Abstract
Access to potable water is a fundamental human right essential for effective service delivery and has a direct impact on sustainable development, public health, and overall well-being. Although numerous international and national frameworks exist to guide potable water access, many rural municipalities in South Africa, including Amathole District Municipality (ADM), continue to grapple with inconsistent potable water service delivery. This study aims to address these persistent challenges by evaluating the effectiveness of smart district solutions in improving water service delivery within ADM’s rural areas. The research is grounded in Social Justice Theory, Dual-State Theory, and Social Contract Theory. Adopting an interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative research approach, the study employs a case study design centred on the ADM. A total of 40 participants were selected through convenience and purposive sampling methods. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with political representatives, municipal officials, and civil society groups, as well as focus group discussions with community members. Secondary data sources were also utilised. Thematic analysis was applied to interpret the collected data. Key findings reveal that, despite the implementation of smart district technologies, such as GIS systems, smart water meters, and network sensors, their impact in ADM’s rural areas is limited by several obstacles. These include insufficient funding, low levels of community participation, governance inefficiencies, inadequate digital infrastructure, and poor maintenance, all of which undermine the sustainability of smart district technologies.
Based on these findings, the study recommends that ADM adopt community-oriented governance, inclusive policy implementation, and comprehensive training for municipal officials. Additionally, it highlights the importance of targeted funding and legislative reforms to help bridge the gap between rural and urban service delivery.