Browsing by Subject "infrastructure"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
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    Open Access
    Addressing water access shortfalls: a cost-benefit analysis of grey and ecological infrastructure for basic service provisioning in South Africa
    (2026) Johnson, Holly; Visser, Martine
    This study conducts a comparative analysis of the economic viability of grey and ecological infrastructure solutions to address water supply deficits for the 2.77% of South African households lacking access to potable water. Utilising cost-benefit analysis across 10, 20, and 30-year time horizons and varying discount rates (8%, 10%, 12%), this study quantifies the net present value and cost-benefit ratio of each infrastructure approach. Grey infrastructure is found to yield higher net present values and cost-benefit ratios in the long-run but is more sensitive to fluctuations in the discount rate and requires significant upfront investments. Ecological infrastructure, however, demonstrates more stable outcomes under economic uncertainty and a far broader range of benefits. The decision between these two infrastructure types will therefore depend on the context of financial constraints and risk tolerance. Grey infrastructure should be prioritised if capital is available, while ecological infrastructure is more suitable for areas with limited resources or higher environmental resilience objectives.
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    Open Access
    Developing a cost model for wastewater treatment works: a case study of Gordons Bay WWTW, City of Cape Town
    (2026) Xaba, Zamanyanda Precious; Ikumi, David
    The financial sustainability of operating and maintaining wastewater treatment infrastructure continues to be a major challenge for cities. this study assesses the full-cost recovery of Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) by close examination of the capital- (CAPEX) and operational- expenditure (OPEX) related to the Gordons Bay WWTW in the City of Cape Town, South Africa. Through detailed cost modeling and operational analysis, the study identifies key financial drivers and offers methodologies for improving cost estimation and recovery frameworks.
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    Open Access
    The lived experiences of women in backyard dwellings: a Cape Town case study
    (2026) Abrahams, Hayley; Scheba, Suraya; Scheba, Andreas
    Backyarding has grown rapidly in South Africa, and it remains poorly understood. This study explores the embodied experiences of women residing in informal backyard dwellings, and how their infrastructural conditions shape their citizenship rights. This study makes use of the example of the Wesbank community in Kuilsriver, Cape Town. Through semi-structured interviews, focus groups discussions and non-participant observations, this study reveals how women struggle to practise their citizenship rights through everyday negotiations within their landlords, and makes visible how emotions are a fundamental component of the intricate ways in which individuals acquire and utilise resources that are vital to their basic life. By revealing these experiences, the work adds to a more thorough knowledge of the lived reality of these women and provides insights into the gendered dynamics of informal backyard dwelling.