Makungo, R.Madzivhandila, T.Musetsho, K. D.Mphaphuli, Phindulo2025-10-162025-10-162025-09-05Mphaphuli, P. 2025. Assessing sustainable water, energy and food nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River catchments areas, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. . .https://univendspace.univen.ac.za/handle/11602/3017MESHWRDepartment of Hydrology and Water ResourcesThe water-energy-food (WEF) nexus aids in comprehending the complex and ever-evolving connections between these three essential resources. Climate change and slow economic growth are triggering an increase in pressure on global WEF resources. These present an increase in levels of trade-offs and conflicts among the three resources. The implementation of the WEF nexus can improve resource security and promote sustainable development. However, its widespread adoption has been limited due to the absence of concrete strategies for its practical application. This study assessed the status of WEF nexus smart technologies, innovation and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River Catchments Areas, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Subsequently, face-to-face surveys were undertaken from 9 July to 30 November 2022 for individual households and focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted within communities under the Luvuvhu River Catchment Areas (Sambandou, Malavuwe and Tshakhuma); and Nzhelele River Catchment Areas (Siloam, Phadzima and Khalavha). A random sampling technique was utilized to select 93 households from a total of 180 targeted households. Key Informant Interviews (KII) were conducted with representatives from the local Department of Water and Sanitation, Eskom, the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as local radio stations. During these interviews, data was collected through interview-administered questionnaires. The data obtained from the questionnaires was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29, which facilitated the generation of response frequencies. Additionally, the ArcGIS Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) spatial interpolation method was employed for spatial analysis. The results indicated that the sustainability of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus depends on the resilience of each resource individually as well as within their respective sectors. The use of water and food smart innovations and practices was found to be slightly higher in the Nzhelele River Catchments Areas than it is in the Luvuvhu River Catchment Areas, with 55.9% (n= 55) and 38.7% (n= 36) of the respondents within the Nzhelele area and 47.3% (n= 44) and 31.2% (n= 29) in the Luvuvhu area using water and food smart innovations and practices, respectively. Moreover, the use of energy innovations and practices was found to be slightly lower in the Nzhelele area s (53.8%; n= 50) than it is in the Luvuvhu areas (59.1%; n= 55). However, most of the respondents in both study areas did not understand how WEF nexus works, whereas some practiced it based on the little knowledge they got from schools, workplaces and the internet. Results from assessing the influence of hydrology on the use of WEF Nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices showed that hydrology is a foundational element in the WEF Nexus as hydrological factors such as water quality, temperature variability and annual rainfall are very crucial in WEF Nexus, influencing the use of smart innovations and practices that could in turn improve the well-being of residents, the productivity of local agricultural and food systems while enhancing the sustainable management of water, energy, and food resources. The study results show that the use of water, energy and food in areas around Luvuvhu River Catchment and Nzhelele River Catchment are significantly impacted by hydrology. It was also noted that a significant percentage (90%) of the respondents reported that they depend on agriculture for survival, which is highly affected by hydrological conditions. Knowledge about the WEF nexus needs to be transferred to people in rural areas through awareness and education. The results of this study can serve as a useful reference for developing regions to improve management of resources, facilitate sustainable development, and fill the existing knowledge gaps towards understanding how promising the WEF nexus innovations and practices are, and how these can be realized at the local community and household levels. Thus, potentially reducing the shortage of WEF resources.1 online resource (xiii, 192 leaves)enUniversity of VendaWEF NexusWEF Innovations and PracticeUCTDSmart TechnologyRiver Catchment AreasResources ManagementDissertationMphaphuli P. Assessing sustainable water, energy and food nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River catchments areas, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. []. , 2025 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from:Mphaphuli, P. (2025). <i>Assessing sustainable water, energy and food nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River catchments areas, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa</i>. (). . Retrieved fromMphaphuli, Phindulo. <i>"Assessing sustainable water, energy and food nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River catchments areas, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa."</i> ., , 2025.TY - Dissertation AU - Mphaphuli, Phindulo AB - The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus aids in comprehending the complex and ever-evolving connections between these three essential resources. Climate change and slow economic growth are triggering an increase in pressure on global WEF resources. These present an increase in levels of trade-offs and conflicts among the three resources. The implementation of the WEF nexus can improve resource security and promote sustainable development. However, its widespread adoption has been limited due to the absence of concrete strategies for its practical application. This study assessed the status of WEF nexus smart technologies, innovation and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River Catchments Areas, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Subsequently, face-to-face surveys were undertaken from 9 July to 30 November 2022 for individual households and focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted within communities under the Luvuvhu River Catchment Areas (Sambandou, Malavuwe and Tshakhuma); and Nzhelele River Catchment Areas (Siloam, Phadzima and Khalavha). A random sampling technique was utilized to select 93 households from a total of 180 targeted households. Key Informant Interviews (KII) were conducted with representatives from the local Department of Water and Sanitation, Eskom, the local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as local radio stations. During these interviews, data was collected through interview-administered questionnaires. The data obtained from the questionnaires was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29, which facilitated the generation of response frequencies. Additionally, the ArcGIS Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) spatial interpolation method was employed for spatial analysis. The results indicated that the sustainability of the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus depends on the resilience of each resource individually as well as within their respective sectors. The use of water and food smart innovations and practices was found to be slightly higher in the Nzhelele River Catchments Areas than it is in the Luvuvhu River Catchment Areas, with 55.9% (n= 55) and 38.7% (n= 36) of the respondents within the Nzhelele area and 47.3% (n= 44) and 31.2% (n= 29) in the Luvuvhu area using water and food smart innovations and practices, respectively. Moreover, the use of energy innovations and practices was found to be slightly lower in the Nzhelele area s (53.8%; n= 50) than it is in the Luvuvhu areas (59.1%; n= 55). However, most of the respondents in both study areas did not understand how WEF nexus works, whereas some practiced it based on the little knowledge they got from schools, workplaces and the internet. Results from assessing the influence of hydrology on the use of WEF Nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices showed that hydrology is a foundational element in the WEF Nexus as hydrological factors such as water quality, temperature variability and annual rainfall are very crucial in WEF Nexus, influencing the use of smart innovations and practices that could in turn improve the well-being of residents, the productivity of local agricultural and food systems while enhancing the sustainable management of water, energy, and food resources. The study results show that the use of water, energy and food in areas around Luvuvhu River Catchment and Nzhelele River Catchment are significantly impacted by hydrology. It was also noted that a significant percentage (90%) of the respondents reported that they depend on agriculture for survival, which is highly affected by hydrological conditions. Knowledge about the WEF nexus needs to be transferred to people in rural areas through awareness and education. The results of this study can serve as a useful reference for developing regions to improve management of resources, facilitate sustainable development, and fill the existing knowledge gaps towards understanding how promising the WEF nexus innovations and practices are, and how these can be realized at the local community and household levels. Thus, potentially reducing the shortage of WEF resources. DA - 2025-09-05 DB - ResearchSpace DP - Univen KW - WEF Nexus KW - WEF Innovations and Practice KW - Smart Technology KW - River Catchment Areas KW - Resources Management LK - https://univendspace.univen.ac.za PY - 2025 T1 - Assessing sustainable water, energy and food nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River catchments areas, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa TI - Assessing sustainable water, energy and food nexus smart innovations, technologies and practices in Luvuvhu and Nzhelele River catchments areas, Vhembe District Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa UR - ER -