Exploring the implementation of one household one hectare programme in selected northern KwaZulu-Natal communities.
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Date
2019
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Abstract
The issue of land development is high on the South African agenda. The South African
population is in a buoyant mood following the positive prospects to amend the South
African Constitution to allow government to expropriate land without compensation. But
opposition parties in the country and the right wing interest groups such as the AfriForum
are controversially at loggerhead with government, challenging the possible amendment.
Simultaneously, South Africa is among the countries that have reduced their support to
farmers over the last three decades. Those farmers are considered the least supported in
the world according to recent studies.
As a result, it is important to undertake land development studies that focus on
agriculture. This will aid government intervention in land development and food security
which affects livelihoods of the rural communities. This study critically analysed four
projects in KwaZulu-Natal that are implementing the One Household One Hectare
Programme. The projects are uMhlabawethu, Sibuyelekhaya, Sukuma Senze and Future.
The projects are in three local municipalities: City of uMhlathuze, Big Five False Bay
Municipality and Jozini.
This is an exploratory qualitative study, inclusive of primary and secondary data,
underpinned by a constructivist worldview and executed through narrative research
strategy. A non-probability sampling strategy was applied with a purposive sampling
technique. Four project managers and two monitoring and evaluation specialists were
interviewed along with eight farmers. Primary data were analysed through a combination
of content, matrix and thematic analysis whilst secondary data were analysed through
content analysis and Microsoft Excel software.
The results show that the ultimate vision of creating vibrant, equitable and sustainable
rural communities will be compromised, unless a multi-pronged approach based on
coordinated and integrated agrarian transformation; strategic and pragmatic upgrade of
rural development; and improved land reform programme is adopted. This study has
implications for land development policy formulation and creating vibrant, equitable and
sustainable rural areas.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban