South Africa is becoming increasingly fragile as it loses key social cohesion functions, risking increased violence, dissatisfaction and social unrest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is the view of Wits governance expert Professor Alex van den Heever, who told SABC News<\/a> that South Africa is showing an increase in fragility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n His comments come in light of the World Economic Forum identifying state fragility as one of the top five risks to South Africa in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Van den Heever explained state fragility as a country that is starting to lose key social cohesion functions in its society. This can cause a society to unravel and increase violence, unrest, and dissatisfaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is absolutely important to protect social cohesion, but for that to happen, you need a functional government,\u201d Van den Heever said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou need a government that, when they\u2019re going to spend on infrastructure, ensure that the money actually ends up in infrastructure and not in somebody\u2019s pocket, which is what\u2019s happening in South Africa.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n He stressed that the country must develop and allocate expenditure to stabilise its urban settings and housing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have to get that to work, and if our government can\u2019t function, those things fail,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat results in social segmentation and a decline in social cohesion, leading to general dissatisfaction that people have in their society.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat\u2019s where you start to see an increase in social unrest and fragility, demonstrated by increases in systemic violence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Van den Heever\u2019s warning echoes water scientist Dr Anthony Turton, who has previously said that South Africa\u2019s ongoing water shortages<\/a> will result in social unrest as they risk destabilising the country\u2019s economy, which cannot function without an adequate water supply. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Turton said the water shortages experienced in many of the country\u2019s regions are a national crisis that will have severe economic consequences. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He explained that South Africa has enough water to comfortably supply the population and businesses. However, the water supply is being mismanaged, resulting in shortages in some parts of the country. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf we manage our water wisely, we certainly have enough to grow our economy and population. The problem is that we are not managing it wisely,\u201d Turton said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n An estimated 50% of the water from bulk water suppliers in South Africa does not reach the end consumer due to leakages, theft, and failing infrastructure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is not a water scarcity issue. It is an institutional failure issue,\u201d Turton said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n This article was first published by Daily Investor and reproduced with permission. Read the original here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n