Thesis (MPhil)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa's history led to an unequal distribution in land ownership, which is not
conducive to democratic consolidation. Land refortn is the means to address this
problem. However, land reform, part of the larger process of transformation, is a
potentially dangerous process: it can have negative implications on the rule of law.
The objective of this study is to provide an analysis of the dynamic relationship
between land reform, the rule of law and transformation in South Africa, within the
debate on democratic consolidation.
One can distinguish two paradigms regarding democracy: the liberal paradigm and the
liberationist paradigm. These two paradigms have divergent views on the way land
reform and transformation should be implemented, and what the goal of these two
processes is. The liberal paradigm would seem to be more favourable for democratic
consolidation, while the liberationist paradigm is a breeding ground for populist
transformation.
Furthermore, the negotiated constitutional settlement has left land reform with an
ambiguity. On the one hand the constitution forces the govemment to address land
reform, but on the other hand it firmly entrenches the private property rights by
enforcing the 'willing buyer, willing seller' principle, which makes the process more
costly and time consuming.
The main hypothesis of this study is: Demographic indicators (race, party affiliation
and provincial setting) influence support or rejection of the land reform policies of the
South African govemment. Tbe dependent variable is 'support or rejection of the
government's land reform policies'. Support for the govemment's land reform
policies is indicative of the liberal paradigm and rejection of the govemment's
policies is indicative of the liberationist paradigm.
It is found that the majority of South Africans reject the govemment's land reform
policies. However, strong divisions are evident. Respondents differ along racial,
party affiliation and provincial lines. Thus, the liberationist paradigm dominates, but
the liberal paradigm has a strong presence, creating an ideologically divided society.
This means that the legitimacy of South Africa's land reform project, as well as the
legitimacy of the constitution, is under stress. This does not bode well for democratic
consolidation, as the rule of law is under severe threat. Thus, one can conclude that
land reform is not going to make a positive contribution to the consolidation of South
Africa's democracy, if a substantial financial injection is not found to increase the
efficiency of the process. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis het aanleiding gegee tot 'n ongelyke verspreiding van
grondeienaarskap. Dit is nie gunstig vir demokratiese konsolidasie nie.
Grondhervorming IS die mamer waarmee die probleem aangespreek kan word.
Grondhervorming, deel van die groter proses van transformasie, is egter 'n potensieel
gevaarlike proses: dit kan negatiewe implikasies vir regsoewereiniteit hê. Die doel
van hierdie tesis is om 'n analise van die dinamiese wisselwerking tussen
grondhervorming, regsoewereiniteit en transformasie te verskaf, binne die debat oor
demokratiese konsolidasie.
Daar kan aangaande demokrasie tussen twee paradigmas onderskei word: die liberale
paradigma en die bevrydings (liberationist) paradigma. Hierdie twee paradigmas het
teenstrydige perspektiewe oor die manier waarop grondhervorming, sowel as
transformasie, geïmplementeer behoort te word, sowel as wat die doel van hierdie
twee prosesse is. Die liberale paradigma is meer geskik vir demokratiese
konsolidasie, terwyl die bevrydings paradigma 'n teelaarde vir populistiese
transformasie is.
Verder het die onderhandelde grondwetlike skikking grondhervorming in 'n
teenstrydigheid geplaas. Aan die een kant vereis die grondwet dat die regering
grondhervorming moet aanspreek, maar aan die anderkant bied dit 'n ferm
onderskraging van private eiedomsreg deur op die 'gewillige koper, gewillige
verkoper' beginsel aan te dring. Dit maak die grondhervormings proses langer en
duurder.
Die hoof hipotese van die studie is: Demografiese indikatore (ras, partyaffiliasie en
provinsie) beïnvloed ondersteuning of verwerpmg van die regering se
grondhervormingsbeleid. Die afhanklike veranderlike IS 'ondersteuning of
verwerping van die regering se grondhervormingsbeleid '. Ondersteuning van die
regering se grondhervormingsbeleid dui op die liberale paradigma, en die verwerping
daarvan dui op die bevrydings paradigma. Daar word bevind dat die meerderheid Suid-Afrikaners die regenng se
Respondente verskil volgens ras, partyaffiliasie en provinsie. Dus, die bevrydings
paradigma domineer, maar die liberale paradigma het ook 'n sterk teenwoordigheid.
Dit sorg vir 'n ideologies verdeelde samelewing.
Dit beteken dat die legitimiteit van Suid-Afrika se grondhervormings projek, sowel as
die legitimiteit van die grondwet, in gedrang is. Dit is nie 'n goeie teken vir
demokratiese konsolidasie nie, aangesien dit regsoewereiniteit in die gedrang bring.
Daarom kan daar tot die gevolg gekom word dat grondhervorming nie 'n positiewe
bydrae ten opsigte van die konsolidasie van Suid-Afrikaanse demokrasie sal maak nie,
tensy daar 'n beduidende finansiële inspuiting gevind kan word.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/49821 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Gerber, Johannes Abraham |
| Contributors | Du Toit, P. V. D. P., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Political Science. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | x, 84 p. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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