Conferring rights to South Africa’s rivers: Improved protection and enforcement?: A comparative law study

Dr. Ruda Murray

doi:10.5771/9783748973287

Summary

How can the law better protect rivers in the face of pollution, overuse, and climate change? This book explores whether recognising rivers as legal persons with rights could strengthen environmental governance and enforcement in South Africa. Drawing on comparative analysis of river rights regimes in countries such as Ecuador, Colombia, New Zealand, India, Bangladesh and Canada, it examines their legal foundations, governance structures, and practical outcomes. The study evaluates the strengths and limitations of these approaches and develops a realistic, provincially grounded legal model for improving the protection and governance of South Africa’s rivers.

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Bibliographic data

Edition: 1/2026
Copyright Year: 2026
ISBN-Print: 978-3-7560-4372-9
ISBN-Online: 978-3-7489-7328-7
Publisher: Nomos, Baden-Baden
Series: Recht und Verfassung in Afrika - Law and Constitution in Africa
Volume: 51
Language: English
Pages: 412
Product Type: Monograph

1. Acknowledgements No access
2. Executive summary No access
3. List of abbreviations No access
1. 1.1 Background and aims of the research No access
2. 1.2 Rationale for the research No access
3. 1. 1.3.1 Outline of the research problem No access
  2. 1.3.2 Research aim and objectives No access
  3. 1.3.3 Hypotheses No access
  4. 1.3.4 Methodology No access
  5. 1.3.5 Conceptual and terminological frameworks No access
4. 1.4 Outline of chapters No access
1. 2.1 Introduction No access
2. 1. 2.2.1 Academic writing in general: the vanguards of the rights of nature movement No access
  2. 2.2.2 A note on the anthropocentrism and eco-centrism dichotomy No access
3. 1. 2.3.1 The religious and spiritual catalysts No access
  2. 2.3.2 Implementation on a national level: Ecuador and beyond No access
  3. 1. 2.3.3.1 Communities fighting for nature’s rights No access
    2. 2.3.3.2 Indigenous communities standing up for nature’s rights No access
  4. 2.3.4 Recognition of nature’s rights on a global platform No access
4. 1. 2.4.1 Defining the river No access
  2. 1. 2.4.2.1 A right? No access
    2. 2.4.2.2 What rights would a river have (or need)? No access
    3. 2.4.2.3 The problem with oversimplifying the river’s rights No access
    4. 2.4.2.4 Would the river’s rights outweigh human rights? No access
  3. 1. 2.4.3.1 Doctrinal foundations No access
    2. 2.4.3.2 Sceptical critiques of legal personhood as a regulatory technique No access
  4. 1. 2.4.4.1 The river’s guardian No access
    2. 2.4.4.2 The river’s trust fund No access
  5. 1. 2.4.5.1 Lack of laws and enforcement No access
    2. 2.4.5.2 Why give the river and not only Mother Nature rights? No access
    3. 2.4.5.3 Enforcement: the double-edged sword No access
5. 2.5 Conclusion No access
1. 3.1 Introduction No access
2. 1. 3.2.1 Water availability No access
  2. 3.2.2 Historical legacies of water governance in South Africa No access
  3. 3.2.3 The conservation status of South Africa’s rivers No access
  4. 1. 3.2.4.1 The issue with wastewater No access
    2. 3.2.4.2 The issue with acid mine drainage No access
3. 3.3 International and regional legal obligations relevant to the interpretation and effectiveness of South African river protection law No access
4. 1. 3.4.1 The Constitution No access
  2. 3.4.2 The Environment Conservation Act 73 of 1989 No access
  3. 3.4.3 The National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 No access
  4. 1. 3.4.4.1 Introduction to the statute No access
    2. 3.4.4.2 Provisions concerning the protection of water resources No access
    3. 3.4.4.3 Relevant projects and programs No access
  5. 3.4.5 The Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 No access
  6. 3.4.6 The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act 57 of 2003 No access
  7. 3.4.7 The National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 10 of 2004 No access
  8. 3.4.8 The Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983 and the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Seeds, and Remedies Act 36 of 1947 No access
  9. 3.4.9 The Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act 16 of 2013 No access
5. 3.5 Provincial level: the Western Cape No access
6. 1. 3.6.1 The Department of Water and Sanitation’s governance and enforcement shortcomings No access
  2. 3.6.2 Limited formal participatory governance and reactive civic mobilisation No access
7. 3.7 Biosphere reserves: an alternative to river rights? No access
8. 3.8 Conclusion No access
1. 4.1 Introduction No access
2. 1. 1. 4.2.1.1 Background No access
    2. 1. 4.2.1.2.1 The Vilcabamba River No access
      2. 4.2.1.2.2 The Alpayacu and Monjas Rivers No access
    3. 4.2.1.3 Observations No access
  2. 1. 4.2.2.1 Background No access
    2. 1. 4.2.2.2.1 Whanganui River No access
      2. 4.2.2.2.2 Whangaehu and Waikato Rivers No access
    3. 4.2.2.3 Observations No access
3. 1. 1. 4.3.1.1 Background No access
    2. 1. 4.3.1.2.1 Atrato River No access
      2. 4.3.1.2.2 The outcome No access
      3. 4.3.1.2.3 Amazon River No access
    3. 4.3.1.3 Observations No access
  2. 1. 4.3.2.1 Background No access
    2. 4.3.2.2 River rights No access
    3. 4.3.2.3 Observations No access
  3. 1. 4.3.3.1 Background No access
    2. 4.3.3.2 River rights No access
    3. 4.3.3.3 Observations No access
4. 1. 4.4.1 Background No access
  2. 1. 4.4.2.1 Magpie River No access
    2. 4.4.2.2 St Lawrence River No access
  3. 4.4.3 Observations No access
5. 4.5 Conclusion No access
1. 1. 1. 5.1.1.1 The Berg River No access
    2. 5.1.1.2 Existing management structures No access
    3. 5.1.1.3 Ecological and economic importance No access
    4. 5.1.1.4 Human interaction No access
    5. 5.1.1.5 Water quality challenges No access
    6. 5.1.1.6 Community engagement No access
  2. 5.1.2 The limitations of municipal governance for river rights No access
  3. 1. 5.1.3.1 Provincial legislative competence No access
    2. 5.1.3.2 Legislative process No access
    3. 5.1.3.3 Judicial review No access
    4. 5.1.3.4 Supporting instruments No access
  4. 1. 5.1.4.1 Provincial legislation No access
    2. 5.1.4.2 Inter-municipal coordination No access
    3. 5.1.4.3 Political will and timing No access
    4. 5.1.4.4 Proposed guardians of the Berg River No access
  5. 1. 5.1.5.1 Guardian Council No access
    2. 5.1.5.2 Location No access
    3. 5.1.5.3 Funding and resources No access
    4. 5.1.5.4 Legal personhood No access
    5. 5.1.5.5 Legal standing and advocacy No access
    6. 5.1.5.6 Ubuntu as a grounding principle No access
2. 5.2 Discussion No access
1. 6.1 Introduction: revisiting the research aim and objectives No access
2. 6.2 Key findings from South Africa No access
3. 6.3 Global lessons No access
4. 6.4 The Berg River pilot: a practical pathway No access
5. 6.5 Normative underpinnings and justice dimensions No access
6. 6.6 Final reflections No access
Annexure 1: The (Proposed) Western Cape Berg River Rights Act No access Pages 317 - 336
Table of cases No access Pages 337 - 342
Table of international instruments and legislation No access Pages 343 - 346
References No access Pages 347 - 412