Water issues in land redistribution projects : a case study of the Platt Estate redistribution project in KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2002
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Abstract
Land and water are critical resources for rural livelihoods and lie at the heart of rural
development. Granting rural people land under the land reform without sufficient water
resources is indeed problematic. This dissertation explores rural development with the links
between water and land reform, especially within the redistribution processes. The focus is on
both accessibility and water quality within transferred land reform projects. The results of a
nationally-based study focussing on land redistribution post transfer projects as well as an
intensive pre-transfer case study research conducted in Kwazulu-Natal indicate that land
redistribution is not effectively considering the water needs of the beneficiaries. Infact, in some
instances, the newly resettled communities ' access to water resources have worsened. This
dissertation critically analyses and presents the relevant data, specifically highlighting whether
land redistribution is addressing the water needs of rural communities. Furthermore, the role
of the authorities in terms of providing water to land reform communities is critically appraised.
Finally, alternatives, policy and implementation recommendations are forwarded to ensure that
the availability and accessibility of water for both productive and reproductive purposes are
sufficiently and rigorously considered within land redistribution projects.
Description
Thesis (M.A.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2002
Keywords
Water., Land., Human geography., Sociology, Rural., Rural development., Theses--Geography.