Magister Philosophiae - MPhil (LAS) (Land and Agrarian Studies)

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Water use and waste management strategies in Sakubva, Mutare (Zimbabwe)
(University of the Western Cape, 2002) Morake, Mosupye Gilbert; Swatuk, Larry, A.
Following the severe drought of t99t/92, the city of Mutare embarked on a multi-million Dollar water supply project. This project brought water from the Pungwe River via pipeline to the city of Mutare. The project was deemed to be a satisfactory solution to the water and sanitation problems in Zimbabwe's third largest city. For residents of Sakubva township, the Pungwe project has ensured a supply of clean water. However, it has made very little impact in terms of accessibility to water and sanitation facilities to those same residents. In Sakubva there are various kinds of households and forms of home ownership - some with piped water and in-house toilets, but many more dependent on communal ablution blocks and open-access standpipes. Widespread dependence on communal ablution blocks in most sections of Sakubva raises serious questions regarding equity of access to freshwater and clean sanitation facilities. At the same time, City council and government's reluctance to deal effectively with these issues compromises the concept of water demand management as encompassed in the Zimbabwean National Water Act of 1998. Moreover, a combination of overcrowding in Sakubva and the high mobility of its 'resident' population has negativity impacted on planning, provision and management of water and sanitation services. As it generality, there is lack of effective participation by all stakeholders, particularly women and the disadvantaged in water resources management. This compounds the general lack of social and environmental justice arising from poor governance. Rapid and unplanned urbanization in Sakubva is compounding waste management problems. Lack of financial resources is the main problem in provision of waste management services in most developing countries. Although the same problem applies in Sakubva and Mutare the city council is doing little to deal with waste management and this poses a serious health threat to the residents of Sakubva. The study concludes by looking at alternative water and waste management strategies thot may be employed in Sakubva. Moreover, the researcher believes that lessons from and suggestions for Sakubva may be extended to other high-density areas throughout the Southern African region, so offering region-wide policy recommendations.
The role of social networks in farm production in Zimbabwe's resettlement programme: the case of an AI model scheme in Murewa District
(University of the Western Cape, 2007) Mugara, Tendai; Lahiff, Edward
Land has been a source of political conflict in Zimbabwe since colonization, both within indigenous black communities and especially between white settlers and the black rural communities. At independence in 1980 Zimbabwe inherited a dual agrarian structure characterized by skewed land ownership and white minority control over the countrie's land resources. After 18 years of very limited reforms, the government of Zimbabwe announced the Fast Track Land Reform programme in 2000 with the aim of acquiring more than 3,000 commercial farms for redistribution. The Fast Track Land Reform greatly increased the number of households resettled compared to previous resettlement programmes. Fast Track has benefited diverse classes of people, such as peasants, landless workers, government bureaucrats, politicians and middle class urbanites. Unlike previous reforms, the fast track programme has brought people who arguably have no connection with each other together in settlements. The failure of government to provide the basic services to resettled farmers to cushion them in the new environments has exacerbated the already difficult situation amid weak social networks. Little research has been carried out on the role of social networks in farm production in such areas, or how resettled households interact and organize themselves to generate growth and development. A study was initiated in 2005 to assess the role of social networks in agricultural production in resettlement schemes. A questionnaire survey covering 20 households was administered at Chigori A1 (small-holder) resettlement scheme in Murewa District. Two focus group discussions and 7 key informant interviews were also conducted. The analysis focused exclusively on types of social networks found at Chigori resettlement scheme and their role to farm production. Factors that facilitated the establishment and functioning of social networks were explored. The study revealed that different types of networks were identified at Chigori resettlement scheme. These networks identified included family and kinship based networks, networks of identity, networks of production, institutional networks, farmer groups, networks of influence, power and access. Social support came from relatives and friends when scheme members engaged in land preparation, weeding and harvesting at the scheme. Networks of identity were created among certain groups at Chigori scheme due to the sense of originating from same area. This created opportunities to access information and resources. Networks of production such as tobacco network emerged between scheme members who either possessed knowledge of tobacco farming or with resources to utilize. Scheme members at Chigori were encouraged to form agricultural groups by AREX officers. The study also revealed that groups were used differently by different agencies and individuals, for different purposes and motives. Councilors, GMB, AREX officers, scheme members and local leadership worked with groups in different ways mainly for their own advantage. Scheme members enrolled in networks in order to optimize their opportunities for economic, social and political gain. Networks of production should be strengthened in order to increase crop production. This should be complemented by other factors such as extension to improve management of crops.
The impacts of large-scale agricultural investments on food production systems: The case of Gurué district, Mozambique
(University of the Western Cape, 2022) Ntauazi, Clemente Jorge; Zamchiya, Phillan
Large-scale agricultural investments in Mozambique peaked following the food, fuel and finance crises in 2008 and so far, more than 34 land deals have been established in the country. Proponents of such investments point to the advantages of capital investment, market adaptability and economies of scale. The large-scale agricultural investments have intensified as a mechanism to address food demands, ensure food security and improve production and productivity patterns. This study analyses the impacts of large-scale agricultural investments on the food production of small-scale farmers in one district. The main question guiding the study is: what are the impacts of large-scale agricultural investments on the food production systems of small-scale farmers and what is the significance of the dynamics of agrarian change of land labour, input or technology and livelihoods in Gurué district? Specifically, the study assesses the impacts on small-scale farmers’ access to, use and control of the land; on agricultural inputs and farming technology; and on household employment and livelihoods’ trajectories.
Water use and waste management strategies in Sakubva, Mutare (Zimbabwe)
(University of the Western Cape, 2002) Morake, Mosupye Gilbert; Swatuk, Larry, A
Following the severe drought of 1991/92, the city of Mutare embarked on a multi-million dollar water supply project. This project brought water from the Pungwe River via pipeline to the city of Mutare. The project was deemed to be a satisfactory solution to the water and sanitation problems in Zimbabwe's third largest city. For residents of Sakubva township, the Pungwe project has ensured a supply of clean water. However, it has made very little impact in terms of accessibility to water and sanitation facilities to those same residents. In Sakubva there are various kinds of households and forms of home ownership some with piped water and in-house toilets, but many more dependent on communal ablution blocks and open-access standpipes. Widespread dependence on communal ablution blocks in most sections of Sakubva raises serious questions regarding equity of access to freshwater and clean sanitation facilities. At the same time, City Council and Government's reluctance to deal effectively with these issues compromises the concept of water demand manatgement as encompassed in the Zimbabwean National Water Act of 1998. Moreover, a combination of overcrowding in Sakubva and the high mobility of its 'resident' population has negatively impacted on planning, provision and management of water and sanitation services. As a generality, there is lack of effective participation by all stakeholders, particularly women and the disadvantaged in water resources management. This compounds the general lack of social and environmental justice arising from poor governance. Rapid and unplanned urbanization in Sakubva is compounding waste management problems. Lack of financial resources is the main problem in provision of waste management services in most developing countries. Although the same problem applies in Sakubva and Mutare the City Council is doing little to deal with waste management and this poses a serious health threat to the residents of Sakubva. The study concludes by looking at alternative water and waste management strategies thot may be employed in Sakubva. Moreover, the researcher believes that lessons from and suggestions for Sakubva may be extended to other high-density areas throughout the Southern African region, so offering region-wide policy recommendations.
The role of night paddock manuring in the reduction of poverty and conflict amongst farmers and grazers in small Babanki (Cameroon)
(University of the Western Cape, 2008) Ndikintum, Ndjinyo Fouda; Aliber, Michael
Agriculture and livestock production were the mainstay of the economies of many sub-Saharan African countries, including of Cameroon, in the 1970s. Things began to change with the discovery of petroleum products and natural minerals, and the push to industrialise. This led to a shift from agricultural production to other more 'beneficial' sectors. In the 1990s there was an 'imposed' liberalisation of the agricultural sector. This liberalisation was marked by a disengagement of most governments in developing countries from assisting agriculture. In Cameroon, disengagement was achieved by the promulgation of law No. 92/006 of 14th August 1992 and its decree of application No. 92/455/PM of 23rd November. This law encouraged the creation of common initiative groups which could independently pool their resources to increase agricultural production. Although there has been a shift to non-agricultural sectors in many sub- Saharan countries, on the whole, however, many rural areas in these nations have remained essentially agro-pastoral. Unfortunately some rural areas, like Small Babanki in Cameroon, whose livelihoods are land-based are faced with soil erosion, population pressure and farmer/grazer conflicts which undermine the little economic gains made in these places. Rural-dwellers have resorted to several innovations to circumvent these constraints to agricultural production. Objectives of the research This research focused on an indigenous agricultural innovation called Cameroon. The innovation involves a partnership between farmers and grazers whereby farmers build paddocks around their farms, and cattle herders drive their herds into farms where they deposit their manure. The idea of the practice is that it enriches the soil of the farms, provides the herds access to good fodder, and reduces conflicts between crop farmers and grazers. The objective of the study was to investigate the role this agricultural innovation is playing in reducing poverty and farmer/grazer conflicts. The research focused on a community called Small Babanki located in the North-West Region of Cameroon. Research questions To gain accurate insight into the role played by NPM, answers were sought to the following questions: (i) What are the causes of farmer/grazer conflicts in Small Babanki and how are these conflicts manifested? (ii) What efforts have been made hitherto by stakeholders to resolve farmer/grazer conflicts and what were the outcomes of such interventions? (iii) What motivated the development of the NPM farming system and how does the system function? (iv) How has the introduction of NPM affected the occurrence of conflicts and the resolution of conflicts when they occur? (v) Has NPM contributed to increasing the output, income and the market value of the products of farmers and grazers? (vi) How have the asset bases of grazers and farmers changed and what additional livelihood options are available to them as a result of adopting NPM? (vii) What are the major constraints that hinder practitioners of the innovation from getting maximum returns from it? Data collection method The data collection method for this research involved a review of reports written on the innovation by NGOs promoting it. Within Small Babanki, a focus group discussion was held with farmers and an elaborate questionnaire was administered amongst 10 randomly selected farmer households and 10 randomly selected grazer households. Structured interviews were also held with key informants, such as local officials and traditional and religious leaders. Findings and conclusions The research supports the perception that, in Small Babakni, NPM benefits both crop farmer and grazer households by means of improving productivity, reducing poverty, and reducing conflict. Respondents indicated that generally speaking the asset base and livelihood options of practitioners of NPM are constantly improving. They also stressed that improvements in education, health, nutrition, land tenure and safety of shelter are indicative of the amelioration of their state of wellbeing, and this in large measure can be attributed to the adoption of NPM Measurement of poverty using the both the US$I/day and the national poverty line of 503.19 Cf'Azday revealed that cropping households are living on the fringes of poverty while grazing households tend to live just above the poverty line. However, going by information provided by respondents on their outputs, the proportion of what was consumed by the household, the proportion of what was sold and the proportion of what was retained enabled us to make an estimation of the cash and noncash incomes of both grazing and cropping households. It was discovered that at any point they seemed to have a significant noncash wealth reserve which could easily be converted into cash in order to meet daily expenses. Both the declarations of respondents and some official documentation suggest that NPM was contributing positively towards a reduction of conflicts between farmers and grazers in Small Babanki.
Food provision challenges facing Early Childhood Development Centres in two Cape Town townships
(University of the Western Cape, 2020) Thorogood, Camilla Renée; du Toit, Andries
Early childhood has been identified as a critical period for providing nutritional intervention, with nutritional adequacy during the first 1000 days having long term implications for human development. South Africa’s policy environment accordingly aims to support the development of all children through providing services supporting care and nutrition of children so that ‘no one is left behind’. However, the reality is that for the economically marginalised who live in poverty, these services are inaccessible and the whereabouts of many children, especially those under 5, remain unknown to the state. This study looks at township childcare facility as a key intervention point for nutrition provision, documents the obstacles and challenges they face in securing food for the children in their care and describes the strategies they use to combat these challenges. Using a mixed method approach, data were gathered on all ECDs operating in two Cape Town townships – Vrygrond, a semi-formal township, and Sweet Home Farm, a deeply informal settlement – and a typology was developed which represented the differentiation between these informal businesses in terms of a continuum of connectedness and disconnectedness with the regulatory environment. The careful spatial census conducted for this study showed that 81% of ECDs in the target area were unregistered, suggesting that rates of regulatory exclusion may be much higher than the 40-50% estimated in previous studies. The study shows that these ‘structurally informal’ ECDs are situationally appropriate childcare facilities, providing a safe and affordable service that enables township residents, many of whom are single mothers, to earn a living. But, because they are structurally unable to comply with qualifying criteria, these ECDs are unable to access the Department of Social Development’s per-child subsidy, a key resource to provide children food. Crucially, the study shows that the regulations as they stand cannot differentiate in a meaningful way between ECDs that provide situationally appropriate quality of care and those that don’t, suggesting that the regulations are thus not fit for purpose. In this context, the study highlights the crucial role played by NGOs and food organisations. Even these sources of support, however, are uneven and inadequate as the nutritional security of economically marginalised children in township ECDs remains under threat. Ensuring the nutritional security of township children in their first 1000 days will therefore require thoroughgoing revision of the regulatory environment in order to ensure the appropriate regulatory incorporation and support of township ECDs.
Food provision challenges facing early childhood development centres in two Cape Town townships
(University of Western Cape, 2020) Thorogood, Camilla Renée; du Toit, Andries
Early childhood has been identified as a critical period for providing nutritional intervention, with nutritional adequacy during the first 1000 days having long term implications for human development. South Africa’s policy environment accordingly aims to support the development of all children through providing services supporting care and nutrition of children so that ‘no one is left behind’. However, the reality is that for the economically marginalised who live in poverty, these services are inaccessible and the whereabouts of many children, especially those under 5, remain unknown to the state. This study looks at township childcare facility as a key intervention point for nutrition provision, documents the obstacles and challenges they face in securing food for the children in their care and describes the strategies they use to combat these challenges. Using a mixed method approach, data were gathered on all ECDs operating in two Cape Town townships – Vrygrond, a semi-formal township, and Sweet Home Farm, a deeply informal settlement – and a typology was developed which represented the differentiation between these informal businesses in terms of a continuum of connectedness and disconnectedness with the regulatory environment.
Namibia’s land redistribution programme: A case study of Steinhausen (Okarukambe) constituency in Omaheke region
(University of Western Cape, 2020) Mandimika, Prisca; Hall, Ruth
As a means to assuage historical land inequities, resultant socio-economic disparities and poverty alleviation, the Namibian Government undertook to reform the land sector. Guided by the Constitution and the Resolutions of the 1991 Land Conference policy and legal framework, a fractured consensus is built on the rationale to redistribute land to a targeted group. Parallel to the reform agenda, systemic challenges to the resettlement process are growing amid questions on Government’s ability to respond to sustainable programme objectives embedded within land reforms. Literature coalesces on the issues of land-reform programmes having lost direction, being skewed in favour of a few, being biased towards commercial agriculture, and requiring review and re-configuration to be inclusive and to satisfy equity and poverty-alleviation concerns.
Namibia’s Land Redistribution Programme: A Case Study of Steinhausen (Okarukambe) Constituency in Omaheke Region
(University of the Western Cape, 2020) Mandimika, Prisca; Hall, Ruth
As a means to assuage historical land inequities, resultant socio-economic disparities and poverty alleviation, the Namibian Government undertook to reform the land sector. Guided by the Constitution and the Resolutions of the 1991 Land Conference policy and legal framework, a fractured consensus is built on the rationale to redistribute land to a targeted group. Parallel to the reform agenda, systemic challenges to the resettlement process are growing amid questions on Government’s ability to respond to sustainable programme objectives embedded within land reforms. Literature coalesces on the issues of land-reform programmes having lost direction, being skewed in favour of a few, being biased towards commercial agriculture, and requiring review and re-configuration to be inclusive and to satisfy equity and povertyalleviation concerns. This study seeks to understand who has been benefitting from land reform by analysing the processes and procedures of identifying beneficiaries prioritised for land allocation, and institutional structures for implementation, while analysing how they produce and reproduce class differentiation and the attendent livelihood trajectories. Using qualitative research conducted in one case study site (Okarukambe constituency) the views of the smallscale farmers who benefitted were solicited. Additionally, the experiences and views of institutions and officials involved in land allocation at regional and national levels are taken into account. Theoretically the study draws from the livelihoods approach to find out the different categories of the small-scale farmers who have benefitted.
Housing development and customary land tenure systems in Ghana: A case study of peri-urban Kumasi
(University of Western Cape, 2020) Fosu, Augustine; Mtero, Farai
This research examines the ways in which the rapid commoditisation of land in Ghana’s peri-urban areas is transforming local customary tenure systems. The research focuses on two selected research sites in Ghana’s peri-urban Kumasi, namely Aburaso and Kromoase. Rapid urbanisation has resulted in an increase in demand for housing land. Consequently, wealthy migrants are moving to peri-urban areas in search of relatively affordable residential land. This has accelerated the commoditisation of customary land in most peri-urban areas of Ghana. Customary forms of tenure are increasingly being converted into individual or private systems of land ownership. Evidence from this study shows that traditional authorities are increasingly alienating customary land without the consent of their subjects. The commoditisation of customary land in Aburaso and Kromoase has resulted in the decline of agrarian production as agricultural land is parcelled out to wealthy outsiders.
Obesity in Children: Environmental and Parental Influences. The Case Study of Khayelitsha in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2020) Nchoung, Ayuk Juveta; Dinbabo, Mulugeta F
Overweight and Obesity are conditions of excessive fat accumulation in the body of an individual. Due to the growing prevalence of the obesity epidemic, obesity has become a global public health concern. Overweight among South African children is on the increase as many young people now suffer from diseases related to obesity. Given the prevalent conditions of weight gain amongst children, tackling obesity in children should be given greater attention as children are twice at risk of becoming obese in the later stage in life. Such intentional efforts could contribute significantly to reducing public spending in the treatment of noncommunicable disease. This research aimed at understanding the Environmental and Parental Factors Influencing childhood overweight and obesity. The research identified the different factors that were associated with child overweight and obesity in the study area. Besides, the research was aimed at raising awareness of the need to sensitize parents and stakeholders on the factors associated to child obesity and proposed possible recommendations. To achieve these aims, one of the objectives was to statistically evaluate the extent of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in the study area as well as identify the types of food choices available to children. Furthermore, it analyzed dietary intake in households with obese parents and children, to determine the relationships that exist.
The contribution of communal rangelands to rural people's livelihoods in the Maluti district
(University of Western Cape, 2001) Ntshona, Zolile Mninawa; Turner, Suzanne Dawn
The contribution of common property resources to rural people's livelihoods is enormous, yet policy makers overlook it. Wild resources, grazing resources and trees provide an important buffer for most rural households. This study investigates the contribution of common property resources, in particular communal rangeland resources, to rural people's livelihoods in the Maluti District of the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Looking at an array of livelihood strategies which people use, the study investigates the proportional contribution of different livelihood strategies with reference to common property resources, specifically wild resources, grazing resources and trees.
The role of local government in common pool resource management: the case of municipal commonage in the northern cape
(University of Western Cape, 2004) Henseler, Anja; Lahiff, Edward; Atkinson, Doreen
Municipal commonage has the potential to make a major contribution to land redistribution in South Africa. During the Apartheid era, land under the control of local government was leased out to commercial farmers at commercial rates, which ensured an important source of income for municipalities. Post-1994, municipalities have been tasked by the Department of Land Affairs with making land available to the previously disadvantaged and thus managing and administering the commonage for purposes of poverty alleviation.
Analysis of government compliance in the provision of water and sanitation to rural communities: a case study of Lepelle Nkumpi local municipality, Limpopo province
(University of Western Cape, 2020) Mothapo, Raesibe Anna; Ruiters, Gregory
A persistent challenge facing especially post-apartheid South African rural municipalities is service delivery compliance. Under the guise of scarcity, rural municipalities repeatedly do not comply with legislation, policies and guidelines for the provision of drinking water and basic sanitation services for the poor. Yet, such challenges concern equity, justice and fairness to social policy and seriously impact the sustainability of livelihood of millions of rural households. The main objective of this study is to analyse the extent to which Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality has complied with or deviated from specific policies and legislation governing the provision of water and sanitation services at the Gedroogte, Ga Molapo and Magatle (in Zebediela) rural communities and the response of communities. The study was also intended to determine the extent to which water challenges affect the livelihood of the people in the communities. It highlights the refugee-like conditions that millions of South African citizens experience despite official statistics that claim that 86% of the country has access to potable water. A mixed methods design was used for this analysis. The qualitative methods that are used in the study include use of in-depth interviews, site visits, personal stories and the Municipal Integrated Development Programme (IDP). Participatory mapping of water sources; story-telling about water issues; timelines and trend lines by focus group members; transect walks and 7 key informant interviews were used to collect data. A total of 657 quantitative interviews were conducted in three communities. Service delivery compliance has been grossly ineffective and inefficient in Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality, especially in the Gedroogte, Ga Molapo and Magatle rural communities. The findings were that these rural communities still depend on state-owned boreholes for accessing drinking water, which are regularly broken and/or in disrepair. Sanitation service provision in the rural communities does not comply with the approved policy of providing ventilated improved pit (VIP) toilets. New settlements have increased the demand for clean water. Shortages of staff with relevant skills such as management, technicians, and administrators are one of the main reasons why there is a scarce supply of drinking water and basic sanitation services at the Gedroogte, Ga Molapo and Magatle communities. Inaccessibility to nearby treatment plants for waste disposal services (situation per community) and inaccessible disposal facilities and the use of disposal sites also affect the health conditions of community members within the Lepelle Nkumpi Local Municipality.
Movement of Zimbabwean immigrants into, within and out of the farm labour market in Limpopo province of South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Kudejira, Denboy; Du Toit, Andries
This thesis presents findings from ethnographic research conducted over a period of 17 months in the Blouberg and Molemole local municipalities of Capricorn District in Limpopo province with the aim of exploring mobility patterns of Zimbabwean migrants into, within and out of the South African farm labour market, and understanding how these movements are linked to access to food and other livelihood opportunities. Limpopo serves both as a transit province for Zimbabweans who wish to proceed further south to other provinces of South Africa and a destination for irregular migrants who live and work on white-owned commercial farms. Although constrained mobility, which results from their illegality and remoteness of farms from public services, limit their access to sources of food, irregular Zimbabwean migrants in Blouberg-Molemole area perceive that moving into South African farm labour has improved their food security and livelihood statuses. The South Africa farm labour market provides opportunities to earn income, and enables them to make long term investments in their families back home above immediate individual food security needs. Horizontal and vertical social networks established among Zimbabwean migrants in the Blouberg-Molemole area do not only serve the purpose of facilitating information sharing, but are also forms of social capital on which individual members depend on for their food security and livelihood needs.
Role of water as a resource in hygiene and sanitation
(University of the Western Cape, 2019) Njingana, Sikhanyisele; Hara, Mafaniso
Water supply and sanitation remain a huge problem in townships and rural areas of South Africa, in effect affecting the water supply, hygiene and health of marginalized communities. Following democracy in 1994, South Africa’s new government embarked on a program of eradicating backlogs in water supply and sanitation that had become endemic under apartheid in townships and rural areas. In addition, South Africa’s constitution categorically states that every citizen has a right to a minimum of basic water supply and sanitation. Internationally, access to basic water supply and sanitation are fundamental human rights. Thus the South African government aims is to ensure that all South Africans have access to basic water and sanitation services. This study investigated the quantity and quality of water and how these effect sanitation and hygiene of communities using Walmer Township in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality as a case study. The study used a multi-pronged methodological approach including structured interviews with a sample of households, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, observations and secondary information. Although the Walmer Community felt that they had access to sufficient quantity of water for their daily use and that the quality of the water was fine, the reality was that most households use less than the daily minimum amount of water per person as required in the constitution because of the distance where they have to fetch the water, which is too far to collect more water than they absolutely need. There is need for municipality to provide more stand pipes in order to reduce the distance that most households have to walk to fetch water. 80% of Walmer residents still use the bucket system, which is the issue that the community is more aggrieved about. One of the reasons the bucket system persists is the unplanned development of the Township and the type of dwellings (mostly shacks) that people still use. Also, the Township has grown and mushroomed organically as a result of the constant influx of people looking for better economic opportunities from rural areas or other urban areas. This makes it very difficult for the municipality to plan for and provide services and infrastructure as the Municipality is always playing catch-up. Worse still, the average number of people that use each bucket toilet (over 80) makes it extremely difficult to maintain the toilets clean and in functional and usable state at all times. Another problem is that the buckets, in particular those managed by the municipality, are not collected as scheduled resulting in spill-over of the toilets. Most of all, there are currently no clear arrangements around management and maintenance of the bucket toilets. Therefore the impact that the bucket system has on the residents’ health and hygiene, and the general Township environment is dire. The uncontrolled and continuing influx of people into Walmer Township has led to very high population density, with the average number of people per household up to ten. Most people of working age in these households are unemployed, which means that most households in the Township depend on social grants for survival. The high unemployment rate and dependency on social grants by most households in Walmer Township means that the community cannot afford to pay for services and therefore depend on amenities provided by the Municipality. The majority of the population of Walmer Township depends on basic services provided by the Municipality. These are provided as public amenities available to all Walmer residents, which makes them largely ‘open access’. This has resulted in poor management and poor maintenance of these amenities. The unhygienic state of most of the bucket toilets and the poor state of water stand taps is as a result of this current management arrangement. It would improve management of these public amenities if a system of locating stand taps and bucket toilets to specific households that could limit access and use to these defined groups of households was introduced. These households would then be responsible for maintaining and managing use of the specific and allocated amenities. The current management arrangements for these public amenities point to the fact that there is currently lack of participatory planning and management between the Municipality and the community. The Municipality takes top-down decisions resulting in disjuncture between the Municipality and the Community in terms of real community needs, provision of these needs, and how they should be serviced and managed.
Trade of fish imported from Sub-Saharan Africa in the Cape Town Business district
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Epo, Emilienne Ewee Ndofor; Hara, Mafaniso
Fish remains a vital source of food, income, nutrition and livelihoods for millions of people in Africa. This study investigated the modalities of trading in fish imported from sub-Saharan Africa into South Africa in the Cape Town Metropolitan area. The research analyses the opportunities and constraints faced by retail fish traders and importers regarding the South African and Southern African Development Community (SADC) policies that are in place, to ascertain how far the policies go in facilitating the intra-regional fish trade. In addition, the study analyses consumer factors underlying the attractiveness of imported fish, the channels used for importation as well as the types and forms of fish imported into South Africa. The study employs a qualitative approach using semi-structured interviews with purposively selected key informant retailers, traders and City of Cape Town officials to collect the information. Findings show that shop owners and traders face challenges in relation to obtaining the required documents for trading, sanitary and phytosanitary certification and tariff and non-tariff barriers at borders. Some of these challenges include long and tedious procedures to acquire documents, as well as the limitations placed on the amount of goods traders can import. Consumers (mostly from the diaspora) prefer the taste of fish that they are used to, thereby creating an increasing demand for imported fish. National and regional policies put in place do not facilitate the trade in fish as well as current municipal regulations for retailing imported fish and other food types. The study also raises critical questions about the implementation of sanitary and phytosanitary standards by officials in the food shops. The thesis concludes that is it critical for national and regional policies to be coordinated and harmonised for enhanced intra-regional fish trade, which could contribute towards increased food security, nutrition and livelihoods.
Assessment of the type, extent and modalities of intra-regional fish trade: A case of South Africa and other Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Jimu, Tawanda; Hara, Mafa
This study assessed the type, extent and modalities of intra-regional fish trade between South Africa and other SADC countries. Cross-border fish trade and its importance in boosting intra-regional fish trade between South Africa and the rest of SADC is poorly documented and as such, little systematic effort has been made to understand its type, extent and modalities in order to address the problems of those engaged in the activity. Regional fish trade continues to be important even though it is not always adequately reflected in official statistics. The qualitative research methodology formed the basis of this study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with fish traders at Park City Central Bus Station in Johannesburg and in-depth interviews with selected key informants from customs, port, health and immigration officials at the Beitbridge and Lebombo border posts. Participants of the study were selected through a combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Geographical Information System (GIS) was used to digitise national boundaries, border posts and the routes used by fish traders from the sources to distribution points in Johannesburg. The study adopted the new regionalism, regional integration and regional trade conceptual frameworks and attempted to apply the pro-fish trade theory as the theoretical framework.
Trajectory from government-managed to farmer-managed smallholder irrigation and its effects on productivity, operation and maintenance: An analysis of Mamina Smallholder Irrigation Scheme in Zimbabwe
(University of the Western Cape, 2016) Shayamano, Innocent; Tapela, Barbara; Isaacs, Moenieba
Government's decision to devolve irrigation management to farmers was partly influenced by international policy imperatives, which were propounded mainly by institutions associated with the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the inability by the government to continue funding operation and maintenance costs. The central question of the study is to understand the effects of Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT) on productivity, operation and maintenance in the Mamina Irrigation Scheme. Interviews with various primary and secondary stakeholders that included the irrigators, local political leadership and locally-based agriculture extension officers were carried out. The interviews were aimed at getting an insight on land tenure, participation and representation of women, water and electricity supply system and pricing, effects of irrigation management arrangements on equity and productivity, understanding the irrigators' food security status, operation and maintenance arrangement after Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT). Findings of this study suggest that the existing governance arrangements have partly led to low crop productivity, increased water and electricity bill arrears, poor water distribution, change to uneconomic plot sizes, unsustainable increase in the number of irrigators, failure to organise for operation and maintenance. The key factors influencing the poor performance include poor collaboration, pumping system that utilised more electricity, inability of the irrigators to replace leaky pipes, failure of the irrigators to contribute towards electricity and water bills, failure of the irrigators to contribute towards operation and maintenance. The study identified nine challenges that affected the success of IMT. The challenges that lay at the heart of Mamina irrigation scheme were mainly caused by the poor irrigation technology design, pricing structure of electricity, water permit system, inequalities in water distribution, low gender participation and representation, non-availability of formal markets for certain crops, food insecurity, plot alloction and land disputes. Poverty analysis has shown that the irrigators' ability to escape from poverty or food insecurity is critically dependent upon their access to assets. Different assets are required to achieve different livelihood outcomes. The cycle of accumulation of utility bill arrears continued even after devolution because the same defective irrigation infrastructure was transferred to the irrigators. In the case of Mamina irrigation scheme, modernisation of the scheme was required to achieve different livelihood outcomes, but because this did not happen the recurrent utility bill arrears, low productivity and food insecurity continued to be a very serious challenge even after IMT.
Rural livelihoods and agricultural production in smallholder irrigation schemes: The case of Hoxane Irrigation scheme
(University of the Western Cape, 2017) Maluka, Pretty Mabel; Cousins, Ben
This mini-thesis explores rural livelihoods and agricultural production in smallholder irrigation schemes in South Africa. The study sought to determine the livelihoods of plot-holders and the various production practices employed by the farmers in Hoxane Irrigation Scheme in Mpumalanga Province. The overall objective is to contribute to the literature on government's smallholder irrigation scheme revitalization programme and the types of support required by plot-holders in order to take advantage of the opportunities that exist in smallholder irrigation schemes.

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