Community leaders in informal settlements play a crucial role in shaping residents’ water access, especially where formal provision is inadequate. These water deficiencies make this leadership role multifaceted, as some leaders work to improve access for the broader community while others exploit scarcity for personal gain. Through a comparison of two settlements with contrasting leadership dynamics – Empolweni and Imizamo Yethu – this study shows how leadership quality, source of authority, transparency, and strategic actions can either facilitate or obstruct water provision, making community leadership a central determinant of whether informal settlements residents do or do not secure reliable water access. Drawing on qualitative data from field observations, household interviews, and interviews with community leaders, municipal officials, and ward councillors, the study offers insights to guide key-stakeholders seeking to design effective water interventions that respond to settlement-level political realities and community needs.
Bukiwe Ntwana (2026) studied this question.