A Socio-Environmental History of Water in the Karoo C.1762-2012, with Specific Focus on Prince Albert and Williston
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A Socio-Environmental History of Water in the Karoo c.1762-2012, with specific focus on Prince Albert and Williston. Nina Kruger Thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts (History) in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Prof. Sandra S. Swart March 2013 Stellenbosch Univeristy http://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (save to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that the reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe on any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Signature: .. .............. Date: ... /~. -~~ t'1~flrJ.. ?0/!3. ........ Copyright© 2012 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved ii Stellenbosch Univeristy http://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract This study examines the history of water in two small Karoo towns. The main argument of the thesis is that the availability of and access to water has played influential roles in the development of Williston and Prince Albert. The ambitions of this thesis are three-fold: firstly, the approach is socio-environmental history and therefore it provides insight into the environmental as well as the social history of the resource in each region. It consciously reflects on the notion of power and explores the manner in which access to water was racialised by authorities in each town. Secondly, this thesis provides insight into the technological and legislative water supply and development of sanitation at both settlements, which is outlined in a broader national development to contextualise the local trajectories. Thirdly, through personal narratives it offers an ethnographic analysis of mind-sets such as fatalism and hopefulness in the face of extreme climatic conditions are examined. The experiences of the socially marginalised and underrepresented are intended to challenge the whiggish celebration of anthropogenic ascendancy over nature in the historiography. iii Stellenbosch Univeristy http://scholar.sun.ac.za Opsomming Hierdie studie ondersoek die geskiedenis van water in twee klein Karoo dorpies. The hoof argument van die tesis is dat die beskikbaarheid van en toegang tot water bepalende rolle gespeel het in die ontwikkeling van Williston en Prins Albeit. Die doelstellings van hierdie tesis is drievoudig: eerstens, is die benadering sosio-omgewingsgeskiedenis en verskaf dit dus insig oor die omgewings- sowel as die sosiale geskiedenis van hierdie natuurlike hulpbron in elke streek. Hierdie werk weerspieel doelbewus die idee van mag en ondersoek die wyse waarop toegang tot water deur die dorpsowerhede rasbevooroordeeld was. Tweedens, verskaf hierdie tesis insig oor die water toevoer en die ontwikkeling van sanitere geriewe in beide nedersettings, waama die plaaslike ontwikkeling gesien word binne ' n breer nasionale konteks. Derdens word daar deur middel van persoonlike vertellings gekyk na die opkoms van etnografiese ingesteldhede soos fatalisme en hoop wanneer uiterste klimaatstoestande in die gesig gestaar word. Die ervannge van die sosiaal gemarginaliseerde en die onderverteenwoordigde groepe word uitgelig ten einde die liberate viering van antropogeniese dorninasie oor die natuur uit te daag. iv Stellenbosch Univeristy http://scholar.sun.ac.za Acknowledgements Writing this thesis has been the biggest challenge of my life and it would not have been possible to complete it without support along the way. Firstly, I would like to express my deepest gratitude towards my supervisor, Sandra Swart. She pushed me to my limits, made me a priority throughout the year and put a great deal of energy, wisdom and thought into my work. Thank you. Without your guidance and support, I would never have believed in myself to make it this far. This thesis would be lacking if it were not for the interviewees who gave so freely of their time, shared their memories and took an interest in my work. Thank you. Thank you to my fellow HFM'ers (near and far) for all your advice and comments. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this wonderful group. To my friends who are spread across the globe - for all your text messages, phone calls, treats, and series to keep me sane, thank you. Thank you to my parents, Jan and Nell Kruger - your critical eyes greatly improved the language and style of my work. Thank you also to all my family for the unending motivation and for keeping me grounded. Thank you for having faith in my abilities. I dedicate my work to my parents and the late J. H. Swart- for their love of the Karoo. v Stellenbosch Univeristy http://scholar.sun.ac.za Table of Contents Abstract. .. .... .. ...... .... .. .................. .... .. .................. ...... ...... ............ ...... ...... ............ ...... ...... ......... .iii Opsomming.............................................................................................................................. .iv Acknowledgements ............... ..................................... ...... ...... ............ ............ ............ ...... ...... .... v Table of Contents...................................................................................................................... vi Table of lliustrations ........... .. ...................... .. ................ ............................................................. x Chapter One: "Mainstreaming" Water History- Historiography and Methodology..... ! 1.1 Environmental History ..... .......................................................................... .. ........................ 3 1.2 Water History within South Africa...................................................................................... 6 1.3 Methodology ...................................................................................................................... 11 1.4 Water Law in South Africa to 181 2 ..................................... .. ..... .. ........................ ............. 12 1.5 Water and Health Management: 1827-1906 ... ............. .. ........ .. .... .. .... .. .... .. .................... .... 14 1.6 Water Legislation in the Union of South Africa: 1912-1998 ............................................. 16 1.7 Chapter Layout. ...................................................... .. ...................... .. ...................... .. .......... 20 1.8 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 21 Chapter Two: Prince Albert and Williston: The Tale of Two Towns c.1762 to the present..................... ................................................................................................................ 22 2. 1 The People and Geography of the Great Karoo ................................................................. 24 2.2 From Kweekvallei to Prince Albert.. .. ............ ........... ...... ...... ............. ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .. 28 2.3 "The Lifeblood ofth e Village" ........................................................................................... 33 2.4 From an Amandelboom to Williston ................. ............. ............ ......................... ............ ... 36 vi Stellenbosch Univeristy http://scholar.sun.ac.za 2.5 The End of the Line .................................. ............ ...... ...... ............ ....... ...... ............ ...... ...... 38 2.6 The Sak River. ......... .... .. .... .. .. .... ...... .... .. ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... .....40 2.7 Comparative Conditions .............................. ....................................................................... 42 2.8 Conclusions .. .......... .. ...... ....... .......... .. .................. ............ ...... ...... ...... ...... ............ ............ ... 44 Chapter Three: White Water? -Race, Class and the State in Williston Sanitation, Irrigation and Water c.1870 to 1983 .....................................................................................4 6 3.1 Windmills, Wire-fencing and Water Works: 1870s-1880s ............................................... .47 3.2 The Public Health Amendment Act of 1897 .. ........... ............ ...... ................... ...... ............. .49 3.3 Water Supply, Sanitation and Settlements: 1900-1910 .................. .......... .......... .... .. .......... 51 3.4 Latrines and Land: 1910-1913 ........................................................................................... 56 3.5 Rigid Regulations and Court Rulings: 1915-1924 .. .. ...... ...... ...... ...... .... .. ............ ...... ..... .. .. 59 3.6 Drought Distress and Dual-Pails: 1927-1931.. ........ ...... .................. ......................... .......... 61 3.7 Sanitation, Supply and Typhoid Fever: 1933-1946 ........................................................... 64 3.8 Williston Voters and Registered Rainfa11.. ... .. .. ....... ...... ...... .. .. .... .. ......... ...... .. .. .... .. ........ .... 68 3.9 State Assistance to the Development of Irrigation .. .... .... .. .. ...... .................. ...... .... .. ........... 70 3.10 Natural Limitations and Artificial Recharge .................................................................... 72 3.1 1 Conclusions .......... .. ......................