Noxolo Ngema ^* Sijekula Mbanga Ayoade Adeniran Emmanuel Kabundu

• Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Water is essential for human survival, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.Rural South Africa struggles with providing reliable and clean water due to infrastructural inadequacies, climate variability, and historical disparities. This study proposes a sustainability model that integrates indigenous and modern water supply systems to address these challenges and promote sustainable development in rural settlements. Using a mixed-methods approach within a positivist framework, data was collected through document analysis, self-administered surveys, and structured interviews from various stakeholders in four rural settlements in the Joe Gqabi and Gert Sibande District Municipalities. The study aims to assess water accessibility and reliability, explore the impact of water scarcity on rural poverty, investigate water infrastructure availability, and evaluate the effects of water supply on health and education. Findings reveal that poor water infrastructure and irregular supply disrupt daily life, education, and healthcare services. Contaminated water poses health risks, leading to waterborne diseases. Socio-economic impacts include exacerbated poverty and challenges for female students maintaining menstrual hygiene. The proposed model combines indigenous methods like rainwater harvesting and groundwater recharge with modern technologies. This approach, tailored to local contexts, emphasizes the need for increased investment, integrated planning, and enhanced capacity in water management.