South Africa Is Facing An Escalating State Of Fragility
19 Jan 2024
South Africa is facing an escalating state of fragility, characterised by the erosion of crucial social cohesion functions, raising concerns about the potential surge in violence, dissatisfaction, and social unrest, reports Bianke Neethling, writer for the Daily Investor.
Neethling was quoting Professor Alex van den Heever, an expert in governance at Wits University, who recently conveyed this perspective to SABC News (Watch the video).
This observation aligns with the World Economic Forum's identification of state fragility as one of the top five risks confronting South Africa in 2024.
Van den Heever elaborated on state fragility, describing it as a condition in which a country begins to lose essential social cohesion functions, contributing to societal disintegration and an uptick in violence, unrest, and discontent. Emphasising the vital role of a functional government in preserving social cohesion, he underscored the need for effective governance to ensure that allocated funds for infrastructure development reach their intended targets, preventing misappropriation.
The governance expert highlighted the imperative for South Africa to channel resources towards stabilising urban environments and housing, asserting that the failure of these initiatives due to government dysfunction contributes to social segmentation and a decline in social cohesion. Such conditions, he cautioned, lead to widespread dissatisfaction among the populace and a subsequent surge in social unrest and fragility, marked by an increase in systemic violence.
Van den Heever's warning echoes the sentiments of water scientist Dr Anthony Turton, who previously stated that the persistent water shortages in South Africa pose a threat to the country's stability, risking social unrest and economic destabilisation. Turton emphasised that the mismanagement of water resources, rather than an actual scarcity issue, is at the heart of the problem.
According to Turton, despite South Africa having sufficient water resources to meet the needs of its population and businesses, inadequate water management practices are causing shortages in certain regions. Approximately 50% of the water supplied by bulk water providers in South Africa fails to reach consumers due to leakages, theft, and crumbling infrastructure. Turton stressed that this is not a water scarcity problem but rather an institutional failure, pointing to the urgent need for improved water management to avert severe economic consequences and social unrest.
Source: Daily Investor