In our premiere episode, we unpack how water law shapes African viticulture — from South Africa’s transition from colonial riparian rights to the modern public trust model, to Ethiopia’s state-centric water rights regime. We explore legal design, administrative capacity, and what water governance means for farm survival.

Highlights: • National Water Act & public trust doctrine (SA) • Existing Lawful Use (ELU) • Water Resources Management Proclamation (Ethiopia) • Dryland viticulture & legal scarcity

Legal Citations & Sources

South Africa

• National Water Act 36 of 1998 — establishes public trust doctrine for water
• Existing Lawful Use (ELU) — transitional water use entitlements
• Administrative gov ...