Intersecting inequalities: A household-level WEF nexus assessment in Thabo Mofutsanyane district, South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38140/ijrcs-2026.vol8.1.02Keywords:
Water access index, natural resource, water energy, food nexus, ecological intensity, energy access indexAbstract
Sustainable resource management remains markedly uneven in South Africa’s climate-sensitive, semi-arid regions, where ecological stress intersects with persistent socioeconomic inequality. Although the Water–Energy–Food (WEF) nexus is increasingly promoted as an integrated framework, limited empirical evidence exists on how household-level resource access and climate perceptions interact across rural and urban settings. This study addresses that gap through an index-based WEF nexus assessment in the Thabo Mofutsanyane District of the Eastern Free State. A cross-sectional survey of 400 households was conducted across four ecologically diverse towns: Phuthadjithaba, Ladybrand, Marquard, and Vrede, using multi-stage sampling. Three composite indices were developed and standardised (0–1 scale): the Water Access Index (WAI), Energy Access Index (EAI), and Natural Resource Use Index (NRUI). Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests (a = 0.05), and multiple linear regression models. The results reveal significant urban–rural disparities in education, household size, housing type, and formal water access (p < 0.05). Water source and drought perception significantly predict WAI; education and climate perception influence EAI; while settlement type, gender of household head, and rainfall awareness shape NRUI (p < 0.05). These findings highlight clear socio-spatial inequalities and underscore the need for integrated, context-specific resource governance to enhance resilience in semi-arid regions.
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