Share

Mailbox: The myth of free water for all. Substitute education.

The email below was sent to us by Biznews community member Tom Lawless. It was a submission he received from Jamal Saghir at the World Bank.

It’s 100 words on water, and why free water for all is a myth. With the free education debate, Tom suggests changing water to education; it will hopefully highlight some of the issues. It’s not the answer to South Africa’s ills but it’s an interesting thought. – Stuart Lowman 

100 Words on Water – The myth of free water for all

By Jamal Saghir, Director, Energy and Water Department, World Bank

Enshrining water as a universal human right that should be provided “free” is persuasive rhetoric. But it is also a risky distraction that stands in the way of providing water for all.

Building, maintaining, and operating infrastructure to get water to households – pipes, treatment works, and connections – costs money.

There are only two sources of paying for investments:

  • payments by users or payments by taxpayers; and
  •      • only by charging those who are served can services be extended to the unconnected.

  • Tariff setting must include subsidies to the poor. But, advocating free water for all means no water for some.

    Reworked with education

    100 Words on Education – The myth of free Education for all

    Enshrining Education as a universal human right that should be provided “free” is persuasive rhetoric. But it is also a risky distraction that stands in the way of providing Education for all.

    Building, maintaining, and operating infrastructure to give free Education costs money.

    There are only two sources of paying for investments:

    • payments by users or payments by taxpayers.
  • • only by charging those who are served can services be extended to the unconnected.
  • Tariff setting must include subsidies to the poor. But, advocating free Education for all means no Education for some.

    * For more in-depth business news, visit biznews.com or simply sign up for the daily newsletter.

    Read Fin24's top stories trending on Twitter:

    We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
    Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
    Join News24 today
    heading
    description
    username
    Show Comments ()
    Rand - Dollar
    18.89
    +0.3%
    Rand - Pound
    23.82
    +0.4%
    Rand - Euro
    20.37
    +0.3%
    Rand - Aus dollar
    12.30
    +0.3%
    Rand - Yen
    0.12
    +0.3%
    Platinum
    908.05
    0.0%
    Palladium
    1,014.94
    0.0%
    Gold
    2,232.75
    -0.0%
    Silver
    24.95
    -0.1%
    Brent Crude
    87.00
    +1.8%
    Top 40
    68,346
    0.0%
    All Share
    74,536
    0.0%
    Resource 10
    57,251
    0.0%
    Industrial 25
    103,936
    0.0%
    Financial 15
    16,502
    0.0%
    All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
    Company Snapshot
    Editorial feedback and complaints

    Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

    LEARN MORE
    Government tenders

    Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

    Government tenders
    This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
    Browse tenders