This thesis is the study of a single farm, Klaver Valley in the Darling district, 1812 - 1898. Chapter One provides a physical view of Klaver Valley from 1812 to 1898 showing the changes in the landscape and production of grains, wine and wool over the period. It argues that these changes occurred as a direct result of external market forces. Chapter Two focuses on the changes which occurred in the labour process from the early 1800s to 1898, arguing that the main impetus for change came from mechanisation of harvesting in the 1820s and 1850s. Chapter Three explores the notion of a capitalist farmer and argues that Duckitt and later Ruperti can be categorised as capitalist farmers. The main thrust of their progressive capitalization occurred before the 1850s and it did so as a result of the system of informal credit which existed at farm level among farmers, allowing for re-investment and survival of cash flow. Chapter Four studies the process of proletarianisation which accompanied the capitalist development of the farm and its farmers. While taking account of the existence of a small number (3) of sharecroppers on the farm in the 1840s, 1870s and 1890s, this chapter argues that by the early 1830s, the farm was operating on the back of fully proletarianised labour. Composition of the labour force, wages and tasks, the work of women and the change from resident and permanent to casual labour from the 1820s to the 1890s, form some of the main focuses of this chapter. Chapter Five explores the nature of the relationship between the farmer and workers from 1829 - 1898, the two increasingly alienated from each other by the encroachment of the overseer. It argues that capitalist relations of production developed in the context of paternalism throughout although it was increasingly shaped by the cash-oriented relationship.

Most smallholder farmers in South Africa are characterized by poor resources such as land, labour and capital while they play an important role in poverty alleviation especially in poor rural areas. Smallholder farmers are increasingly recognized because of their contribution to household food security. The world markets are increasingly being integrated due to globalization and liberalization. As a result, smallholder farmers are facing increasing market competition, not only in international markets but in local markets as well. However, smallholder farmers often face a number of barriers to accessing these markets arising in part from the tightening of food safety and quality standards requiring compliance with phytosanitary and sanitary standards and growing power of supply chain integration. Furthermore, the viability of these smallholder producers is constrained by institutional obstacles which include lack of access to information, high marketing and transaction costs and low quality and lack of critical volume in the absence of bulking up arrangements, etc. These barriers have contributed to the exclusion of smallholder/small-scale farmers from formal markets. In order to address these obstacles and speed up the pace of agrarian reform many support schemes (farmer support programmes) are now being designed to specifically address market access and value chain issues through unique co-innovation arrangements to improve the farmer’s access to profitable international chains. A number of farmer support programmes (FSP) have been implemented in South Africa to reduce the risk of a lack of capacity and a lack of economic and/or financial experience in smallholder farms. Intervention measures have been instituted to these smallholder farmers to assist them to move out of poverty through agricultural production. The aim of this study was to understand the roles played by farmer support programmes in addressing income and welfare levels and sustainability of smallholder farmers in South Africa. Eighty nine (89) farmers were interviewed for this study and almost half (49%) of them received support from various organizations while 51% of the sampled farmers did not receive any support. The study was designed to compare the two groups between the treated and control group to assess the impact of these programmes.Using a Tobit and Propensity Score Matching technique, potential diffusion effects were eliminated between farmers supported by Farmer Support Programmes and farmers that did not belong to support services. The latter was selected from comparable communities with no agricultural support services. Findings from the Tobit regression and propensity score matching are consistent across the two methods, suggesting that being a member of any agricultural support programme has a significant positive impact on income and welfare of smallholder farmers.Farmer Support Programmes and collective marketing activities such as the collection and sale of members’ products appear to have a significant and positive impact on smallholder welfare of those farmers engaged in them. In the second analysis the study tested the types of arrangements that farmers would adopt to market their produce. From the results it was established that those farmers who were supported by institutional arrangements or FSP had better access to markets than those farmers who operated as individuals. Marginal effects are used to show the degree to which farmers chose a particular marketing channel or institutional arrangement that these farmers take when trying to access better paying markets. Then the final analysis is on factors that determine the extent to which collective action contribute to farmers’ income and market access. A number of variables (age, distance to the market, region the farmers are located) were evaluated using the multinomial regression model. Empirical results suggest that among South African cooperatives, those established in KwaZulu-Natal and partly in the Eastern Cape and upon the voluntary initiative of farmers are more sustainable and have access to better paying markets both locally and internationally than the other areas. The results also show that NGO-supported cooperatives have a longer life span than Government controlled cooperatives.

Thesis (MScAgric)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In South Africa, sustainable land use and management is paramount as the country’s agricultural natural resources are diverse, complex and vulnerable to degradation. To realise sustainable agricultural production and development, an agro-ecosystem-specific approach entailing soil, water and nutrient conservation agricultural practices is imperative. Conservation Agriculture is one of the agricultural production method that can be employed to ameliorate and prevent the degradation of South Africa’s agricultural land. The major aim of this study was to investigate how the uptake and adoption of conservation agriculture is influenced by economic policies and instruments in South Africa. To achieve this, an interactive research approach was followed initially involving an extensive literature review before scientific and empirical analysis was conducted. Firstly it was noted in the study that currently there is not any specific policy for conservation agriculture that has been promulgated in South Africa, but however there are a number of policies (i.e. Climate change policy, Carbon Tax policy, Land Reform policy, Trade policy, Water policy, Food and nutritional security policy, NEMBA regulations, CRDP, CARA, Organic production policy, Policy on Agriculture in sustainable development and the Environmental policy) that have been drafted which have the potential to positively influence the uptake and adoption of conservation agriculture by farmers across all the farming typologies (i.e. small scale, emerging and commercial farmers). The afore-mentioned policies were described and analysed with the purpose of establishing how they affect conservation agriculture using analysis criteria adopted from the field of political sciences. Criteria of effectiveness, unintended effects, equity, cost, feasibility and acceptability were constantly employed. In this regard, all the policies were tested to see how they affect conservation agriculture and to check if there was any alignment and harmonisation within the policy environment. It was found in this study that an alignment of the aforementioned policies is imperative in order to make the policies politically and administratively feasible which will lead to the swift implementation and effectiveness of the policies in meeting their core objectives. On this basis, it was deduced that the aforementioned policy mix has the potential to advance the uptake and adoption of conservation agriculture to further contribute to an enhanced food security and a sustainable resource base in South Africa. The policy mix analysed in this study, is however under specific constraints. These were identified and subsequently recommendations were made to ameliorate these constraints, in order to make the policies align with each other and to maximise the contribution of the policies towards the advancement of conservation agriculture in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Volhoubare grondgebruik en bestuur is belangrik in Suid-Afrika as gevolg van diverse, komplekse en kwesbare natuurlike hulpbronne wat maklik degradeer. As gevolg hiervan moet volhoubare bewaringspraktyke gevolg word wat spesifiek is tot die grond, water en voedingswaarde kompleks van verskillende boerdery-omgewings gevolg word. In hierdie opsig is bewaringsboerdery een metode wat ontplooi kan word om grond-degradasie te voorkom. Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was dus om te bepaal tot watter mate die aanvaarding van bewaringsboerdery praktyke deur ekonomiese beleid en -instrumente beïnvloed word. Hiervoor is ʼn interaktiewe benadering gevolg tussen ʼn uitgebreide literatuurstudie en ʼn wetenskaplike en empiriese analise. Die eerste belangrike bevinding is dat daar tans geen formele staatsbeleid oor bewaringsboerdery in Suid-Afrika bestaan nie, maar daar is wel verwante beleidsuitsprake (oor klimaatsverandering, die koolstof belasting, grondhervorming, internasionale handel, voedselen voedingsbeleid, NEMBA regulasies, CRDP, CARA, beleid oor organiese produksie, beleid oor volhoubare landbou-ontwikkeling en omgewingsbeleid) wat wel die aanvaarding van bewaringsboerdery praktyke kan versnel. Hierdie stel van beleidsuitsprake is beskryf en ontleed deur middel van ʼn analitiese raamwerk ontleen aan die politieke wetenskappe om hulle potensiële impak op bewaringsboerdery. Die spesifieke kriteria waarop gekonsentreer is sluit in doeltreffendheid, ongewensde gevolge, regverdigheid, koste, implementeerbaarheid en aanvaarbaarheid. Die doel van laasgenoemde was nie slegs om vas te stel hoe hulle bewaringsboerdery beïnvloed nie, maar ook of daar belyning bestaan tussen die verskillende beleidsuitsprake, omdat sulke belyning krities is tot suksesvolle implementering. Daar is dan bevind dat die huidige stel beleidsuitsprake wel die potensiaal het om by te dra tot die aanvaarding van bewaringsboerdery, en dus tot die volhoubare bestuur van Suid-Afrika se hulpbronne. Hierdie bestaande beleidsraamwerk word egter onderwerp aan spesifieke beperkings. Laasgenoemde is dan geïdentifiseer, en is aanbevelings gemaak om dié beperkings aan te spreek om sodoende beter belyning te kry en dus om hulle bydrae tot volhoubare boerdery te bevorder.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis investigates practical approaches to growing sustainable food systems. It first establishes the condition of the global environment within which food systems function and critically assesses previous efforts to grow sustainable food systems. After applying these findings to a set of case studies on local-food distribution in Stellenbosch, I recommend ways for the local-food distribution network to encourage the growth of a sustainable Stellenbosch food system. The literature review provides an overview of the global environment in relation to food systems and lists certain contextual challenges that food systems must address to become sustainable. These challenges are social inequality, an urban future, degraded ecosystems, climate change, energy constraints, a growing global population and food insecurity. The literature review also describes how commercialisation has disembedded food systems from their contexts. This disembeddedness loosens the feedback loops food systems require to effectively respond to contextual challenges and consequently hinders their sustainability. The critical overview of previous attempts to re-embed food systems provides insight into practical ways of growing sustainable food systems. The overview demonstrates that while localisation and the building of social capital should not be seen as the ultimate goals of sustainable food systems, they can be useful mechanisms for nurturing sustainability if applied carefully. The case studies describe ten local-food distribution initiatives in Stellenbosch, and are informed by numerous in-depth semi-structured interviews. My conceptual framework contrasts each initiative’s self-reported vision, perceived reality, and realised actions; this highlights the conceptual and physical network connections between various local-food distribution initiatives, as well as the factors preventing and promoting their sustainability. The case studies show that although a local-food distribution network exists in Stellenbosch, it is fragile and lacks defined conceptual connections. This in turn constrains the formation of physical connections and thus the food system’s progress toward sustainability. The local-food distribution network in Stellenbosch can catalyse the growth of a sustainable food system because its initiatives focus on localisation but do not see it as a final objective. This shared focus indicates that localisation already constitutes a practical tool in the growth of a sustainable food system; however, the network’s lack of social capital still needs to be addressed. Inclusive projects designed to create and protect intellectual, political and economic spaces for reflection within the food system can generate the social capital necessary to grow a sustainable food system. The realisation of a sustainable Stellenbosch food system therefore depends on those with the capacity and resources to initiate the necessary changes. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek praktiese benaderings waarmee volhoubare kossisteme bevorder kan word. Dit stel eerstens die toestand van die globale omgewing waarin kossisteme funksioneer vas en oorweeg krities vorige pogings wat volhoubare kossisteme probeer bevorder het. Na ek hierdie bevindings toepas op ’n stel gevallestudies van inisiatiewe wat plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch versprei, kom ek met voorstelle vorendag vir dié verspreidingsnetwerk om die groei van ’n volhoubare Stellenbosch-kossisteem aan te moedig. Die literatuurstudie omskryf ’n oorsig van die globale omgewing met betrekking tot kossisteme en lys sekere kontekstuele uitdagings wat kossisteme moet aanspreek om volhoubaar te wees. Die uitdagings is maatskaplike ongelykheid, ’n verstedelikte toekoms, verswakte ekosisteme, klimaatsverandering, energiebeperkings, ’n groeiende globale bevolking en voedselonsekerheid. Die literatuurstudie bepaal ook dat kommersialisering kossisteme uit hulle omgewings ontwortel. Hierdie ontwortelling verswak die terugvoerbane wat kossisteme benodig om effektief op kontekstuele uitdagings te reageer en verhoed hulle volhoubaarheid. Die kritiese oorsig van vorige pogings om kossisteme nuwe wortels te laat skiet gee insig tot praktiese maniere om volhoubare kossisteme te bevorder. Die oorsig wys daarop dat terwyl lokalisering en die bou van maatskaplike kapitaal nie as die slotsom van volhoubare kossisteme beskou moet word nie, albei nuttige tegnieke kan wees vir die aankweek van volhoubaarheid indien hulle met sorg aangewend word. Die gevallestudies beskryf tien verspreidings-inisiatiewe van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch en is ingelig deur verskeie in-diepte, semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude. My konsepsuele raamwerk kontrasteer elke gevallestudie se self-verklaarde visie, veronderstelde realiteit en gerealiseerde aksies. Dit lig die begrips- en fisiesenetwerkkonneksies tussen die inisiatiewe uit en stel ’n aantal faktore bloot wat die netwerk se volhoubare groei positief en negatief beïnvloed. Die gevallestudies wys daarop dat alhoewel ’n verspreingsnetwerk van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch bestaan, dié netwerk swak is en omskrewe begripskonneksies kort. Om die beurt verhinder dit die formasie van fisiese konneksies en weerhou die kossisteem se vordering na volhoubaarheid. Die verspreidingsnetwerk van plaaslik-geproduseerde kos in Stellenbosch kan die groei van ‘n volhoubare kossisteem kataliseer omdat die inisiatiewe waaruit dit bestaan deur ’n gemeenskaplike fokus op lokalisering verbind word, maar dit nie as hulle einddoel beskou nie. Hierdie gedeelde fokus wys daarop dat lokalisering reeds ’n bruikbare tegniek vir die groei van ‘n volhoubare kossisteem is, maar die tekort aan maatskaplike kapitaal binne die netwerk moet steeds aangespreek word. Inklusiewe projekte wat saamgestel word om intellektuele, politiese en ekonomiese ruimtes vir besinning binne die kossisteem te bevorder en te bewaar, kan die nodige maatskaplike kapitaal kweek om ’n volhoubare kossisteem te vestig. Die verwesenliking van ’n volhoubare Stellenbosch-kossisteem hang dus van diegene af wat die kapasiteit en hulpbronne het om die nodige veranderings in te lei.

Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this thesis was to determine whether or not examples exist of commercial grain farmers in the Swartland region of South Africa moving away from high-external-input agricultural production systems towards production systems based on ecologically restorative partnerships with soils and other natural systems. The research also sought to understand why these farmers were changing their approach to farming, as well as investigating the specific technologies and practices they were implementing in order to achieve these changes. In addition, the thesis also considered the theoretical implications of these changes on food security in the Western Cape. Three research approaches were employed: qualitative case studies of seven progressive farmers in the region; a literature review; and an analysis of secondary data. Throughout these three approaches, Swilling and Annecke’s conceptualisation of a multifaceted global polycrisis was used as a conceptual reference point. This was done with the intention of providing an agricultural analysis which looks beyond the farm gate and takes cognisance of the broader socio-ecological issues which affect and are affected by agriculture. The research identified seven farmers who are shifting towards lower-external-input production methods, which focus on enhancing beneficial partnerships with natural systems. The on-site interviews and observations revealed that the degree to which these seven farmers were altering their practices varied significantly. However, four key technologies and practices were identified as being common to all seven farmers: the use of legume rotations, reduced tillage, new styles of planters and increasing farm size. With regard to food security, the research suggested that current changes in these farmers’ agricultural practices could assist in keeping food prices and food production levels more stable in future, compared to production using high-external-input practices previously employed by the farmers. The potential improvement in production stability was shown to result mainly from improvements in soil health, as these improvements give crops increased resilience to unfavourable weather conditions, greater disease-resistance and improved vitality. The potential improvement in price stability stemmed predominantly from increased input-use efficiency and the utilisation of natural fertility and pest-management practices which were less susceptible to monopolistic input sales structures, international shortages and the increasing cost of fossil fuels. Due to the small size of the case study sample and the fact that this research focussed specifically on farmers who were considered progressive, the findings presented in this thesis cannot be viewed as representative of the larger agricultural region. The intention was rather to establish the positive changes currently underway, in order to provide useful pointers for similarly beneficial changes to be implemented elsewhere. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie tesis was om vas te stel of voorbeelde bestaan van kommersiële graanboere in die Swartlandgebied van Suid Afrika wat wegbeweeg van hoë-eksterne-inset produksie sisteme na sisteme wat gebasseer is op vennootskappe met grond en ander natuurlike sisteme. Die doel van dié vennootskappe isom ekologiese herstellingte bewerkstellig. Die navorsing het ook gepoog om te verstaan hoekom hierdie boere hulle boerderytegniekeverander; spesifieke tegnologieë en praktyke wat gebruik word om verandering mee te bringis ondersoek. Daarenbowe oorweeg hierdie tesis ook die teoretiese implikasies van die veranderings op voedselsekuriteit in die Wes-Kaap. Drie navorsings benaderings is te werk gestel: kwalitatiewe gevallestudies van sewe vooruitstrewende boere in die area; ‘n literatuurstudie; en ‘n analise van sekondêre data. Swilling en Annecke se konsepsualisering van die veelvoudig-gefasetteerde globale polikrisis is deurlopend gebruik as ‘n konsepsuele verwysingspunt. Dit is gedoen om‘n boerdery analise daar te stel wat verby die plaashek kyk na wyer maatskaplike en ekologiese kwessies wat ‘n wederkerige verhouding met boerdery het. Die navorsing het sewe boere geidentifiseer wat na laer-eksterne-inset produksie metodes beweeg. Hierdie metodes fokus daarop om voordelige verhoudings met natuurlike sisteme te versterk. Onderhoude en waarnemings op die plase het vasgestel dat die graad van praktykverandering merkwaardig tussen die sewe boere verskil. Nietemin, vier gemeenskaplike sleuteltegnologieëenpraktyke is geidentifiseer: die rotasie van peulgewasse, verminderde grondbewerking, nuwe plantermodelle en die vergroting van plaasgroottes. Met betrekking tot voedselsekuriteit vind die navorsing dat huidige veranderings in die wyse waarop geboer word, in vergelyking met die voorafgaande hoe-eksterne-inset produksie praktyke, kospryse en produksievlakke kan stabiliseer. Die navorsing wys daarop dat ‘npotensiële verbetering in produksie stabiliteit ‘n uitkoms van gesonder grond is. Gesonder grond verhoog gewasse se vermoëom effektief op ongunstige weerkondisies te reageer, bevorder hulle pes-afweringvermoë en verbeter die lewenskragtigheid van gewasse. Die potensiele verbetering in die stabiliteit van pryse is ‘n nagevolg van meer effektiewe gebruik van insette en die gebruik van natuurlike vrugbaarheid en pesbestuurpraktyke wat minder vatbaar is vir monopolistiese inset-verkoopstrukture, internasionale tekorte en die prysverhoging van fossielbrandstowwe. Na aanleiding van die klein skaal van die gevallestudies en die feit dat die navorsing spesifiek gefokus het op vooruitstrewende boere, verteenwoordig die bevindings in hierdie tesis nie die omliggende landbou area nie. Die veronderstelling was eerder om die positiewe veranderings wat tans onderweg is vas te stel om sodoende bruikbare advies aan soortgelyke voordelige veranderings wat elders geimplementeer kan word te verskaf.

Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research problem of this study is "The use of prison labour in die Western Cape agriculture". The aim of this qualitative-historical study was to determine how this system of labour was established, functioned and eventually came to an end. To research this topic was not easy. Most of the documentary sources have been destroyed. Therefore, the main source of information were interviews with the relevant prison wardens and guards, as well as farmers who used prison labour in the past. Prison labour played only a small part in the penal system of the Cape Colony before the nineteenth century. The focus of punishment was on the body of the criminal - inflicting physical pain. Since the early 1800's prisoners were used for the maintenance of roads and on work in Governmental gardens. Prisoners were rented ' . out to farmers, on an informal basis, since 1806. A formal system of prison labour, based on the principle of rehabilitating punishment, was introduced by the Governor John Montagu in 1843. For example, prisoners were classified according to their behavior, rather than their crimes. In 1888 free prison labour was abolished and a standard wage was introduced. The use of prison labour by private persons increased systematically after the Second World War. The reason for this was a growing labour shortage in especially agriculture. The system of farm prisons or so-called "outposts" was established to address this problem. In 194 7 the Landsdown Commission accepted the principle of farm prisons. The first farm prison was opened in 1953. The establishment of these outposts had a twofold aim: firstly, it supplied farmers with a constant source of labour. Secondly, it served as a deliverance for the state, as this would relieve the overcrowding in prisons and reduce costs. Between 1953 and 1988 a_total of thirteen outposts were established in the Western Cape. Farmers' unions carried the costs of building the prisons and were also responsible for their maintenance. The Department of Prisons was responsible for the appointment of prisonguards and their remuneration. A Central Outpost Committee was established that served as a link between the various farmers' unions and the Department. South Africa's policy on prison labour was in line with the United Nations' "Standard Minimum Rules" for the treatment of prisoners, having rehabilitation as main objective. However, this system of farm prisons clashed with the international trade ethos of the time. It was seen as "slave labour" that gave South African farmers an unfair competitive advantage. In 1988 prison labour was terminated and outposts were closed, due to the threat of sanctions and boycotts of South African agricultural products. The empirical evidence of this study largely supports the Marxist interpretation of punishment in society. According to Ma.rXism, punishment systems and prison labour serve the economic interests of the dominant classes. At the same time it also gives credence to the Weberian interpretation, in which the systematic monitoring and treatment of prisoners are a manifestation of the tendency towards increasing rationalisation in Western society. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die navorsingsprobleem van hierdie studie is "Die gebruik van gevangene arbeid in die Wes-Kaapse landbou". Die doel van hierdie kwalitatief-historiese ondersoek was om vas te stel hoe hierdie sisteem van arbeid ontstaan, gefunksioneer en tot 'n einde gekom het. Navorsing van hierdie onderwerp was nie maklik nie. Die meeste dokumentere bronne was reeds vemietig. Gevolglik moes hoofsaaklik staatgemaak word op onderhoude met hoofde en bewaarders van gevangenisse, asook boere wat destyds van gevangene arbeid gebruik gemaak het. Gevangene arbeid het 'n relatief klein rol gespeel in die strafstelsel van die Kaapkolonie voor die negentiende eeu. Die klem van straf was op die liggaam van die beskuldigde - die toepassing van fisiese pyn. Vanaf die vroee 1800's 1s gevangenes egter gebruik vir die instandhouding van strate en vir werk m Regeringstuine. V anaf 1806 is gevangenes ook op informele basis aan boere uitgehuur. 'n Formele stelsel van gevangene arbeid, gebasseer op die beginsel van rehabiliterende straf, is in 1843 deur die destydse Goeweneur John Montagu ingestel. Gevangenes is byvoorbeeld geklassifiseer volgens hul optrede, eerder as hul misdaad. In 1888 is gratis gevangene arbeid afgeskaf en voorsiening is gemaak vir 'n standaard loon. Na die Tweede Wereldoorlog het die gebruik van gevangene arbeid deur privaat persone sistematies toegeneem. Die rede hiervoor was 'n groeiende arbeidstekort in veral die landbou. Laasgenoemde is hoofsaaklik aangespreek deur die stelsel van plaastronke of sogenaamde "buiteposte". In 194 7 het die Landsdown Kommissie plaastronke in beginsel goedgekeur. Die eerste plaastronk, of "buitepos" soos daarna verwys is, is in 1953 geopen. Die oprigting van buiteposte het 'n tweeledige doel gehad: eerstens, het dit vir boere'n konstante voorraad van arbeid te verskaf. Tweedens was dit vir die staat 'n uitkoms, aangesien dit die oorbevolking in stedelike tronke sou verlig en kostes sou besnoei. Daarbenewens sou hierdie nuwe stelsel hydra tot die rehabilitasie van korter-termyn gevangenes. Tussen 1953 en 1988 het daar altesame dertien buiteposte in die Wes-Kaap bestaan. Boereverenigings het die oprigtingskoste van die onderskeie tronke gedra. Hierbenewens moes hulle ook ondemeem om die tronke te onderhou, terwyl die Departement van Gevangenisse verantwoordelik was vir die beskikbaarstelling van bewaarders en hul vergoeding. 'n Sentrale Buiteposkomitee is gestig wat as skakel gedien het tussen die betrokke boereverenigings en die Departement. Suid-Afrika se beleid rakende gevangene arbeid was in pas met die Verenigde Nasies se "Standaard Minimum Reels" vir die behandeling van gevangenes, met rehabilitasie as sentrale motief. Die stelsel van plaastronke het egter ingedruis teen die intemasionale handels-etos van die tyd en is as "slawe arbeid" gesien wat vir SuidAfrikaanse boere 'n onregverdige mededingende voordeel gegee het. Uit vrese vir sanksies en boikotte van Suid-Afrikaanse landbou produkte, is gevangene arbeid gestaak en buiteposte teen die einde van 1988 gesluit. Die empiriese getuienis van hierdie ondersoek staaf in 'n groot mate die Marxistiese interpretasie van straf in die samelewing. Hiervolgens dien strafstelsels en gevangene arbeid die ekonomiese belange van die dominante klasse. Terselfdertyd steun dit die Weberiaanse interpretasie waarvolgens die sistematiese monitering en behandeling van gevangenes in tronke 'n manifestasie 1s van die tendens tot toenemende rasionalisasie in die Westerse samelewing.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study reviews the development and current status of the weather derivative market in the world. As technology has improved, man's potential to model the unpredictable has come to the fore. Changes in the macro economic environment have prompted business to diversify. Deregulation in the American energy market and the advent of weather phenomenon like EI Nino and La Nina enticed large business to hedge their risk exposure in a different way than traditional diversification. Risk for the agriculture sector can be divided into three categories: Price risk, event risk and yield risk. Price risk has been managed by the incorporation of options and futures in the marketing of produce and acquiring of requisites. In conclusion the research finds that the SA market has the potential to grow faster than its American and European counterparts partly because techniques developed can be "leap frogged", but mostly because the SA environment induces smaller contracts that will lead to more market participants and eventually to higher liquidity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie bespreek die ontwikkeling en huidige stand van die Weer afgeleide instrumente mark in die wêreld. Soos tegnology verbeter het, het die mens se vermoeë om die onsekere te voorspel na vore getree. Veranderings in die makro ekonomiese omgewing het besighede genoodsaak om te diversifiseer. Deregulasie van die Amerikaanse energy mark en weerverskynsels soos EI Nino en La Nina het groot besighede verplig om risiko te verskans deur middel van 'n ander metode as tradisionele diversifikasie. Risiko in die landbou sektor kan verdeel word in drie kategorie; prys risiko, gebeurtenis risiko en laastens opbrengs risiko. In die verlede is prys risiko bestuur deur die insluiting van afgeleide opsies in die bemarkingsaksie van kommoditeite. Gebeurtenis risiko is beheer deur oes versekering en die laaste word deesdae deur weer afgeleide instrumente bestuur. In samevatting bevind die navorsing dat die Suid Afrikaanse mark die potensiaal bevat om vinnig te groei. Deels omdat tegnieke wat ontwikkel is gebruik kan word en deels omdat die Suid Afrikaanse omgewing kleiner kontrakte, dog meer deelnemers in die mark stimuleer.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the 19th century, farming in South Africa included vibrant small scale farms that were market responsive and competitive. Legislation enacted in the early 20th century adversely affected these farmers while supporting the development of large commercial farmers. The extensive government support for the White farmers was seen as a mode of increasing national output as well as creating food self-sufficiency, but at the same time, this decreased food security for the Black population. Major changes in the South African government in 1994 attempted to address these inequalities, amongst other, by supporting small-scale farmers. However, the gap between White and Black producers has been closing very slowly. Small-scale farming faced a wide range of enterprise development challenges. As a response to these challenges, the Government enacted the New Co-operative Act No.14 of 2005 to promote sustainable small business development by introducing the provision of incentives for agricultural co-operatives. This study has sought to determine the challenges and opportunities that are encountered in sustaining enterprise development and has used the Matabane Secondary Agricultural Co-operative (MSAC) as a case study. The goal is to develop strategies which can minimise the challenges and exploit the opportunities that will enable MSAC to realise its ultimate goal of improving livelihoods and reducing poverty. A review of current literature provided the secondary data for the study. The literature indicated the importance of social and physical capital in the sustainability of enterprise development. Social capital, in the context of sustainability of livelihoods, is defined as networks with shared norms, values and understandings that facilitate co-operation within the group. It can also be seen as the ability of the co-operative or group to secure benefits through membership in networks and other social structures (Finkelstein et al., 2007, Porters, 2000). Physical capital refers to any non-human asset made by humans and then used in the production process (Finkelstein et al, 2007, Porters, 2000). Primary data was collected using structured questionnaires delivered to 37 members of the MSAC. Thirty one members responded and were interviewed personally by the researcher. The questions were designed to investigate the challenges and opportunities faced by members and how they relate to social and physical capital. The results were analysed quantitatively using both descriptive and chi-squared statistical analysis. The results reflect the challenges and opportunities for enterprise development as perceived by co-operative members. The analysis explored this in terms of social and physical capital. The predominant challenges described were lack of access to finance and lack of mechanisation. The greatest opportunities seen were related to the bonds, bridges and linkages formed by co-operative members. Based on the assessment of the study, several recommendations were made. The introduction of a Co-operative Development Fund (CDF) would support and strengthen the co-operative financially, addressing both the issues of lack of access to finance and lack of mechanisation. On-site training programmes would enhance the members’ ability to participate in the decision making process of the co-operative and better manage their operations. The study has further shown that a lack of, or limited intra-governmental co-ordination proved to be one of the major challenging factors. It would be advantageous to organise an intergovernmental information service whose purpose would be to co-ordinate activities and pool resources of different agencies in their efforts to achieve common goals.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / Poverty, which was traditionally a rural phenomenon, has become one of the main drivers behind people migrating to urban areas. It is estimated that more than 50 per cent of the global population lives in cities while the current annual growth rate of cities in sub-Saharan Africa is almost double the worldwide average. The provision of food for the growing number of poor urban citizens is a major challenge, which needs to be addressed by city authorities. As most of the urbanised poor are exposed to agriculture due to their rural backgrounds, agriculture should be viewed as a possible solution to the challenge of urban food security for the urban poor. Put differently, feeding a growing urban population living in poverty will be one of the major humanitarian and political challenges of the next century. This implies that increased pressure will be put on urban agriculture for food production inside or close to cities, especially in developing countries where poor transportation infrastructure between the cities and rural areas creates problems for food supply. This research explores the significance of urban agriculture as one of the solutions to urban poverty. The aim of this research report is to critically analyse the concept of urban agriculture and how it can contribute to urban renewal and the alleviation of poverty for the urban poor. It focuses particularly on the scope, problems and challenges of urban agriculture in the high density settlements of Khayelitsha-Mitchell’s Plain in Cape Town where widespread poverty and high unemployment intensifies the need for low cost food production for poor households. The research takes into account the lessons learned in the past and looks at the role government, individuals, community organisations, NGO’s and corporate South Africa can play in expanding urban agriculture. We look at the different types of urban agriculture and the various success factors and potential pitfalls in implementing strategies of urban agriculture. This research also takes a closer look at the various problems faced by those keen to utilise urban agriculture opportunities. This research indicates that urbanisation is inevitable and has a negative impact on the poverty levels of urban citizens due to the migration of the rural poor. This is relevant to the Western Cape and in particular, to the Cape Town townships of Khayelitsha and Mitchell’s Plain, due to the accelerating migration from the rural Eastern Cape. The City of Cape Town is doing a fair amount of work in the field of urban agriculture through the Urban Agriculture Policy it adopted in 2007. However, this research concludes that urban agriculture in Africa, including South Africa, still does not receive the necessary recognition or support when compared to the developed world.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Elektrisiteit is ʼn basiese bron van energie in hedendaagse huishoudings en besighede. Die behoefte na deurlopende elektrisiteit neem toe terwyl die huidige elektrisiteitsverskaffer, ESKOM, ook nie aan die huidige vraag na elektrisiteit kan voorsien nie. Verdere beperkings is die infrastruktuur. Die infrastruktuur is nie so ontwikkel dat elektrisiteit aan 100 persent van die bevolking verskaf kan word nie. Alle plase het nie toegang tot die huidige ESKOM roosterstelsel nie of dit is onprakties om ʼn dienslyn te bou vir die gerief van elektrisiteit. Gevolglik was die meeste boerderybedrywighede in die verlede afhanklik van dieselkragopwekkers. Die gebruik van sonenergie het egter aantrekliker geword en het moontlik meer ekonomies en prakties geword en bied ook ʼn deurlopende krag opsie. Sonstralingsvlakke in Suid Afrika is die hoogste in die wêreld. Die Noord-Kaap word ingesluit in daardie areas in SA wat uiters geskik is vir PV aanlegte. In lande soos Ethiopië en die VSA is sonenergie met PV-tegnologie met groot sukses aangewend in landbouomstandighede vir die voorsiening van elektrisiteit wat ook in SA met sukses aangewend kan word met die uiters geskikte sonbestralingsvlakke. Die grootste voordeel van sonenergie is die oorvloedige beskikbaarheid van die energiebron in SA. Verder is dit volhoubaar, omgewingsvriendelik, hernubaar en heeltemal gratis. Daar is geen bewegende onderdele nie, gevolglik is daar geen geraasbesoedeling nie en is die bedryfskostes van ʼn sonenergie stelsel baie laag. Die nadeel van sonenergie is dat PV-aanlegte slegs elektrisiteit kan opwek wanneer die son skyn. Energiebergingsisteme is nodig om hierdie nadeel te oorbrug of ʼn aanvullende energiebron soos wind moet gebruik word om die tekort aan te vul. Kapitaalspandering is die grootste hindernis in die oprigting van hernubare energiestelsels aangesien dit op een stadium spandeer moet word. Sonenergie is die gewildste energiebron binne die landbousektor in die Noord-Kaap en word deur 88.57 persent van die respondente gebruik terwyl slegs 28.57 persent van die respondente dieselkragopwekkers beskikbaar het as rugsteun fasiliteit vir elektrisiteitvoorsiening. Die belangrikste redes waarom daar oorgeskakel is na sonenergie, was om deurlopende elektrisiteit te verseker en die vermindering van tradisionele energieverbruik. Die studie toon dat sonenergie, oor ʼn 15 jaar leeftyd, ʼn derde van die koste van fossielbrandstowwe kos, alhoewel daar groter aanvanklike kapitaalspandering betrokke is wat as ʼn struikelblok gesien word. Die statistiek wat in die ondersoek versamel is dui daarop dat sonenergie suksesvol aangewend word om te voorsien aan die elektrisiteitbehoeftes van die respondente binne die Noord-Kaap geografiese gebied. Daar is egter geen twyfel dat sonenergie suksesvol, effektief, doeltreffend en ekonomies aangewend kan word as ʼn plaasvervanger vir energie uit fossielbrandstof, binne die landbousektor, op klein en medium skaal in die Noord-Kaap.