M.A. / This research project assesses the impact of South Africa's Land Reform Programme on the Land Redistribution Programme and thus, on the productivity and sustainability of farming operations in Limpopo Province. The impact of the Land Redistribution Programme was examined on five farms within four district municipalities in Limpopo Province, namely: Capricorn Municipality (Vaalkop 656LS), Vhembe Municipality (Spitzkop), Waterberg Municipality (Hartebeespoort 84 KR, Speculatie 139LQ and St Catherine 1257LQ). Landsat 5 remote-sensing images and quantitative and qualitative survey techniques were employed to source the information..

Thesis (MPA.) --University of Limpopo, 2005 / Refer to the abstract

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Agriculture occupies 86 percent of land that is being utilised for the needs of a growing population in the Western Cape. This implies that there has to be certain impacts on the environment regarding the practices associated with different agricultural activities. Negative impacts pertain to soil degradation, water quality problems, loss of biodiversity and vegetation deterioration. It must also be taken into consideration that each land use within agriculture has a different interaction with the environment. The nature of land use and environment will therefore determine the most important issues influencing the extent of impact on the environment. Certain problem areas in the Western Cape have been identified as the result of conflict between agriculture and the environment. However, if agriculture is practiced and managed in a sustainable manner, it can be productive, while at the same time assuring a healthy environment. To achieve such a situation a protocol has to exist whereby sensitive areas, with regard to potential impact on the environment by agriculture, can be identified. Considering this, the most important concept of the study was to develop methodology appropriate for evaluating and identifying farming areas where current practices threaten the sustainable use of natural resources. The result is a model that aims to identify the different land uses and then evaluate each agricultural activity through a holistic approach with regard to impact on the environment. The Piketberg magisterial district was chosen as study region to put the methodology into practice. Datasets regarding soil types, climate, water quality, vegetation and agricultural practices, specific to the study area, were gathered. By using Geographical Information Systems, the datasets could be manipulated to derive the necessary information needed for running the model. This produced maps showing areas of low to high impact on the environment and indicating the specific landuse responsible for each impact. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Landbou beslaan 86 persent van die grond in die Wes-Kaap wat aangewend word om te voorsien in die behoeftes van 'n groeiende bevolking. Praktyke verbonde aan die onderskeie landbouaktiwiteite het egter sekere impakte op die omgewing. Negatiewe impak hou verband met gronddegradasie, waterkwaliteitprobleme, verlies aan biodiversiteit en plantegroei agteruitgang. Elke landbougrondgebruik het ook 'n spesifieke interaksie met die omgewing. Die belangrikste bydraende faktore tot impak op die omgewing sal dus deur die aard van die grondgebruik en omgewingsensitiwiteit bepaal word. Sekere probleemareas is reeds in die Wes-Kaap geïdentifiseer weens negatiewe interaksie tussen landbou en die omgewing. Indien landbou egter volhoubaar beoefen en bestuur word, kan dit produktief wees en terselfdertyd 'n gesonde omgewing verseker. Die behoefte het ontstaan om 'n protokol binne landbou te vestig, waardeur daar gefokus word op die uitwysing van risikoareas met betrekking tot degradasie van omgewingskwaliteit as gevolg van landbouaktiwiteite. Alles inaggenome, was die belangrikste doel van die studie om 'n metodiek te ontwikkel vir die evaluering en identifisering van boerderygebiede waarin die volhoubare benutting van die natuurlike hulpbronne bedreig word deur huidige produksiepraktyke. Die resultaat was 'n model wat landboupraktyke deur 'n holistiese benadering ten opsigte van die impak op die omgewing evalueer. Vir toepassing van die metodologie is die Piketbergse landdrosdistrik as studiearea geïdentifiseer. Verskeie datastelle, onder andere klimaat, grondtipes, waterkwaliteit, plantegroei en landboupraktyke, spesifiek aan hierdie area is verkry. Deur Geografiese Inligtingstelsels is die datastelle gemanipuleer en die toepaslike inligting afgelei vir gebruik in die model. Die eindresultaat was verskeie kaarte waarop die potensiële impak van landbou op die omgewing van hoog na laag geklassifiseer is. Spesifieke landboupraktyke verantwoordelik vir die impak, hetsy hoog of laag word ook aangedui.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Nobody can deny the need which prevails among black South Africans of gaining access to land. In South Africa, just like elsewhere, the land issue plays an equally important role to economic and political issues. However, the land issue is much more emotional, and has the potential to unleash forces which could impact negatively on the economy and the political situation. Bearing this in mind, the ANC-government placed the issue of land reform on the national agenda after assuming power in 1994. Within the broad framework of the program provision is made for previously disadvantaged people to be given access to agricultural land. However, the focus on new entrants to the agricultural sector diverts the attention somewhat from the fact that there are people and groupings who were also disadvantaged under apartheid, but who have had a degree of access to land. This study focuses on the 23 so-called Rural Areas which are scattered over four provinces (Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and the Free State) and which are administered in terms of the Rural Areas Act, Act 9 of 1987. Since the study is no more than an overview, a synopsis is given of contributing factors which relate to the origins of each of the areas. Of importance is the role which was played by missionary societies and others in establishing these communities. The mam focus of the study is the manner in which the Rural Areas were administered. Reference is made to relevant legislation since 1909, and specifically to Act 9 of 1987. The importance thereof lies in the fact that the existence and continued application of the Act has particular constitutional implications. Furthermore, the Minster of Land Affairs, who is responsible for the implementation of the land reform program, is the (unwilling) trustee of these areas. Apart from the fact that trusteeship recalls paternalism of years gone by, the South African reality also necessitated reflection on the existence of Act 9. The rest of the study discusses the consultation process undertaken by the department of Land Affairs with the communities concerned, and the writing of legislation to replace Act 9. The Transformation of Certain Rural Areas Act, Act 94 of 1998, will replace Act 9 when certain conditions mentioned therein, have been met. The Act will end trusteeship and ensure that the communities receive ownership of their land. This will be a movement towards the ideal of the land reform process of giving access to land to all inhabitants of the country. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Niemand kan die behoefte aan toegang tot grond ontken wat onder swart Suid- Afrikaners heers nie. Nes elders, speel die grondkwessie in Suid-Afrika 'n ewe belangrike rol as ekonomiese en politieke kwessies. Die grondkwessie is egter baie meer emosioneel, met die potensiaal om kragte los te laat wat nadelig op die ekonomie en politiek kan inwerk. Gedagtig hieraan het die ANC-regering na bewindsaanvaarding in 1994 grondhervorming op die nasionale agenda geplaas deur 'n grondhervormingsprogram van stapel te stuur. Binne die breë raamwerk van die program is onder andere ruimte geskep vir die verlening van toegang tot landbougrond aan voorheen benadeeldes. Dié klem op "nuwe toetreders" tot landbou trek egter 'n mens se aandag af van die feit dat daar ander persone en groeperinge bestaan wat ook deur apartheid benadeel is, maar wat wel 'n mate van toegang tot grond gehad het. Hiedie studie fokus op die 23 sogenaamde Landelike Gebiede wat oor vier provinsies (Wes-Kaap, Noord-Kaap, Oos-Kaap en Vrystaat) van die land versprei is, en wat ingevolge die Wet op Landelike Gebiede, Wet 9 van 1987, geadministreer word. Weens die oorsigtelike aard van die studie word slegs 'n sinopsis gegee van bydraende faktore wat relevant is tot die spesifieke ontstaansgeskiedenis van elk van die gebiede. Veral van belang hier is die rol wat sendinggenootskappe en andere gespeel het in die totstandkoming van gemeenskappe. Daar word in hoofsaak gekyk na die manier waarop die Landelike Gebiede met verloop van tyd geadministreer is. Hier word verwys na die relevante wetgewing sedert 1909, met spesifieke verwysing na Wet 9 van 1987. Die belang hiervan lê in die feit dat die voortbestaan en voortgesette toepassing van die Wet bepaalde grondwetlike implikasies inhou. Daarmee saam die feit dat die Minister van Grondsake, wat verantwoordelik IS vir die implementering van die grondhervormingsprogram, die (onwillige) trustee is van die Landelike Gebiede. Benewens die feit dat trusteeskap sterk herinner aan die paternalisme van die verlede, het die nuwe Suid-Afrikaanse werklikheid vereis dat herbesin word oor die voortbestaan van Wet 9. Die res van die studie bespreek die konsultasieproses van die departement van Grondsake met die betrokke gemeenskappe, en die skryf van wetgewing om Wet 9 te vervang. Die Wet op die Transformasie van Sekere Landelike Gebiede, Wet 94 van 1998 sal Wet 9 vervang wanneer aan sekere vereistes voldoen word. Die Wet het ten doelom trusteeskap te beëindig en te verseker dat die betrokke gemeenskappe seggenskap oor hul grond verkry. Sodoende sal nader beweeg word aan die ideaal van die grondhervormingsproses, naamlik die verskaffing van vrye toegang tot grond aan alle inwoners van die land.

MURP / Department of Urban and Regional Planning / The study evaluates the criteria for allocation of development projects to communities using key guideline documents from municipalities such as the Spatial Development Frameworks and the Integrated Development Plans. Allocation of development projects in local municipalities must be well informed and must prioritise community needs hence the need for an objective process to the allocation of projects in communities. The study focused on one rural local municipality, Thulamela Local Municipality due to the level of service delivery protests and service delivery dissatisfaction experienced in the municipality that led to the 2016 municipal boundary redefinition process and a request of a new municipality called Collins Chabane. In this study, the name Malamulele which was under Thulamela Local Municipality is used interchangeably with the new name Collins Chabane. The study utilised the Evaluation Survey Approach to determine the allocation of projects in different communities in Thulamela local municipality. Both qualitative and quantitative research techniques, using Evaluation Survey Approach to unpack the implications of misbalanced allocation of development projects in rural communities were used. Data was collected through household questionnaires, key informant interviews and field observations. Key informants were selected through purposive random sampling techniques while household surveys were accomplished through stratified random sampling technique. Collected data on the role of government with respect to service delivery, criteria on the allocation, economic and demographic profiles, infrastructure and community service provision and principles of project allocation are presented, discussed, processed and analysed through thematic content analysis, SPSS and Microsoft Excel Packages. Based on the study’s findings of insufficient public participation, misalignment of SDF/SDBIP/IDP, lack of fund and planning, boundary disputes among others, the researcher then makes recommend the strategy for the allocation of development projects that involves outlining the criterion used to allocate development projects, adequate public participation, improved level of SDF alignment and principles for improved developmental project allocations in rural municipalities. / NRF

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Technology: Education, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2013. / This study is focused on the role of education to improve awareness of two critically important aspects of the South African situation 19 years after the first democratic elections in 1994. In the first instance, the study aims to augment the grades 10-12 Life Orientation curriculum to promote understanding and appreciation of land rights as human rights for every citizen in South Africa to address the social injustices of the past. In the second instance, the study focuses on grades 10-12 Agricultural Sciences curriculum to ensure that every learner who leaves school is in a position to care for land responsibly, and to use land productively for his or her own benefit and the benefit of others in the future. These foci have been informed by numerous interactions with people in four small communities on the Southern KwaZulu-Natal coast, who have been victims of landless as a result of the Group Areas act of 1960, and are claiming restitution for the land lost, and are required by law to make the restituted land productive. The study records first hand stories told about land ownership, landless, land claims, land restitution, and land (ab)use stories, in the form of narratives, such as autobiographies, auto-ethnographies, accounts of action research and self study. My research participants and I are the authors of our land stories. We tell our stories as a way of making the private public in the interests of a fair and just society. The forms of presentation include narratives, dialogues, playlets, literary references and critical reflections. The perspectives used include the native worldview, rurality as a dynamic, generative and variable milieu, the orality-literacy interface, the effect of oppression, and values and beliefs, customs and mores which (in)form a civil and civilised society. During the course of the study, the role of stories to reveal what is happening in the lives of those people most affected by unjust laws, and to empower them to take action in their own best interests became evident. The major role of education in land reforms cannot be overemphasized, which is why I have used what I have discovered from the many interactions with many people to inform two grades 10-12 school curricula: the grades 10-12 Life Orientation curriculum and the grades 10-12 Agricultural Sciences curriculum . / PDF Full-text unavailable. Please refer to hard copy for Full-text / D

Rural women‘s land rights in South Africa remain secondary in spite of laws founded on a constitution that promotes gender equality. Patriarchal customary laws prevail and women‘s land rights and use security are inextricably linked to their relationships with their male relatives. Rural women are key producers of agricultural products due to historical and continued male outward migration, which has led to a feminisation of agriculture. Although women farm the land, their land use security is poor and can be further threatened by divorce or widowhood. Given that most vulnerable women are based in rural communal South Africa, how can their land rights be secured under the customary law framework? While the statutory law framework seems to provide a solution, it is less applicable in rural areas where customary law and traditional practices prevail. If statutory law cannot be superimposed on the existing customary law framework, how can women‘s land use be further secured to support their household food security efforts? What kind of framework can be introduced to strengthen women‘s land use security? A study was conducted in rural Limpopo Province to explore this complex and yet important question. A mixed methods approach comprising interview style questionnaires with a mixture of closed and open-ended questions, coupled with focus group discussions and observation was employed. Qualitative data from the focus group discussions and open-ended questions was analysed for common themes using content analysis. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS to establish descriptive data, frequencies and establish the relationships between variables. Results of the analyses were used for building blocks to develop a land rights framework that is more gender sensitive and secures the rights of the actual land users. Women‘s land rights were largely confirmed to be secondary and land use security was linked to the continued relationship to male relatives through marriage and natural blood lines. From these findings, a gender sensitive framework that enables and improves land-based food security efforts has been proposed. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2013.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the nature, extent and impact of multiple land uses on the agricultural landscape in Stellenbosch as manifestation of a post-productivist mode of agricultural change. The research objectives included the provision of a thorough literature review of post-productivism; mapping the spatial distribution of farm-based activities on wine farms within the Stellenbosch area; the compilation of a land-use map of the area that will investigate the extent of multiple land-use diversification; an analysis of the locational relationship between farm-based activities and a range of land-use changes in GIS; mapping the municipal properties and land use on each; the provision of a typology of post-productivist, non-agricultural land consumption practices; and conducting a representatively sampled survey among farm owners/managers who have not followed the trend of multiple land-use practices. Data were collected from questionnaires completed by the owners of wine farms within the Stellenbosch area; by differentiating each land cover type by the changes that took place over the period 1993 to 2010; and from long-term lease agreements of Stellenbosch municipal properties and the land use of each property. An overall increase in the presentation of alternative features/facilities can be observed in the Stellenbosch area. According to the information obtained from the questionnaires, conferences and weddings seems to be the most popular alternatives to primary farming. The research findings indicate that tourism-related functions/facilities on farms lead to a much needed alternative source of income for farmers. The changes in land cover observed over time can be linked to the process of post-productivism, which is aimed primarily at minimising the harmful effects of intensive farming techniques on the environment. In cases where land cover has decreased drastically, especially plantations, these areas have been transformed into natural vegetation. The Stellenbosch Municipality is strict on compliance with policies, as failure to do so can have harmful effects on the environment. These policies include the Land Use Planning Ordinance 15 of 1985 (Western Cape, 1985); the Municipal Asset Transfer Regulations of 2008 (Western Cape, 2008); the Western Cape Provincial Spatial Development Framework of 2009 (Western Cape, 2009); the Provincial Urban Edge Guidelines of 2005; and the policy on the management of Stellenbosch Municipality’s immovable property of 2012. The municipality also is strict on the fact that the property may only be used for the purpose for which it was zoned. Failure to comply with these rules can lead to the termination of the contract between the municipality and the farmer, without any compensation from the municipality. Recommendations for future research include some development opportunities and marketing strategies for farm-based tourism; suggestions regarding the municipal responsibilities towards the commonages; as well as suggestions regarding the management of changes in rural land use change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie was om ondersoek in te stel na die aard, omvang en impak van veelvoudige grondgebruike op die landbou-landskap van Stellenbosch as ’n manifestasie van die postproduktivistiese modus van landbouverandering. Die navorsingsdoelwitte het die volgende ingesluit: die voorsiening van 'n deeglike literatuuroorsig oor postproduktivisme; kartering van die ruimtelike verspreiding van plaas-gebaseerde aktiwiteite op wynplase in die Stellenbosch-omgewing; samestelling van 'n grondgebruikskaart van die gebied wat die omvang van die diversifisering van veelvuldige grondgebruike ondersoek; analise van die liggingsverhouding tussen plaas-gebaseerde aktiwiteite en 'n verskeidenheid van grondgebruikveranderinge in GIS; kartering van die munisipale eiendomme en grondgebruik op elke eiendom; verskaffing van 'n tipologie van die postproduktivistiese, nie-landbou verbruikspraktyke; en die uitvoering van 'n verteenwoordigende opname onder plaaseienaars/bestuurders wat nie die tendens van meervoudige grondgebruike volg nie. Data is ingesamel deur middel van vraelyste wat deur eienaars van wynplase in die Stellenbosch-omgewing voltooi is; deur onderskeid te tref tussen verskillende soorte grondbedekking deur te fokus op die veranderinge wat van 1993 tot 2010 plaasgevind het; asook ’n ondersoek van langtermyn huurkontrakte van munisipale eiendomme op Stellenbosch en die grondgebruik van elke eiendom. In die Stellenbosch-omgewing was daar 'n algehele toename in die aanbieding van alternatiewe funksies/fasiliteite. Volgens die vraelyste blyk konferensies en troues die gewildste alternatief tot primêre boerdery te wees. Die navorsingsbevindinge dui daarop dat toerisme en verwante funksies/fasiliteite op plase 'n noodsaaklike alternatiewe bron van inkomste vir die boere verskaf. Die veranderinge in die grondbedekking wat oor tyd waargeneem is, kan gekoppel word aan die proses van postproduktivisme, aangesien die proses daarop fokus om die skadelike uitwerking van intensiewe boerderytegnieke op die omgewing te verminder. In gevalle waar grondbedekking drasties afgeneem het, veral van plantasies, is hierdie gebiede gewoonlik in natuurlike plantegroei omskep. Die Munisipaliteit van Stellenbosch is streng oor die nakoming van beleide, aangesien versuim ʼn skadelike uitwerking op die omgewing kan hê. Hierdie beleide sluit in die Grondgebruikbeplanning Ordonnansie 15 van 1985; Munisipale Bate Oordrag Regulasies van 2008; die Wes-Kaapse Provinsiale Ruimtelike Ontwikkelings Raamwerk van 2009; die Provinsiale ‘Stedelike Randgebied’ Riglyne van 2005; asook die beleid op die bestuur van die Stellenbosch Munisipaliteit se vaste eiendom van 2012. Die munisipaliteit is ook streng oor die feit dat eiendomme slegs gebruik mag word vir die doel waarvoor dit gesoneer is. Versuim om hieraan te voldoen kan lei tot die beëindiging van die kontrak tussen die Munisipaliteit en die boer, sonder enige vergoeding vanaf die munisipaliteit. Voorstelle vir toekomstige navorsing sluit in 'n paar ontwikkelingsgeleenthede en bemarkingstrategieë vir plaas-gebaseerde toerisme, voorstelle ten opsigte van die munisipale verantwoordelikhede teenoor meentgronde, asook voorstelle gerig op die bestuur van verandering in landelike grondgebruik.

Municipal commonage in South Africa offers previously disadvantaged, landless residents access to both direct ecosystem goods and services (EGS) that provide additional income options and indirect social and cultural services. Given that EGS production is a function of ecosystem health, it is imperative that commonage land be managed to maximize current local benefit streams while ensuring future options through the maintenance of natural ecosystem functions. The payments for ecosystem services (PES) model potentially offers an opportunity for contributing to local economic development while providing fiscal incentives for environmentally sustainable natural resource management. PES depends on the demonstration of quantifiable changes in EGS delivery due to improvement in or maintenance of high ecosystem health that are a verifiable result of modifications in management behavior. This thesis therefore compared spatial variations in (i) ecosystem health and (ii) nine direct and indirect EGS values derived from natural resources on the Bathurst municipal commonage and neighboring Waters Meeting Nature Reserve (NR) to explore how different land use intensities affect ecosystem health and the resulting provision of EGS. The results indicate that the total economic value of annually produced EGS on the study site is nearly R 9.8 million (US$ 1.2 million), with a standing stock of natural capital worth some R 28 million (US$ 3.4 million). Nearly 45% of the total annual production is attributed to Waters Meeting NR, with roughly 34% from the low use zone of the commonage and the remaining 22% from the high use zone. Of the total annual production value on the study site, roughly 59% is derived from indirect (non-consumptive) uses of wildlife for the study site as a whole, though this proportion varies from 25% in the high use zone of the commonage to 94% on Waters Meeting NR. The two largest annual production values on the study site derive from ecotourism (R 3.5 million, US$ 0.4 million) and livestock production (R 2.6 million, US$ 0.3 million), suggesting that while increased production of indirect EGS could generate significant additional revenues, especially on Waters Meeting NR and in the low use zone of the commonage, direct (consumptive) EGS will likely remain an important component of land use on the commonage. A PES project to support the adoption of silvo-pastoral practices could provide positive incentives for improved land use practices on the commonage and potentially be financed by conservation-friendly residents of the Kowie River catchment and/or increased ecotourism revenues from Waters Meeting NR. Allowing carefully designed and monitored local access to natural resources within Waters Meeting NR could also reduce pressure on commonage resources. Together, these approaches could lead to a more sustainable subtropical thicket landscape and ensure that critical natural resources remain available to support local livelihoods in the long-term.

M.A. (Geography) / In the last century, the establishment of protected areas has become an important part of managing South Africa’s wilderness and wildlife. The notion of untouched protected areas is becoming contested in a time when developing nations are seeking to improve quality of life for their citizens. With the promulgation of the NEM: PAA of 2003, resource sharing with local rural communities has become an important policy guideline for protected area management authorities. An example of a protected area where management has sought to facilitate resource access in neighbouring rural communities is Mkuze Game Reserve (MGR), now part of the greater Isimangaliso Wetland Park. This study uses a mixed methods approach to combine local rainfall records, census archives, and remotely sensed data with qualitative interview data in order to investigate spatial, social and quantitative aspects of anthropogenic land-cover change between 1979 and 2008. If the proposed balance between development and conservation is to be achieved in this ecologically diverse locale, a deeper understanding of contextual relationships between human activity and environmental change will be vital. Results showed that while rainfall was cyclic, natural land-cover decreased consistently in densely populated rural areas. In contrast, protected areas such as MGR showed little change in land-cover indicating that human activity and cattle have a significant impact on the land surface in the Mkuze Region. While many local residents in the rural communities living adjacent to MGR recognise their role in the achievement of development-conservation objectives, a history of exclusion from MGR has left a legacy of negative perceptions towards MGR in these communities. In order to mitigate natural land-cover loss, local communities must have positive perceptions about MGR and become involved in its management. Useful inferences have been made from the results regarding the management of human population and activities around the borders of protected areas in South Africa.