But at the household level, it's a water and electricity issue. It's a cost of living issue,” said Gillian Murray, GCRO senior researcher. “At home, we don't think about water in isolation; we think about it in relation to other issues we deal with as a family.
“If you have water damage and have to spend money cleaning up, or if you don’t have access to water and are trying to start your own business… or if you can’t wash your baby because there’s standing water. If there is no water, it will be affected. ”
Record-breaking temperature and precipitation changes
Gauteng has reported record temperature and rainfall changes in recent years, according to the study.
“Climate models for Gauteng suggest that temperatures are likely to rise above the global average and storms may become more intense,” the report said.
“These changes are exacerbated by the rapid urbanization, population growth, and poorly planned and designed settlements that characterize the state, posing significant disaster risks,” the report said. There is.
The state experienced a severe drought in 2016, but other parts of the state experience periodic droughts.
We experienced flooding due to severe thunderstorms. For example, flooding from 10 to 11 December 2022 affected areas such as Soweto, Johannesburg, Vereeniging and Brakpan.
The report states that climate change is likely to lead to an increase in extreme weather events and disasters, and that the proportion of respondents reporting damage or damage from heat-related events is concerning.
“Climate change is increasing the likelihood of extreme environmental events and disasters, and the data points to specific areas and challenges in future-proofing our cities and homes.”
Other findings
The study also showed that poverty rates have improved from their peak during the pandemic, but remain above pre-pandemic levels.
A quarter (23%) of households live below the poverty line, which is a monthly income of R1,058 per person in 2023 prices. During the coronavirus pandemic, the number of households increased sharply to one-third (33%) of all households.
However, the recovery is partial as the proportion of people living in poverty remains higher than in the pre-pandemic survey in 2017-18 (18%).
According to the survey, 85% of respondents said it is now harder to find a job than it was five years ago. A quarter of respondents said an adult in their household skipped a meal in the past year because they didn't have enough money to buy food.
Two-thirds of households use public health facilities, and satisfaction with public health facilities is 57%, compared to 98% for households using private health services. Almost 15% of households are at higher risk of depression, up from 14% and 12% in the previous survey, while 21% of households report having been a victim of crime.
The GCRO said low-income Africans and people of color face “proportionally less access to medical assistance, adults and children skip meals, and it becomes more difficult to save money.” He said species-specific inequalities continue to be exemplified.
Satisfaction with basic services is declining. “From 2013-2014 to 2023-24, satisfaction with water has decreased (from 84% to 75%); sewage (78% to 61%); garbage removal (80% to 64%); energy (78% to 42%); local roads (61% to 37%); and street lights (59% to 29%).”
Measure development progress
Goetz said 15 years of data “gave us an incredible long-term perspective.”
The data suggests there was “modest improvement” across a number of indicators from 2009 to 2017-2018. “However, the global COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the Gauteng City Region, like the rest of the world, into crisis, with already low economic growth, severe unemployment and weakened governance capacity. It has arrived in a society suffering from
“We were hoping for signs of recovery after COVID-19, but it is clear from QoL 7. [2023-24] “Based on our findings, Gauteng continues to face serious challenges on a number of fronts.”
As a result, negative emotions deepened even further.
GCRO Director-General Rashid Seedat said, “Households in Gauteng are facing challenges such as poverty and unemployment, disruption of basic services, deterioration of security due to crime and violence, deterioration of physical and mental health, and difficulties in daily transportation and living. “We are facing a complex crisis.” Extreme environmental events. ”
He said the survey found that satisfaction with all areas of government had been “seriously affected”.
Dissatisfaction with all areas of government rose from 25% to 66%, 29% to 63%, and 39% to 65% for the national, state, and local governments from 2009 to 2023-2024. Among households, 68% now say they don't trust government leaders, compared to 54% in 2020-21.
Mr Seedat said the field survey was carried out ahead of national and local elections at the end of May and the formation of a government of national unity and local unity government in Gauteng. “This result cannot be taken as an evaluation of the new administration's performance.”
