Browsing by Author "Mahule, Siboshiwe Gertrude"

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    Exploration of contributing factors leading to a decrease in agricultural productivity in restituted farms of Ehlanzeni District Mpumalanga province
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12) Mahule, Siboshiwe Gertrude; Isaacs, Deyana; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Access to land has been identified as a tool through which the poverty and hunger of historically disadvantaged individuals can be tackled. Agriculture is also known as a source of employment and of livelihood, such as through food security. Many countries use the land reform programme as a tool for access to land that can then be used for agricultural productivity. Land reform implementation takes the form of three major approaches: market-assisted, community-based, and state-led. All three approaches have recorded shortcomings that have led to stumbling blocks in the success of the land reform programme. Historically disadvantaged individuals are most affected by these failures. In this context, this study aims to explore contributing factors leading to a decrease in agricultural productivity in restituted farms in Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga province. The methodology followed in this study is that of an empirical case study of a land reform programme in the form of both state-led and market-led approaches. The case is that of the Mapulana community situated in the Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga province. The case study is used as a unit of analysis of the land reform programme. The objectives of the study are as follows: 1. To present a theoretical framework by discussing the main concepts of agricultural productivity in order to identify conditions under which agricultural productivity can be attained through land access. 2. To present a theoretical framework by discussing the main concepts of land reform in order to identify criteria for successful land reform, specifically restitution in developing countries and to explore contributing factors leading to a decrease in agricultural productivity. 3. To investigate and discuss contextual and legislative frameworks which guide land reform in South Africa, specifically the current land reform programme and its implementation in rural areas. 4. To assess the implementation of the land restitution programme in the Mapulana case study in Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga. 5. To make recommendations based on the above findings in order to improve the implementation of the land restitution programme in the Mapulana case study in the Ehlanzeni District in Mpumalanga. The case study assesses identified gaps in policy formulation, land acquisition, as well as post-settlement support. Policy formulation in the Mapulana case shows signs of a top-down approach without beneficiaries. For example, it ignores the communal land tenure systems that govern black land ownership. Land acquisition in the Mapulana case study consists of the grouping together of competitive land claims into one community claim, despite the fact that the land claimants are not from the same community. Post-settlement support for land beneficiaries is lacking, and this lack of post-settlement support has led to a decrease in agricultural productivity on the restored farms. The literature review reveals that for the sustainability of agricultural productivity there must be enough inputs, including, but not limited to, land, labour, seeds, fertilisers and technology. This research offers recommendations to mitigate these obstacles: 1. It is recommended that the Restitution of Land Rights Act (1994) be amended to clearly address post-settlement support issues. 2. The Commission must make sure that all claimants are treated equally during the processing of land claims. Much must be done to dispel the notion that chiefs get preferential treatment when it comes to land claims. A chief is not supposed to benefit by virtue of being a chief even though he had lodged a claim on behalf of his community unless he too was personally affected or lost rights to land on the land in question. 3. Project planning and implementation need to be carefully handled, and the office of the Commission needs to ensure that the project is transferred to the office of the premier or any delegated member of the executive council, including the municipal council under which the land is situated as stated in the Act. 4. In addition, the department must be careful about making generalised assumptions regarding the capability of land beneficiaries to participate in agricultural production for the market; collective enterprises should be supported only where consensus has been reached between beneficiaries; and all stakeholders must agree on the monitoring and evaluation tools to be used. Land beneficiaries need to be thoroughly trained before the actual land restoration occurs, and on a continuous basis.