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Eroding the Commons: Prepaid Water Meters In Phiri, Soweto

Prishani Naidoo, Anti Privatization Forum, South Africa

The struggle against apartheid symbolised, worldwide, the collective voice of a majority of people bound together by their common oppression and exploitation, and their common desire to be free.  It spoke to notions of our 'common humanity' and collective inheritance of the earth and its natural resources against the dehumanising and depriving system of apartheid; designed to benefit a minority. 

Today, the South African government's Department of Water & Forestry (DWAF) sells itself as 'using water to wash away poverty', claiming substantial increases in people's access to water since 1994.  However, such proclamations of successful delivery neglect to acknowledge the parallel growth in water cut-offs as people's access to water has been accompanied by policies of 'cost recovery' and 'user-fees' as the state has slowly handed over (and continues to hand over) the responsibility for water provision to private entities.  Translated, this means that water delivery has become a business, with the profit interest being foremost.  In this, the responsibility for sustaining access to water has become the responsibility of the individual, paying customer as opposed to the citizen worthy of certain rights ensured by the state.

The prepaid water meter is today's cruellest manifestation of the commitment to market and profit interests over people's needs.  Unlike the system of cut-offs where the individual was punished retrospectively for non-payment (i.e. after having received water), the prepaid meter cuts the individual off before gaining access.  In this way it is only those who are able to pay who will receive water.  Prepaid water meters are now the preferred method of delivery by DWAF.  The South African government has promised its citizens an amount of 6,000 litres of water free, arguing that this is an amount sufficient for the needs of the average South African household.  Beyond this amount, people have to pay for the water that they consume.  In this way, the South African government has been able to argue that it is committed to providing for the basic needs of its people while still proceeding with the introduction of policies serving private interests. 
But the response of South African communities to the installation of the prepaid system has been far from welcoming.  The most recent, and most publicised, prepaid water meter project envisages the introduction of meters in all areas of Soweto, Johannesburg.  Johannesburg Water, the private entity owned by the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council, and managed by Suez, has embarked on a project named 'Operation Gcin'amanzi' ('Operation Save Water'), a R450 million project aimed at improving water delivery in the area through infrastructure upgrades and the reduction of water usage through the conversion of all of Soweto to the prepaid water system.  In September 2003, Johannesburg Water began digging trenches in Block 1, Phiri, Soweto, preparing to lay the pipes for conversion to the prepaid system.  Residents came together to physically prevent the work of Johannesburg Water.  They were supported in their actions by members of the Soweto Electricity Crisis Committee and the Anti-Privatisation Forum.  Several altercations ensued between the police and private security hired by Johannesburg Water, and residents followed.  By the end of September 2003, 14 residents of Phiri and activists supporting them were arrested and charged with 'public violence', 'malicious damage to property' and 'incitement' for handing out flyers. 

Johannesburg Water incurred serious costs as a result of resistance, and moved out of Block 1.  Adopting a different strategy, Johannesburg Water moved onto Block 2, where it approached households individually, telling residents that they would need to sign onto the prepaid system in order to have their toilets and leaks fixed.  Twenty-seven households resisted in Block 2, with Johannesburg Water responding by cutting off these households from any water supply.  Today, there are 4 households still resisting the installation of prepaid water meters in Block 2.  They are without any water supply - not even their 'free 6,000 litres'.  

In spite of resistance, Johannesburg Water continues in the extension of its plans to other parts of Phiri and Soweto.  Residents continue to resist, swelling the numbers of the newly formed Phiri Concerned Residents' Forum.  The promised 6,000 litres of free water is not seen as adequate for the needs of large households, characteristic of Phiri.  In an independent household survey conducted by the Coalition Against Water Privatisation (a comprehensive report is available July 2004), the average household size amongst 174 households was found to be an alarming 16, making negligible the amount of water granted by government for the basic needs of a household in Phiri.  The majority of households surveyed also indicated that their monthly household income was less than R1,000 per month.  In such a context, households will have to make 6,000 litres provide for the monthly needs of 16 people.  They have no choice as they have no money to pay for additional water needed.  And, residents have recognized that 'making do' will result in serious negative health consequences, economic consequences, and social consequences for the community. 

Women, in particular, have pointed out the immense burden that they now have to shoulder as a result of having to pay for water.  With women still providing for the basic reproductive (life) needs of the household, denying them access to a resource necessary for the fulfillment of these needs makes their meeting of these responsibilities much more difficult.  This, in turn, is likely to lead to increased tensions within the household, often manifesting as domestic violence and violence against women.

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