Land reform and livelihood among subsistence farmers in Great Kei local municipality, South Africa
- Authors: Bani, Tida Witness
- Date: 2018
- Subjects: Land reform Subsistence farming Sustainable development
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/12870 , vital:39386
- Description: Land reform, as enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, aims to foster conditions which enable citizens to gain access to land on equitable basis. Section 25(6) of the constitution states that ‘a person or community whose tenure of land is legally insecure as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practice is entitled, to the extent provided by an Act of Parliament, either to tenure, which is legally secure, or comparable redress. In addition, section 25(7) states that a person or community dispossessed of property after 19 June 1913 as a result of past racially discriminatory laws or practices is entitled to the extent provided by an Act of Parliament, either to restitution of that property or to equitable redress. Within this context, this study assessed the impact of land reform on the livelihoods of subsistence farmers in Great Kei Local Municipality. The study adopted a qualitative approach in order to get an in-depth understanding of the farming activities of land reform beneficiaries, the contribution of farming activities to agro-based sustainable livelihoods and the general challenges faced by subsistence farmers. The sample comprised of thirty (30) farmers, two focus group discussions which comprised of six (6) farmers each and five key informants from the Department of Rural development and Agrarian Reform, a councillor and a community leader from the local municipality. The study found that most farmers who were allocated land were from different disadvantaged backgrounds. Many of the farmers came from farming backgrounds hence they had the requisite skills and knowledge. Those with relatively limited knowledge and skills were technically supported and subsequently improved their production and livelihoods. Those farmers that were trained in various farming aspects did well as they improved production. However, it was found that those farmers that did not receive training and adequate support yielded negative results in both crop and animal production. Drought has been another major contributor in the decline of the production. It was also found that the post settlement grants, such as Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and Recapitalization and Agricultural Development, are not enough and regular for infrastructural development on the farms.
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An appraisal of the role of the National Rural Youth Service Corps in youth development in peri-urban Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa
- Authors: Noruka, Asanda
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Youth -- Employment Youth development -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5795 , vital:29395
- Description: Youth unemployment is a global problem, but more-so in Southern globally positioned countries such as South Africa. The government of South Africa has implemented different interventions that attempt to alleviate national youth unemployment. Some of these programmes, such as the National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC), specifically target youth in rural and peri-urban areas. NARYSEC aims to develop skills of the youth in rural and peri-urban areas as well as assist in rural development. Despite the introduction of NARYSEC, unemployment among the youth continues to be a problem. Against this background, this study sought to examine rural youth and development interventions implemented by NARYSEC in peri-urban Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Furthermore, the study assessed the extent to which NARYSEC interventions are contributing to rural youth and development in peri-urban Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality. Lastly, the study examined the limitations of NARYSEC interventions in peri-urban youth development. To achieve the above objectives, the study used a qualitative research approach. The sampling procedure was purposive as the research required specific participants who have gone through NARYSEC training. A total of 24 respondents were eventually selected. In-depth, semi-structured interviews and key informant interviews were the primary data collection tools. Some of the main findings are that NARYSEC provides various skills training programmes which prepare young people for the labour market. NARYSEC interventions are also helping communities to reduce crime through providing youth employment opportunities. Furthermore, some youth actively participate in rural development projects such as rehabilitation of local clinics and construction projects. However, the study also found that there are a number of limitations and challenges that are experienced in the implementation of the NARYSEC programme. These challenges include lack of strategic planning in the programme, irregular stipend payments, strained professional relationships between NARYSEC programme facilitators and youth participants, limited passion and commitment to the programme by both youth participants and facilitators.
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Climate change mitigation and resilience by four major supermarkets in East London, South Africa
- Authors: Sibanda, Patience
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Climate change mitigation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Agriculture -- Environmental aspects
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5406 , vital:29231
- Description: Climate change is a human development challenge. Its negative impacts have the potential to reverse the human development gains made in Africa. South Africa, just like many other countries in the Global South, is being negatively affected by climate change. The country`s economy is largely dependent on agriculture, extractive industries and manufacturing, all of which are vulnerable to climate change in different ways. This vulnerability means different public and private stakeholders must institute sustainable climate change mitigation and adaptation measures so as to ameliorate climate change impacts. Gradually transforming to an environmentally friendly ‘green economy’ and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions are some of South Africa’s climate change mitigation priorities. Just like the public sector, the private sector has a major role to play in this transition to a low carbon economy through minimising its carbon emissions in their operations. Against this background, this qualitative research examines the role played by four major supermarkets (Shoprite, Spar, Pick n Pay and Woolworths), in climate change mitigation and resilience building. It does so through an appraisal of their mitigation and resilience programs. The four supermarkets were purposively selected in East London, Eastern Cape. Data collection combined heavy reliance on desktop discourse analysis with field interviews in the form of purposively sampled key informant interviews. The results show that the four major supermarkets are implementing a variety of climate change mitigation and resilience strategies. These include reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, prioritisation of renewable energy, recycling and environmentally friendly packaging, promotion of sustainable ways of farming and improved fuel efficiency in their transport systems. In terms of policy improvement, the study recommends that there is need for supermarkets to learn from each other’s’ climate change mitigation initiatives so as to advance South Africa’s ‘green economy’ agenda.
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Eco-tourism and sustainable rural livelihoods in Hogsback, Eastern Cape, South Africa
- Authors: Pikirai, Kelvin Tinashe
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Ecotourism -- Economic aspects -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Community development -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5510 , vital:29298
- Description: This study investigates the livelihoods impacts of eco-tourism in Hogsback, the extent to which local community members are effectively participating in eco-tourism activities as well as the negative implications of ecotourism in Hogsback. A qualitative research methodology was employed in order to have a deeper understanding of the issues under study. Simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select respondents. In-depth semi structured interviews were used to collect data from 40 respondents and 6 key informants. The study established that eco-tourism activities help mainly individuals rather than the whole community at large and those who benefit; it improves their lives as well as benefiting the economy of the country. This study also found out that the government plays a role to promote development of ecotourism in the community, this is through infrastructure development and providing services for tourism. Lastly the study found out that there are conflicts over ownership of eco-tourism activities, limited funds in promotion of eco-tourism activities and that there is no eco-tourism development strategy. The study recommends that the government of South Africa should design and implement a comprehensive eco-tourism development strategy that puts people at the core.
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Informal urbanism : an appraisal of socio-legal and economic dynamics in East London, South Africa
- Authors: Sibanda, Phaxenda Maxwell
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Street vendors -- Legal status, laws, etc Informal sector (Economics) -- Law and legislation -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5763 , vital:29381
- Description: Many cities and towns in the Global South continue to experience the growth of the informal sector. There are a number of reasons which explain the growth of the informal sector. These include formal sector retrenchments, shortage of jobs in the formal sector and lack of skills. Street vendors are the most visible traders in the informal sector as compared to other kind of traders. In many cities, the spaces in which vendors conduct their trading is not allocated to them legally as they are seen as a nuisance or obstruction to commerce and the free flow of traffic. Against this background, this study examines the contestation for vending in the East London Central Business District (CBD) Eastern Cape, South Africa. It specifically explores social processes and vendor decision making when it comes to choosing (or claiming) a particular vending space, the legal instruments (by-laws) that either promote or constrain informal trading activities. Furthermore, it investigates the extent to which street vending contributes to the traders‟ income generation and sustainable livelihoods. This study uses a qualitative research design. Purposive sampling was used to select thirty informal traders. In-depth semi structured interviews were conducted with all thirty respondents In addition to the thirty respondents, five key informants were interviewed. The study found that street vending plays a major role in providing BCMM people with livelihood opportunities. Trading space in the CBD is strictly competitive and the spaces they acquire are too small for their businesses to expand to another level. Vendors face a lot of challenges but at the epitome of their challenges is the vending by- laws which the vendors view as a major constraint when it comes to operating smoothly in the streets. The study suggested that vending polices and by- laws be reviewed in order to derive a better socio- economic and functional environment for vendors.
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Smallholder farmer's climate change knowledge in Ngqushwa Local Municipality, Eastern Cape : implications on coping and adaptation
- Authors: Shoko, Witness Alvis
- Date: 2017
- Subjects: Climatic changes -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Farms, Small -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Sustainable agriculture
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/6480 , vital:29744
- Description: Lack of knowledge about climate change poses a greater risk to human development in general. This study emerges from the premise that agriculture, and more specifically smallholder farmers, are the most affected by climate variability due to the type of assets they hold. Among other factors, climate change can directly and adversely impact the ability of smallholder farmers to sustain their livelihoods. Taking into consideration spatial differences across Ngqushwa Local Municipality, smallholder farmers in different areas have to understand the constraints they face that emanate from climate change. The study aimed to explore the knowledge that smallholder farmers in Ngqushwa local municipality have on climate change, strategies they utilise to cope and minimise the detrimental effects of climate change. The study also focused on climate change information sources namely, meteorological and Indigenous Knowledge (IK) that smallholder farmers have at their disposal for coping and adaptation to climate change. Furthermore, the study analyses comprehensiveness and usefulness of information that the resource-poor farmers possess. The findings of this study show that smallholder farmers in Ngqushwa local municipality access climate change information through televisions, newspapers and listening to the radio. Their knowledge of the behaviour of birds, moon, wind, and insects is also an important source of forecasting weather patterns. Recommendations from this study include the following: enhancing and widening the sources of climate change information, education encompassing the nature of climate change, networking of smallholder farmers, linking meteorological and indigenous knowledge and supplementing natural water supply.
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Recycled water usage in peri-urban agriculture : an examination of its socio-economic and environmental benefits in Port Elizabeth
- Authors: Makinana, Anazo
- Date: 2015
- Subjects: Water reuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape Water reuse -- Economic aspects -- South Africa Water reuse -- Environmental aspects -- South Africa
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSoc
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/5719 , vital:29367
- Description: This study examines whether recycled water (specifically grey water) is used in peri-urban agriculture in greater Port Elizabeth. It also investigates the socio-economic as well as environmental benefits of using recycled water in peri-urban agriculture. Community perceptions and narratives about the use of recycled water for farming purposes were also investigated. Study respondents were purposively selected from Motherwell and Uitenhage in Port Elizabeth. A qualitative research methodology and methods were used. This involved using purposive sampling to sample, select and interview 22 respondents and eight key informants. All the respondents were interviewed using in-depth semi-structured interviews. The study found that while many respondents have heard about water recycling, they are however not using recycled grey water for their peri-urban farming activities. Instead, peri-urban farmers continue to use water supplied by the municipality. Recycled water is mostly used for watering sport fields around Port Elizabeth. This continued usage of municipal water (instead of recycled water) is not only costly to the municipality but the individual farmers as well. The respondents were however aware of the benefits of using recycled water. These include economic (money saved from not paying irrigation water bills), environmental (nutrient contents found in recycled water) and socio-economic (conserving fresh available for use in other community purposes). The study recommends that the Nelson Mandela Metro Municipality should do more (through educational and environmental campaigns) to encourage peri-urban farmers to use recycled water in their farming activities.
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