Addressing Climate Vulnerability in South Africa’s Neglected Communities

Looking at South Africa, one might not believe that apartheid ended thirty years ago. The country continues to grapple with the social and economic inequalities that are the legacy of apartheid, particularly affecting the black population. Apartheid policies, which systematically segregated people based on race and restricted access to housing, resulted in the over-representation of black households in informal settlements characterised by overcrowding, poverty, and a lack of basic services such as water, sanitation, and electricity—conditions that persist to this day. The majority of informal settlements are located on land unsuitable for residential development and highly vulnerable to environmental hazards.

South Africa is currently facing a climate change crisis, evident in the frequent and intense rise in temperatures, droughts, floods, and heatwaves. This is not solely an environmental issue; it also has profound socio-economic consequences. In a country that consistently ranks as one of the most unequal in the world, climate change exacerbates these disparities and makes them even more visible in the most devastating ways. The poor, marginalised, and vulnerable members of our society are disproportionately affected and have little to no means of mitigating the effects of climate change.

Access to essential services—including clean water, electricity, dependable drainage systems, adequate housing, and reliable roads—is restricted in many South African rural communities and peri-urban informal settlements. Consequently, these communities are vulnerable during climate-induced disasters because they lack adequate infrastructure. The devastation caused by the 2022 floods in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), which disproportionately affected the poor in informal settlements located on riverbanks and in low-lying zones, serves as a stark testament to this vulnerability. For instance, the 2022 floods devastated the Reservoir Hills informal settlement in KwaZulu-Natal, destroying 100 shacks overnight and leaving many residents missing or homeless.

The flood reportedly claimed 448 lives, and at least two babies were seen being swept away by the water, with many people still missing. The floods also destroyed homes, displacing approximately 40,000 people—many from informal settlements. Climate change has exacerbated the challenges facing South Africa’s informal settlements, revealing just how hazardous life is for a majority of South Africans. The most vulnerable people in our society must be prioritised in all climate-related adaptation and mitigation planning by the government.

To build resilience in South African communities, infrastructure gaps need to be addressed through the cooperation and coordination of capable local governments. Climate change adaptation and mitigation should be at the forefront of municipal planning for both rural and urban areas. Furthermore, when addressing issues in informal settlements, we must proceed with care—understanding when to provide basic services to transform these regions into livable communities, and when relocation to safer areas is the better option.

The critical need for basic services is starkly illustrated by South Africa’s water crisis, which has now become a human rights crisis, with people lacking access to essential services such as water. Residents in rural communities in the Eastern Cape, among many others, often have to travel long distances (10km–20km) to collect water for drinking from dams and rivers—competing with animals such as cows, horses, and donkeys.

These water sources pose serious risks, being contaminated with animal waste and used for bathing and laundry. The tragic death of a 25-year-old woman who was killed by a crocodile while doing laundry at a river in Limpopo underscores the severity of the crisis. We would be mistaken to believe that the water crisis has peaked, as climate change threatens to make the situation even worse. As the famous saying in Mzansi goes, “kusazoshuba”—things will still get worse for some people. Already, regions in South Africa have experienced severe droughts and heatwaves, particularly in the Eastern Cape and Cape Town, which have depleted water reserves, including rivers and dams. While some residents are able to buy bottled water to survive, not everyone can afford to do so. In addition, while many Eastern Cape villagers have tried to purchase JoJo tanks with money from their own pockets, these efforts are being undermined by severe droughts. Residents of Mbizana village in the Eastern Cape reported that their emergency tanks—provided by the national government—were empty, and the first and last time they held water was during their initial delivery. Moreover, many people in rural areas—mostly women—must travel long distances under the scorching sun during heatwaves, putting their health at serious risk.

As temperatures rise, the World Meteorological Organization has confirmed that 2024 was the hottest year globally since the late 19th century. This year also marked the first time the planet surpassed the 1.5°C warming threshold. Consequently, heat-related illnesses—such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke—and worsened pre-existing conditions are expected to increase. South Africa’s healthcare system faces severe challenges, including under-resourcing, poor governance, and inequities in access and quality. Although the government’s National Health Insurance strategy aims to provide affordable personal healthcare services to all citizens, how does it address the needs of rural communities that lack access to nearby health facilities? As the climate change crisis worsens, already overburdened healthcare resources in rural areas will be placed under even greater strain.

The government should prioritise the provision of public services, including healthcare, instead of outsourcing these responsibilities to the private sector. It must invest in building its capacity to deliver basic services—such as water and healthcare—effectively. More healthcare facilities must be built near rural communities to ensure they are equipped to address the health effects of climate change. Lastly, we must not forget to prioritise the locations and people often overlooked by the government—except during election season—when climate change issues and solutions are being discussed in South Africa.

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Lupumlo Ngcukana is an aspiring developmental economist with academic training from Rhodes University, experience at the Institute for Economic Justice and ACCESS, and published work on South Africa’s energy policy and intergenerational climate dialogue.

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