Water Delivery: Public or Private?

Abstract

This collective volume puts access to water in a human rights perspective. Its chapters are based on presentations delivered at a seminar entitled 'Water delivery in South Africa and The Netherlands: public or private?', which was held in Utrecht, The Netherlands, in March 2005. The seminar was organized by the Community Law Centre of the University of the Western Cape and the Institute of Constitutional and Administrative Law of Utrecht University. Bas de Gaay Fortmann sheds light on the essence of access to water as an entitlement rather than an abstract right. Christopher Mbazira examines the attempts of two South African municipalities (Lukhanji and Amahlati) to deliver this entitlement through engaging private contractors. Victoria Johnson analyses contracts in the context of the outsourcing of water delivery. Jaap de Visser compares water delivery in South Africa and The Netherlands. Tobias Schmitz discusses the restructuring of Johannesburg's water services management.