An Integrated Communication Framework for the Department of Water and Sanitation

Abstract

Water governance challenges in post-apartheid South Africa demand sophisticated communication approaches that transcend traditional bureaucratic methods. This investigation proposes an integrated communication framework for stakeholder management in the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and its diverse stakeholder ecosystem. Adopting an interpretivist paradigm, qualitative methods were employed. These included semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Data collection focused specifically on external stakeholder engagement with the DWS. Thematic analysis yielded five critical themes: stakeholder identification complexities; trust-building imperatives; communication fragmentation challenges; ethical partnership requirements; and framework development necessities. Freeman’s (1984) stakeholder theory provided theoretical grounding, while Niemann’s (2005) integrated communication model informed framework development. Findings illuminated significant gaps between theoretical communication principles and operational realities in South African water governance. The investigation culminated in a proposed six-component integrated communication framework that addresses systematic stakeholder mapping, ethical engagement platforms, vertical-horizontal integration mechanisms, strategic communication drivers, and environmental alignment. This contribution advances theoretical understanding of integrated communication within resource-constrained public sector environments while offering practical guidance for enhancing democratic a