Thesis (MA (Political Science))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research examines the extent of participatory democracy, as outlined in government
policy, with particular relevance to the experiences of women living on farms in the Greater
Stellenbosch Area, Ceres and Rawsonville.
The study is based on the notion that effective and meaningful political participation in South
Africa has happened at the exclusion of many of its poor and marginalised citizens, in
particular poor women living on farms. The research hypothesis holds that various factors
relating to the socioeconomic conditions and political orientations of farm women contribute
to their low levels of participation in democratic governance. The research question therefore
is: what are the obstacles that prevent women living on farms in the Greater Stellenbosch
Area, Ceres and Rawsonville from effective and meaningful participation in participatory
democracy?
In answering the research question, mixed methods of data gathering were employed.
Qualitative methods were used, with data-gathering techniques that included modified
participant observation, non-scheduled structured interviews, and a focus group discussion.
As relatively little is known of the experiences of farm women, these techniques were all
geared towards better informing the researcher about relevant questions for the quantitative
component of the research in the form of a survey.
From the findings, the hypothesis that farm women do not participate in a meaningful process
of participation was confirmed. The main findings in terms of the obstacles that prevent
meaningful participation can be discussed in three categories. Firstly, the research indicates
that farm women feel that since their opinions are not considered by politicians there is no
reason for them to participate in governance. Secondly, because of a lack of capacity and
resources critical for optimal participation, the women are also disempowered to not
participate in politics. Finally, farm women are tired of empty promises and the abuse of
power by corrupt officials. Hence they have become very cynical of processes that are
supposed to be participatory, but in effect are not authentic at all.
In conclusion, although participation is advanced on the basis of the principle of enhancing
democracy, the lived realities of farm women cannot be ignored. Therefore, it is vital that
participation in politics be seen from a holistic perspective, relying on both democratic
principles and the socioeconomic development of farm women. Through political
iii
participation, farm women must be empowered to become not only democratic citizens, as
envisioned by theorists of participatory democracy, but also capacitated people who live a
dignified life. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsingsprojek bestudeer die omvang van deelnemende demokrasie, soos
uiteengesit in regeringsbeleid, spesifiek met betrekking tot die ervaringe van vroue wat op
plase in die Groter Stellenbosch Area, Ceres en Rawsonville woon.
Die studie is gebaseer op die argument dat effektiewe en betekenisvolle politieke deelname in
Suid Afrika die meerderheid arm en gemarginaliseerde burgers, en spesifiek arm vroue op
plase, uitsluit. Die navorsingshipotese is dat verskeie faktore wat verband hou met die sosioekonomiese
omstandighede en politieke oriëntasies van plaasvroue bydra tot hulle lae vlakke
van politieke deelname. Vervolgens is die navorsingsvraag: Wat is die faktore wat vroue op
plase in die Groter Stellenbosch Area, Ceres en Rawsonville daarvan weerhou om effektief
en betekenisvol deel te neem aan die politiek?
Gemengde metodes van data-insameling is gebruik om die navorsingsvraag te beantwoord.
Kwalitatiewe data-insamelingstegnieke sluit in aangepaste deelnemende observasie, niegeskeduleerde
gestruktureerde onderhoude en ʼn fokusgroepbespreking. Aangesien relatief
min inligting oor plaasvroue bestaan, is die doel met die tegnieke om die navorser beter in te
lig om vrae vir die kwantitatiewe komponent, ʼn opname, te skep.
Deur die bevindinge is die hipotese dat plaasvroue nie gereeld aan effektiewe en
betekenisvolle deelnemende prosesse deelneem nie bevestig. Wat die faktore wat deelname
beïnvloed betref, is daar drie verskillende temas. Eerstens dui die navorsing daarop dat
plaasvroue voel dat aangesien hulle opinies nie deur politici in ag geneem word nie, daar
geen rede vir hulle is om aan die politiek deel te neem nie. Tweedens is plaasvroue as gevolg
van ‘n gebrek aan die kapasiteit en hulpbronne noodsaaklik vir optimale deelname ook
geneig om minder aan die politiek deel te neem. Laastens is die vroue moeg van leë beloftes
en die misbruik van mag deur korrupte amptenare. Gevolglik is hul nou meer sinies,
spesifiek oor prosesse wat veronderstel is om deelnemend te wees maar in werklikheid glad
nie is nie.
Ten slotte, alhoewel deelname aan die politiek bevorder word op grond van die beginsel dat
dit demokrasie verbeter, kan die lewensomstandighede van plaasvroue nie geïgnoreer word
nie. Hiervolgens is dit noodsaaklik dat deelname in die politiek vanuit ‘n holistiese oogpunt
beskou word, gegrond op beide demokratiese beginsels en die sosio-ekonomiese
ontwikkeling van plaasvroue. Deur politieke deelname moet plaasvroue bemagtig word om nie net demokratiese burgers te word nie, maar ook gekapasiteerde mense wat n waardige lewe lei.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4189 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Saal, Querida Shahida |
| Contributors | Gouws, Amanda, University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xi, 124 p. : : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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