American International Journal of Contemporary Research

Vol. 3 No. 5; May 2013

Development of a Water Management Decision Model for Limpopo Province of South
AfricaBased on Congruence between Sector Challenge and Service Organization Capacity
Khathutshelo A. Tshikolomoa
Azwihangwisi E. Nesamvunia
Sue Walkerb
Aldo Stroebela
Izak Groenewalda a Centre for Sustainable Agriculture
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, 9300
South Africa. b Department of Soil
Crop and Climate Sciences
University of the Free State
Bloemfontein, 9300
South Africa.

Abstract
The study highlightedchallenges affecting the water sector in Limpopo Province, identified water service organisations (WSOs), assessedthe degree of congruence between the challenges and capacities of WSOs, and finally proposeda water management decision model for the area. Water challenges were (a) scarce resource availability and inadequate storage, (b) some dam never filling up, (c) poor resource knowledge of water managers, (d) lack of stakeholder participation in resource decision making, and (e) poor allocations to rural communities. The main WSOs were Department of Water Affairs-DWA (congruence rating=2.00) and water service authorities (WSAs), namely: Mopani District Municipality-MDM (congruence rating=2.15), Vhembe
District Municipality-VDM (2.15) and Polokwane Local Municipality-PLM (2.15). The degree of congruence was high (2.75) between challenges and strategies, moderate (2.45) between strategies and tasks and low between allocation and use of human resources (1.50), making it the most significant constraint to WSOs addressing water challenges. Key words:Congruence, water challenge, water service authority, organizational capacity, decision model
1. Introduction, Congruence Model
Periodic droughts and population growth have placed burdens on water supply and