Hydropolitical-based fragility in the Free State Province: A case study for South Africa within social contract and actor - network theories.

The Free State Province is a text book case study for hydropolitical fragility in South Africa. The article investigates fragility in the province that is induced by the poor management of water resources within the framework of economic, environmental, political, security and societal dimensions. The study takes place within a theoretical background of the social contract and actor-network theories that are uniquely combined to complement each other since water related state societal relations are linked through a network of human and non-human actors. The article looks at the various factors that impact on hydropolitical fragility in the Free State Province that include a cadre – based administration, corruption, ageing and leaking infrastructure, poor financial administration and regional security issues. These aspects impact on the lives and livelihoods of residents in the province and contribute to increasing political unrest, disinvestment, unemployment, and poverty. Suggestions are made regarding the mitigation of the sources and impacts of hydropolitical fragility that threaten the current stability and political order in the province and country.