GGH4805
Assignment 3
Due 11 August 2025
, ASSIGNMENT 03: THE GEOGRAPHY OF PEOPLE-RESOURCE INTERACTION IN
THE GLOBAL SOUTH
Student Name:
Student Number:
Due Date: Monday, 11 August 2025, 11:00 PM
1. Introduction to a challenge regarding resource use in your local area
In Khayelitsha, Cape Town, water insecurity is an ongoing problem tied to both natural
and man-made conditions. As one of the largest informal settlements in South Africa,
with a population exceeding 400,000, Khayelitsha faces persistent water access
limitations. Many residents rely on communal standpipes, shared among dozens of
households, and deal with irregular water supply, especially during maintenance
outages or drought. This is a daily challenge that affects sanitation, health, food
preparation, and overall dignity. During Cape Town’s Day Zero crisis in 2018, the
situation in Khayelitsha was especially dire an indication that the urban poor are hit
hardest by ecological stressors.
The challenge is not merely the availability of water, but the quality, delivery system, and
the institutional failure to upgrade informal infrastructure in a growing population.
2. Specific examples to apply the concepts of environment, economy and society
To demonstrate integrated geographical thinking, apply the three-pillar model:
Environment:
Water access is severely limited by environmental degradation. Poor drainage, waste
dumping in canals, and untreated greywater disposal pollute groundwater and surface
runoff. During floods, sewage mixes with stormwater, causing outbreaks of waterborne
disease. Climate change has also impacted rainfall patterns, intensifying periods of
drought. The environmental system in Khayelitsha is under stress and lacks resilience.
Economy:
Many households live on less than R1,500/month, which limits their ability to pay for
bottled water or invest in home sanitation. Water infrastructure maintenance costs are
Assignment 3
Due 11 August 2025
, ASSIGNMENT 03: THE GEOGRAPHY OF PEOPLE-RESOURCE INTERACTION IN
THE GLOBAL SOUTH
Student Name:
Student Number:
Due Date: Monday, 11 August 2025, 11:00 PM
1. Introduction to a challenge regarding resource use in your local area
In Khayelitsha, Cape Town, water insecurity is an ongoing problem tied to both natural
and man-made conditions. As one of the largest informal settlements in South Africa,
with a population exceeding 400,000, Khayelitsha faces persistent water access
limitations. Many residents rely on communal standpipes, shared among dozens of
households, and deal with irregular water supply, especially during maintenance
outages or drought. This is a daily challenge that affects sanitation, health, food
preparation, and overall dignity. During Cape Town’s Day Zero crisis in 2018, the
situation in Khayelitsha was especially dire an indication that the urban poor are hit
hardest by ecological stressors.
The challenge is not merely the availability of water, but the quality, delivery system, and
the institutional failure to upgrade informal infrastructure in a growing population.
2. Specific examples to apply the concepts of environment, economy and society
To demonstrate integrated geographical thinking, apply the three-pillar model:
Environment:
Water access is severely limited by environmental degradation. Poor drainage, waste
dumping in canals, and untreated greywater disposal pollute groundwater and surface
runoff. During floods, sewage mixes with stormwater, causing outbreaks of waterborne
disease. Climate change has also impacted rainfall patterns, intensifying periods of
drought. The environmental system in Khayelitsha is under stress and lacks resilience.
Economy:
Many households live on less than R1,500/month, which limits their ability to pay for
bottled water or invest in home sanitation. Water infrastructure maintenance costs are
