The right to water in the constitution and sustainable development in South Africa

Abstract

The South African Constitution, 1996 has placed the right to sufficient water as a Constitutional right. The provision of this right by the Constitution intends to redress the violation of human rights, to ensure that South Africa’s scarce water resources are protected from pollution and that every South African, including the poor and the marginalised, enjoys them. Consequently, the Constitution has placed a legal obligation on the government to realise the right to have access to sufficient water. In order for the government to fulfil its obligation to provide water as a right for present and future generations, it will need to implement the relevant legislation effectively to protect the country’s water resources. This study analyses Section 27 of the Constitution, which provides for the right to access to water, and the role of sustainability in conserving and protecting water resources, given the recurring water challenges.