Evaluating the impact of drought on rural communities : a case study of Umuziwabantu Local Municipality in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Abstract: Droughts are a natural phenomenon that occur in hydrological cycles. However, the effect of climate change will increase the frequency and severity of drought. It is therefore, important that communities and the ecosystem learn to adapt to these abrupt changes. The rural households are negatively affected by the impacts of drought on their livelihoods. The rural households have limited or basic level of access to water and droughts further impact on their ability to access water. While droughts are natural, the impact may be worsened by human activity. In this thesis, the linkages between agricultural exports and water shortages are assessed. The impact of the water shortages on rural households and their coping strategies are also assessed. The research was undertaken in Umuziwabantu Local Municipality through semi-structured and informal interviews with rural people, commercial farmer and government officials. The analysis was done using the Adaptive Governance Framework and linking it to Sustainable Livelihood Framework. The research findings showed that rural households employ different strategies to cope with the drought and create resilience. It also showed that there is more research needed on the linkages between agricultural exports and water shortages. The governance institutions were also found to not being flexible enough to adapt to the shocks.