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22 April 2025 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied
Dr Tafadzwa Maramura
Dr Tafadzwa Clementine Maramura is a Senior Lecturer and NRF-Rated Researcher in the Department of Public Administration and Management at the UFS.

With roughly half the world’s population experiencing severe water scarcity for at least part of the year, according to the UN World Water Development Report 2024, a researcher from the University of the Free State (UFS) seeks to understand how South Africa and the rest of the African continent can ensure that every person has access to water.

Besides Dr Tafadzwa Clementine Maramura, Senior Lecturer and NRF-Rated Researcher in the Department of Public Administration and Management at the UFS, research focusing on service delivery, especially delivery of water to the most vulnerable and poorest households, her work also focuses on the water-health nexus. In February she was appointed the Secretary for the Institutional Governance and Regulations Framework – a sub-specialist group for the International Water Association (IWA), becoming the first black African female to be appointed to this position.

According to statistics quoted by Greenpeace, 5.52 billion people out of a population of 7.78 billion in 186 countries face water insecurity, of which, 1.34 billion are Africans, accounting for more than 90% of the continent’s population. The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024: water for prosperity and peace; facts, figures, and action examples state that as of 2022, 2.2 billion people were without access to safely managed drinking water.

 

Research focus

With this, and with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – especially Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) – in mind, Dr Maramura seeks to understand how South Africa and the rest of Africa can ensure that everyone gets access to this particular resource. “My research focuses on water governance and sustainable service delivery, public policies, and the green economy in the African, as well as the South African, context. What I found is interesting and really saddening at the same time. When you break it down, you realise that one in every three people in Africa don’t have access to potable water.

“Water is a basic human right, you can survive without electricity and other luxuries, but not without water. Each time you brush your teeth or flush your toilet with at least 15 litres of clean water or you are watering your garden with clean water, there are people that actually don’t have access to basic drinking water,” says Dr Maramura.

She is also investigating what the government is doing to ensure it delivers on this service it is mandated to, as South Africa has all the policies in place, and the best constitution in the world, but still the poor and most vulnerable communities do not have water.

“Access to clean water is not just a basic need; it is a matter of dignity, equality, and survival. As a young African woman, through my research, I see first-hand how the burden of water scarcity falls disproportionately on women and girls, robbing us as women, of education, economic opportunities, and health.

“But we are not just victims – we are leaders in this fight. By empowering women and investing in sustainable water solutions, we can transform our communities and break the cycle of poverty. The time for action is now because water is life, and every African deserves it.”

 

The water-health nexus

Dr Maramura has book chapters coming out in June this year that focus on the water-health nexus in failed states, thereby merging SDG 3 and 6 on health and water respectively. Water plays an indispensable role in the world as it is important for accomplishing several other SDGs, such as zero hunger, poverty eradication, good health and well-being, and affordable and clean energy. It all depends on the achievement of goal 6.

Says Dr Maramura: “You cannot solve problems in isolation; you cannot look at the water problem in isolation. If you have a water problem, you have a health and education problem because kids can’t go to school if there is no water. Hospitals can’t function when there is no water.

“SDG 3 speaks to health and SDG 6 speaks to water and that is where the nexus is, nexus meaning connection between water and health. How can we ensure that we merge the two together and ensure researchers working on health and water can find common ground to address any challenges arising from the lack of water so that we don’t have these health issues?”

South Africa is an upper-middle-income country but still struggles to deliver potable water to everyone and many communities in the country still rely on ventilated pit latrines due to limited access to modern sanitation facilities. With the deadline for achieving the 17 SDGs only five years away, South Africa is at risk of failing to achieve the SDGs.

 

Solving the water problems

According to Dr Maramura, there is no magic wand that can be used to solve all the country's water problems, but a collaborative and comprehensive effort is needed. “There is work that needs to be done. The government, private sector, the communities, as well as other role players need to work together. South Africa is a water-stressed country with rainfall below the global average. We realised that we have scarce groundwater resources.

“The community needs to understand, participate, and be aware of how much damage we can do by just drilling boreholes and digging wells. The private sector needs to know what it is that they can do to ensure that they also play a part through their corporate social responsibility and philanthropic dimensions in assisting the community.”

From the government side, she says, the policies are there so the government needs to consult with the communities, the private sector, and all other relevant stakeholders. They need to involve affected communities and after consultations, they need to engage these communities because they understand their problem best.

News Archive

2015/2016 SRC candidates announced
2015-08-19


Ledimo Nthejane, Independent Electoral Commission Provincial Manager, announcing the contenders for SRC elections at the Bloemfontein Campus.
Photo: Johan Roux

Congratulations to the successful 2015/2016 Student Representative Council (SRC) nominees. We wish you all the best with your campaigning.

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has been appointed by the UFS to take responsibility for the operational aspects of the upcoming SRC elections on the Bloemfontein campus.  Their involvement spans over the period from the nomination process up to the announcement of the election results on 3 September 2015.

Bloemfontein Campus:

  • Edward de Wet (President)
  • Lindokuhle Ntuli (President)
  • Mpho Khati (Vice-President)
  • Nigel Marchall Masalla (Vice-President)
  • Nicola King (First-generation students)
  • Brand Louw (First-generation students)
  • Dineo Khotso Mashile (Transformation)
  • Katleho Mmolayeng Letube (Transformation)
  • Jeanne-Mari McDonald (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Lesley-Anne Terblanche (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Luke Harrold Small (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Nomathamsanqa Nomvula Kraai (Legal and Constitutional Affairs)
  • Victor Sejane (Student Accessibility)
  • Sam-Maree Rooi (Student Accessibility)
  • Rememberance Rohula Kgabu (Student Accessibility)
  • Delia Moumakwe (Culture)
  • Mohau Moses Lesebo (Culture)
  • Kabelo Elijah Noosi (Sport)
  • Neo Gift Thebe (Sport)
  • Peo Morwesi Segano (Media and Marketing)
  • Gali Moticoe (Media and Marketing)
  • Mafelleng Itumeleng Matla (Student Development and Environment)
  • Karabo Pheko (Student Development and Environment)
  • Shaun Grobler (Treasurer)
  • Cornel Vermaak (Treasurer)
  • Katleho Masheane (Treasurer)
  • Thulani Babeli (Treasurer)
  • Nothando Hlophe (Secretary)
  • Tsietso Mafaso (Secretary)
  • Mihlali Matanzima (Secretary)

Qwaqwa Campus:

  • Tseko Masoeu (President)
  • Ntokozo Mbele (President)
  • Paseka Sikhosane (President)
  • Ntandoyenkosi Mndebele (President)
  • Zethu Mhlongo (Deputy President)
  • Limpho Mape (Deputy President)
  • Mpho Pooe (Deputy President)
  • Langelihle Mzobe (Deputy President)
  • Bannetse Mokhatla (Secretary General)
  • Londiwe Shezi (Secretary General)
  • Nondumiso Langa (Secretary General)
  • Palesa Selepe (Treasurer General)
  • Sabelo Vilakazi (Treasurer General)
  • Sinenhlanhla Mfeka (Treasurer General)
  • Solomuzi Khathi (Treasurer General)
  • Busisiwe Nkosi (Politics and Transformation)
  • Banele Mndwaweni (Politics and Transformation)
  • Nthabiseng Mokoena (Politics and Transformation)
  • Sibusiso Nyambose (Media and Publicity)
  • Nonkululeko Shabalala (Media and Publicity)
  • Khulani Mhlongo (Media and Publicity)
  • Bongiwe Buthelezi (Media and Publicity)
  • Nhlanhla Shabalala (Student Development and Environmental Affairs)
  • Thulane Dubazane (Student Development and Environmental Affairs)
  • Lindokuhle Ngubane (Student Development & Environmental Affairs)

Nominations for the Secretary and Treasurer portfolios are still open until 12:00 noon on Friday 21 August 2015.

Important dates to note:

18 August 2015 - Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa Campus campaigning commences

27 August 2015 - Qwaqwa campaigning ends

30 August 2015 - Bloemfontein campaigning ends

28 August 2015 - Qwaqwa Election Day

31 August 2015 - Bloemfontein Election Day

1 September 2015 - Qwaqwa SR handover and establishment sitting

4 September 2015 - Bloemfontein SRC handover and establishment sitting

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