Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa is rich in biodiversity among which are semi-domesticated vegetable species which are known as wild or indigenous vegetables. These wild indigenous vegetables have been reported to be good in nutritional qualities such as macro and micronutrients. However, there is still a high prevalence of malnutrition; especially micronutrient deficiencies among low or marginal income bracket of the population. The use of indigenous vegetables has been proposed as part of the solutions to the problems of micronutrient malnutrition among these populations. Indigenous vegetables are an important source of food in the maize based subsistence farming sector of rural South Africa. Their main role is as relish as they are used as an accompaniment for staple cereal based diets. They are also generally reported to be rich in micronutrients. Although they may be consumed in small quantities, they influence the intake of cereal staples, manage hunger and play a central role in household food security for the poorer rural groups. Mixing several indigenous vegetables species in one meal contributes to dietary diversity in terms of more vegetable types as well as in terms of choice of relish. For some very poor families indigenous vegetables are substitutes for some food crops. The seasonal occurrence of these vegetables leaves many families without a food source during the off-season. Indigenous vegetables increase agro-biodiversity at the household level. This agro-biodiversity helps in buffering against the accumulation and multiplication of pests and diseases and provides important cover for the soil. Further research on agronomic, social and economic dimensions is required to understand the roles of IV in subsistence farming systems in South Africa. The survey study revealed that indigenous vegetables were important in the diets of most rural people in the study area. They were consumed as relish although they were not being cultivated. Their method of acquisition was gathering from homesteads and the wild. These vegetables were also believed to be medicinal. The local naming of wild vegetables varied among villages in the same district such that a vegetable in one village was assigned to a different species of vegetable in another village. They were reportedly abundant during summer and there was a decrease in availability off-season leaving vulnerable people who rely on them with a food shortage. The utilisation of wild vegetables among South Africans is reported to be declining due to over reliance on introduced temperate species. Efforts to domesticate and cultivate wild vegetables could be hampered by several factors including seed dormancy and premature flowering. In this present study dormancy was observed in C. olitorius. The response of wild genotypes of C. olitorius with different seed sizes to various dry heat and hot water treatments was evaluated. Steeping seeds in boiling water (95oC) for ten seconds and soaking seeds in a hot water bath at 80oC for ten minutes resulted in the highest response to germination in this species. The study also recorded significant interactions between heat treatment and seed sizes. We concluded that C. olitorius seeds of different sizes require diverse durations of exposure to heat treatment methods to break dormancy caused by an impermeable seed coat. Cleome gynandra is another species that is consumed as a vegetable in various parts of the world including Africa. The plant is also used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various human diseases. Among the wild vegetables, C. gynandra has been reported to flower prematurely, a phenomenon known as bolting and common in many vegetable crops. Premature flowering (bolting) can be as a response to temperature extremes and photoperiod and affects many other leafy vegetables such as lettuce (Lactuca sativa), spinach (Spinacea oleracea) and mustard rape (Brassica juncea). Bolting leads to production losses in leaf vegetable crops as they flower before they have produced an economic yield. The removal of flowers and nitrogen application resulted in significant increases in the fresh and dry weight of cleome leaves. Removal of flowers resulted in a 46% increase in fresh weight of leaves. The observed positive response of leaf yield to removal of flowers offers a possible way to deal with the problem of bolting. The continuous removal of the flowers leads to increased utilisable leaf yield. The application of incremental amounts of nitrogen top dressing results in increased leaf yield in C. gynandra. The response of selected indigenous vegetables (Corchorus olitorius and Amaranthus cruentus) to micronutrients added to the soil was compared with the response of a reference crop; Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla). For all the levels of micronutrients applied, Swiss chard accumulated Cu, Zn and Mn in the leaves at significantly (p<0.01) higher concentrations than the wild vegetables. Variations between the vegetables in the micronutrients were greater for Zn (72–363 ppm) and Mn (97.9–285.9 ppm) for Cu (8.8–14 ppm). C. olitorius had the least capacity to concentrate Mn and Zn in the leaf, which suggested that this vegetable is a less attractive candidate for agronomic bio-fortification of these elements. However, C. olitorius accumulated Fe at a significantly higher concentration (327 ppm) in the leaves than did Amaranthus (222 ppm) or Swiss chard (295 ppm). Sulphur as a macronutrient varied little in the plant species tested. The mean S concentration in the leaves ranged from 0.26% in C. olitorius to 0.34% in Amaranthus cruentus and Swiss chard. We concluded that the different vegetables have different abilities to take up Cu and Zn in the order Swiss chard > Amaranthus > Corchorus, and that they responded to micronutrients added to the soil but only up to certain limits of supplementation. The results from this current study seem to contradict the belief that wild vegetables have the inherent ability to concentrate mineral micronutrients in their tissue. Factors such as environment, anti-nutrients, dietary diversity, plant parts, plant age, and varieties result in differences in reported nutritional composition of indigenous vegetables. Post-harvest handling, storage, cooking and preservation also alter the composition. The need to optimise protocols for each vegetable type and for different laboratories makes analysis expensive. Equipment and methods of analysis are varied and may not be comparable, making it difficult to generalise on the composition of these vegetables. The Agricultural Research Council of South Africa and other stake holders are conducting studies on some aspects of these vegetables. There are still many information gaps regarding many aspects of these vegetables which require research attention. These include; the selection and improvement of genotypes, seed biology and germination studies, agronomic (population, fertiliser, crop mixtures) studies and phyto-chemical evaluation of these important species in order to encourage the overall use of these important indigenous resources. Finally, there is need to promote their increased utilisation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid- Afrika is ryk aan biodiversiteit waaronder half-mak groente spesies, wat as wilde of inheemse groente bekend is, voorkom. Hierdie wilde inheemse groente is aangedui om goed in voedingswaarde te wees met voldoende makro-en mikrovoedingstowwe. Daar is egter nogsteeds 'n hoë voorkoms van wanvoeding, veral tekorte aan mikronutriënte onder die lae of marginale inkomstegroep van die bevolking. Die gebruik van inheemse groente word voorgestel as deel van die oplossing van die probleem van wanvoeding onder hierdie bevolkings. Inheemse groente is 'n belangrike bron van voedsel in die mielie gebaseerde bestaansboerdery sektor van landelike Suid-Afrika. Hul vernaamste rol is as smoor waar dit gebruik word tesame met stapelvoedsel in ʼn graan-gebaseerde dieet. Hierdie groentes was oor die algemeen ook aangedui om ryk te wees in mikrovoedingstowwe. Hoewel hulle verteer kan word in klein hoeveelhede, beïnvloed hulle die inname van graan stapelvoedsel, en speel 'n sentrale rol in huishoudelike voedselsekuriteit vir die armer landelike groepe. Vermenging van verskeie inheemse groente spesies in een maaltyd dra by tot die dieet diversiteit in terme van meer groentesoorte sowel as in terme van die keuse van smaak. Vir 'n paar baie arm gesinne is inheemse groentes die plaasvervanger vir gewone groente gewasse. Die seisoenale voorkoms van hierdie groente laat baie gesinne sonder 'n bron van voedsel gedurende die af-seisoen. Inheemse groente verhoog landbou-biodiversiteit op ʼn huishoudelike vlak . Hierdie landbou-biodiversiteit help buffer teen die opbou en vermeerdering van peste en siektes en bied belangrike dekking vir die grond. Verdere navorsing op akkerbou-, maatskaplike en ekonomiese aspekte is nodig om die rolle van inheemse groentes in bestaansboerdery in Suid-Afrika te verstaan. Die studie opname het getoon dat inheemse groente belangrik was in die dieet van die meeste mense van die platteland in die studie area. Hierdie groentes was gebruik as smoor hoewel hulle nie gekweek word nie. Hul metode van verkryging is deur dit te versamel van huise en die natuur. Die groentes word ook as medisinaal beskou. Die plaaslike benaming van wilde groente het gewissel tussen dorpe in dieselfde distrik, tot so 'n mate dat die benaming van groente tussen dorpe verskil. Hulle was na bewering volop in die somer, en daar was 'n afname in die beskikbaarheid af-seisoen, wat kwesbare mense, wat staatmaak op hul voorkoms, met 'n tekort aan kos laat. Die benutting van wilde groente onder Suid-Afrikaners daal as gevolg van die afhanklikheid in nuwe spsies. Pogings om te mak en wilde groente te kweek, kan belemmer word deur verskeie faktore, insluitend saaddormansie en voortydige blom. In hierdie studie was dormansie waargeneem in C. olitorius. Die reaksie van wilde genotipes van C. olitorius met verskillende saad groottes op verskeie droë hitte en warm water behandelings, was geëvalueer. Sade was geweek in kookwater ( 95oC ) vir tien sekondes en ander in 'n warm water bad by 80oC vir tien minute, en het gelei tot die hoogste reaksie op ontkieming in hierdie spesie. Die studie het ook belangrike interaksies tussen hitte behandeling en saad groottes getoon. Ons het tot die gevolgtrekking gekom dat C. olitorius sade van verskillende groottes diverse duur van blootstelling vereis en ook so m.b.t. die ondeurdringbare saadhuid. Cleome gynandra is nog 'n spesie wat as 'n groente in verskeie dele van die wêreld, insluitend Afrika verbruik word. Die plant word ook gebruik as 'n medisinale plant vir die behandeling van verskeie siektes van die mens. Onder die wilde groente, was C. gynandra aangedui om vroeg te blom, 'n verskynsel wat bekend staan as “bolting” en is algemeen in baie groente gewasse. Voortydige blom (vas) kan wees as 'n reaksie op die temperatuur uiterstes en fotoperiode en raak ook baie ander groen groente soos blaarslaai (Lactuca sativa) , spinasie (Spinacea oleracea) en mosterd (Brassica juncea ) . “Bolting” lei ook tot produksie verliese in blaar groentegewasse as hulle blom voordat hulle 'n ekonomiese opbrengs opgelewer het. Die verwydering van blomme en stikstof toediening het gelei tot 'n aansienlike toename in die vars en droë gewig van Cleome blare. Verwydering van blomme het gelei tot 'n toename van 46% in vars gewig van die blare. Die waargenome positiewe reaksie van die blaar opbrengs deur verwydering van blomme bied 'n moontlike manier om die “bolting” probleem te hanteer. Die voortdurende verwydering van die blomme lei tot verhoogde bruikbare blaar opbrengs. Die toepassing van toenemende stikstof topbemesting het verhoogde blaar opbrengs in C. gynandra tot gevolg. Die reaksie van geselekteerde inheemse groente (Corchorus olitorius en Amaranthus spp ) met mikrovoedingstowwe toegevoeg tot die grond, is in vergelyk met die reaksie van 'n verwysings gewas; spinasiebeet (Beta vulgaris var cicla . ). Vir al die vlakke van mikronutriente toegepas, was die spinasiebeet opgehoopte Cu , Zn en Mn in die blare, in beduidend (p <0.01 ) hoër konsentrasies as die wilde groente.

This research report serves to explore how women living in Tembisa, the second largest township in Johannesburg, South Africa, create and maintain highly flexible and mobile personal networks, to maximize their access to financial and social capital in order to improve individual and household resilience to food insecurity. What are the strategies that are adopted, created and manipulated in the daily lives of the food insecure in an attempt to attain a semblance of food security for themselves, their households and their communities?

This study highlights the contribution of agricultural co-operatives in promoting food security in the Nkonkobe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.Although the dawn of democracy saw the government making efforts to address food insecurity and provide solutions to the challenges related to it a lot remains to be done. As a result, food insecurity remains a fundamental concern in South Africa in particular among villagers in the Nkonkobe Local Municipality. Consequently, the study focuses on the state of Agricultural Co-operatives in the Nkonkobe Municipality and their role in food security. Therefore, this dissertation therefore discusses problems plaguing Agricultural Co-operatives in Nkonkobe. This study highlights the contribution of agricultural co-operatives in promoting food security in the Nkonkobe Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.Although the dawn of democracy saw the government making efforts to address food insecurity and provide solutions to the challenges related to it a lot remains to be done. As a result, food insecurity remains a fundamental concern in South Africa in particular among villagers in the Nkonkobe Local Municipality. Consequently, the study focuses on the state of Agricultural Co-operatives in the Nkonkobe Municipality and their role in food security. Therefore, this dissertation therefore discusses problems plaguing Agricultural Co-operatives in Nkonkobe. The qualitative methodology was used because it seeks to dig out in-depth information so as to understand the causes of food insecurity despite agricultural co-operatives and government assistance being in place. The food security situation was analysed using the sustainable livelihoods and basic needs approaches. The findings of the study reveal that agricultural co-operatives face a number of challenges. These include inadequate funds, poor market places, transport problems, shortage of farming equipment and insufficient water supply. In addition, the ability of agricultural co-operatives to make a worthy contribution to food security is being adversely hindered by poor implementation capacity and financial management. This in turn makes them unable to strengthen and expand their business operations. The study suggests that the government or the municipality should build sustainable water sources like dams as well as provide taps in the community to boost productivity all year round in the agricultural cooperatives hence guaranteeing food security in Nkonkobe Local Municipality,the Eastern Cape and South Africa at large.

Food insecurity affects as significant proportion of the world's population and hence it typically receives priority attention in global policies associated with poverty, equity and sustainable development. For example, it is the first of the Millennium Development Goals and the second of their successor, the Sustainable Development Goals. Access to sufficient and nutritious food is deemed a basic human right. The latest FAO analysis of the “State of Food Insecurity in the World 2014” reports that 805 million people (approximately 11-12% of the world's population) are chronically undernourished (i.e. do not have sufficient energy intake over a period of at least one year). In sub-Saharan Africa the prevalence remains stubbornly high at 24%, the highest in the world. Whilst most interpret food insecurity to mean an insufficient quantity of food (as measured by the number of calories consumed), the widely accepted FAO definition considers four dimensions of food security, namely quantity, quality or diversity, access and use. Provision of enough calories on a daily basis is not sufficient if the diet lacks diversity and appropriate balance to provide the full range of minerals and vitamins necessary for proper health, or if the food available is culturally unacceptable. Thus, there is a pressing need for more nuanced analyses of food security against all four of the dimensions embedded in the concept. Additionally, it is important that these be measured at more local or regional levels because national statistics can mask alarming regional discrepancies in food security, or amongst particular sectors of society, such as recent migrants, refugees, female- or child-headed households, those vulnerable to HIV/AIDS or the landless, to mention just a few. For example, at a national level South Africa is considered a food secure nation with respect to staple requirements, and access to sufficient food is enshrined in the Constitution (Section 27, subsection 1b), but nationally one in twenty (i.e. approx. 2.5 million people) go to bed hungry most nights, and 23% of children below the age of 15 are physically stunted, severely stunted or wasted, due to the long-term ill effects of insufficient food or of inadequate diversity and quality. At a subnational level, there are marked differences between rural and urban populations and even between geographic areas (for example, the prevalence of stunting amongst boys less than 15 years old is 23% in the Eastern Cape, compared to 12% in Gauteng). Once again, despite being a food secure nation, nationally 40% of the population have a dietary diversity score of four or less, which is a cut-off point signifying poor dietary diversity which makes people more vulnerable to malnutrition and ill health, and in Limpopo and Northwest provinces it is as high as 66% and 61%, respectively.

Irrigation Schemes were introduce to be hub for food production and provision of job opportunities for rural communities. The idea also focused on provision of water in most dry areas but with potential soil for production. The introduction of government food security program came as means to achieve these objectives by subsidizing farmers with inputs and mechanical operations so as to reduce cost of production. This paper analyses the social and economic impact of massive food program in changing the lives of communities at Qamata Irrigation scheme. The data were collected from households who were beneficiaries of massive food program at Qamata Irrigation scheme and analysed using a descriptive statistics. The results show that socio-economic factors which include storage facilities, access to markets channels, land acquisition and size, change in income limit the ability of farmers to produce and sell productively, since they cannot store their produce for better market prices and are also limited in terms of available market. They are forced to sell at local village level on credit or have their produce loss in poor storage facilities. Qamata irrigation scheme had limited access to formal markets and market information.

A Research Report submitted in partial fulfillment of the Degree of Master of Commerce in Economics in the School of Economic and Business Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand 2018 / The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and food security at the local municipal level in South Africa. This analysis is based on a cross sectional framework for 2016 and a panel framework over the period 2000 – 2016. Furthermore, the study utilized geospatial analysis. There is currently little to no literature deciphering the relationship between foreign direct investment and food security, in terms of the South African context. The contribution of this paper is to bridge the gap. The results show the importance of an equitable distribution of foreign direct investment, across various local municipalities in South Africa, as a means to alleviating hunger and food insecurity. More specifically, the paper has managed to highlight the fact that municipalities that receive a sufficient amount of foreign direct investment experience lower levels of hunger in comparison to the local municipalities that receive little to no foreign direct investment. / MT 2019

The objective of this research is to investigate the food security, food diversity and coping strategies used to access food in households in the Eastern Cape rural village of Timane in Idutywa, Eastern Cape, South Africa. A cross-sectional survey design was used in which a Coping Strategy Index questionnaire designed by Maxwell and Caldwell (2008) and a HDD questionnaire was used to gather data interviewing respondents. This study was conducted in the rural community of Timane which was divided into geographical groups from which household were randomly chosen. A total of 60 adults representing 60 selected households were interviewed to provide information on household dietary diversity. Data was collected on the socio-biographic and HHD parameters of households. Data was analyzed and presented as correlation, percentages, means and SDs. Up to 72% of household received state grants and the Spearman’s correlation between number of children and HDD score was r = 0.38 while that between number of adults in households and HDD score was r = -0.93. Food security in the Timane community largely depends on state grants and HDD increases moderately with the increase in children and decreases with the increase in adults per household. The majority of the households (72%) received state grants as a source of income within which old-age pensions constitute 28% and child grants 38%. The Spearman’s correlation coefficient between the number of children in households of respondents and CSI was 0.78 (P < 001) while that between the number of adults in households and CSIS was 0.2 (P < 001). Household in the rural community of Timane community were found to be food insecure and this gets severe with the increase in the number of children in households. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M. A. (Human Ecology)

Thesis (MTech (Business Administration in Project Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018. / The purpose of this study was to investigate the failure of critical Food Security Community Gardens as poverty alleviation projects in Cape Town. Community garden projects have been used as poverty alleviation many years ago and as it are today. Community garden projects provide food like, fresh vegetables, fruits, grain, and other natural products such as wood, flowers and herbs for poor communities. The unemployment rate in South Africa is an ongoing issue; however this has made the South African government to an emphasis on community garden projects. Although there has been a commitment by South African government to promote use of community garden projects to address food insecurity, however food security still remain a major developing problem in this country. The objectives of this study were to identify aspects that may contribute to failure of critical Food Security Community Gardens as poverty alleviation projects. To identify critical success factors related to community garden projects. To address the issue of food insecurity cape flats residents in Cape Town. To find a solution to failure of critical Food Security Community Gardens as poverty alleviation. A questionnaire was developed and used as a tool to acquire inputs to satisfy the research questions. This study was based on material that was collected from school, churches, clinics, and community residents. The findings were: identification of the project risk, horticultural skills, project leadership, and land tenure and water accessibility is critical for project success. Households sometimes spend a day without eating any vegetable. The households are not always got their vegetable from community garden projects. There is a lack of project leadership skills and effective communication. Community members are educated on garden skills, Opportunity are given to children to apply gardening skills, Community parks and gardens are used to share knowledge. The analysed data has led to recommendations that it is most important to identify critical success factors that are specifically to community garden projects in order to succeed. The results from the study could enable community members, professionals and assist government officials who are involved in addressing food insecurity in order to alleviate poverty.

Thesis (DPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Urban agriculture (UA) has always been practised in African urban centres. Only since the turn of the twentieth century, however, have development researchers turned their attention to its potential as a sustainable source of food security. Notwithstanding the initial optimism in this regard, many have questioned whether UA is viable and whether it does deliver the benefits that many espouse. This is because most of the benefits are evaluated in terms of their economic viability or amount of produce grown to sustain a family, and often ignore what benefits may be found beyond this. What this dissertation argues is that there are a range of physical and social benefits that accrue from UA that cannot necessarily be measured. Research on the ground suggests that the benefits of UA are more complex than supposed, as confirmed by a number of qualitative case studies on UA in Africa. Much attention is given to the food security and income dimensions of UA. There are, however, also ecological, empowerment and gender dimensions. Throughout Africa, UA is used primarily for food and economic security, through eating produce and trading it on the informal market. The economic benefits of UA, however, are least available to the poor and to women, due primarily to resource limitations, tenure insecurity and patriarchal cultures. While such findings suggest that the benefits of UA bypass those who need them most, it is found that these limitations may be overcome with support from non-governmental organisations (NGOs). NGOs play a key role in promoting sustainable livelihoods. This is achieved through injections of resources and investing in human and social capital. In Cape Town, UA has been supported by NGOs for many years. More recently, local government has supported this effort with a UA policy that legitimises public support through resource donations and the provision of land. The question this dissertation sought to investigate was to what extent UA is contributing to the livelihoods of those living in Cape Town‟s largest low-income area, the Cape Flats. As many of the UA projects in Cape Town are run by NGOs, the focus was on a selection of these projects. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were held with NGOs and cultivators throughout the Cape Flats. Four different types of cultivation feature, namely home cultivators, cultivation groups, institutional cultivators and garden centres. Home cultivators operate on a small scale on the property around their dwelling, while cultivation groups and institutional cultivators use larger tracts of land. Cultivation groups operate independently, usually on council land, while institutional cultivators cultivate on behalf of the institution whose land they use. All cultivators are supported by the NGO‟s garden centres, the administrative hub of their UA programme. The findings show that some benefits of UA relate largely to the type of UA being practised. For home cultivators, UA strengthens relationships and expands networks. Institutional plots teach children to care for the environment. The economic and food security benefits of UA are evident in formal groups, and NGO-led local garden centres play a supportive role for all cultivators. Other benefits are felt by all cultivators. For example, cultivators from all types stated that UA had taught them to eat healthily and to care for the environment, and all cultivators felt an increased sense of self-worth. Furthermore, all cultivators gave produce away to those around them. A prerequisite for these benefits, however, is successful cultivation, which is only possible with the training and support offered by the NGOs. The findings suggest that NGOs are vital both for ensuring that UA has the greatest impact in low-income areas and for avoiding the limitations of UA that are evident throughout Africa. Nevertheless, the uptake and sustainability of UA in Cape Town are limited by bureaucratic hurdles to land access, limitations of donor funding and widespread attitudes of dependency in its target areas. It is therefore likely that the expansion of UA in Cape Town will remain slow until such limitations are addressed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Stedelike landbou (SL) is nog altyd in die stedelike sentrums van Afrika beoefen. Dis egter eers sedert die begin van die twintigste eeu dat ontwikkelingsnavorsers aandag geskenk het aan SL se potensiaal as ‟n volhoubare bron van voedselsekerheid. Ondanks die aanvanklike optimisme in hierdie verband, het baie bevraagteken of SL moontlik is en of dit die voordele wat baie voorstaan, oplewer. Dit is omdat die meeste van die voordele geëvalueer is in terme van hul ekonomiese potensiaal of die opbrengs om „n familie te onderhou en ignoreer dikwels watter ander voordele daar mag wees. Wat hierdie proefskrif betoog is dat SL 'n verskeidenheid fisiese en sosiale voordele inhou, wat nie noodwendig gemeet kan word nie. Navorsing op grondvlak dui daarop dat die voordele van SL meer kompleks is as wat veronderstel word, soos bevestig deur 'n aantal kwalitatiewe gevallestudies van SL in Afrika. Baie aandag word aan die voedselsekerheid en inkomste dimensies van SL gegee. Daar is egter ook ekologiese, bemagtigings- en geslagsdimensies. Regdeur Afrika word SL hoofsaaklik vir voedselsekerheid en inkomste gebruik, deurdat die produkte geëet word en op die informele mark verhandel word. Arm mense en vroue put egter die minste ekonomiese voordele uit SL, hoofsaaklik as gevolg van hulpbronbeperkings, verblyfregonsekerheid en patriargale kulture. Terwyl sulke bevindinge daarop dui dat die voordele van SL diegene omseil wat hulle die meeste nodig het, is daar gevind dat hierdie beperkings deur ondersteuning van nieregeringsorganisasies (NRO‟s) oorkom kan word. NRO‟s speel ‟n belangrike rol in die bevordering van ‟n volhoubare lewensbestaan. Dit word bereik deur middel van skenkings van hulpbronne en belegging in menslike en sosiale kapitaal. In Kaapstad is SL vir baie jare al deur NRO‟s ondersteun. Onlangs het die plaaslike regering hierdie poging ondersteun deur ‟n SL-beleid wat openbare steun deur helpbronskenkings en die voorsiening van grond legitimeer. Die vraag wat hierdie proefskrif ondersoek het, is in watter mate SL bydra tot die lewensbestaan van diegene wat in Kaapstad se grootste laeinkomstegebied, die Kaapse Vlakte, woon. Omdat baie van die SL-projekte in Kaapstad deur NRO‟s bestuur word, was die fokus op ‟n seleksie van hierdie projekte. Diepte-onderhoude en fokusgroepgesprekke is met landbouers en NRO‟s dwarsoor die Kaapse Vlakte gehou. Vier verskillende tipes landbou kom voor, naamlik tuislandbouers, landbougroepe, institusionele landbouers en tuinsentrums. Tuislandbouers werk op ‟n klein skaal op die grond rondom om hulle woning, terwyl die landbougroepe en institusionele landbouers groter stukke grond bewerk. Landbougroepe werk onafhanklik, gewoonlik op grond wat aan die standsraad behoort, terwyl institusionele landbouers namens die instansie wat se grond hulle gebruik, verbou. Alle landbouers word deur die NRO-tuinsentrums ondersteun. Hierdie tuinsentrums dien ook as die administratiewe sentra van die NRO‟s se SL-program. Die bevindinge toon dat die voordele van SL verband hou met die tipe SL wat beoefen is. Vir die tuislandbouers versterk SL verhoudings en brei dit netwerke uit. Institusionele tuine leer kinders om vir die omgewing te sorg. Die ekonomiese en voedselsekerheidsvoordele van SL was duidelik in formele groepe, en die NRO-tuinsentrums speel ‟n ondersteunende rol vir al drie tipes. Die landbouers het ook ander voordele ervaar. Byvoorbeeld, alle soorte landbouers het genoem dat SL hulle geleer het om gesond te eet en vir die omgewing te sorg en ook dat hulle ‟n verhoogde gevoel van eiewaarde ervaar. Verder het al die landbouers van hulle oes aan mense rondom hulle weggegee. ‟n Voorvereiste vir hierdie voordele was egter suksesvolle verbouing, wat net moontlik was met die opleiding en ondersteuning wat deur die NRO‟s aangebied is. Die bevindinge dui daarop dat NRO‟s noodsaaklik is om te verseker dat SL die grootste impak in lae-inkomstegebiede kan hê, en om die beperkings van SL wat dwarsdeur Afrika duidelik is, te vermy. Nogtans word die opname en volhoubaarheid van SL in Kaapstad beperk deur burokratiese prosedures met betrekking tot toegang tot grond, beperkings van donateurs op befondsing en ‟n wydverspreide staat van afhanklikheid in die teikengebiede. Dit is dus waarskynlik dat die uitbreiding van SL in Kaapstad stadig sal bly totdat sodanige beperkings aangespreek is.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: See full text for abstract. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Sien volteks vir opsomming.