Redistribution of land among the communities of Ngotshe District in Vryheid : problems and challenges
Date
2000
Authors
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Publisher
University of Zululand
Abstract
The history of South Africa is the history of conquest, dispossession, forced removals, unjust policies, detribalization and poverty. Development , on the land was seen as a prerogative of the White minority. Underdevelopment, on the other hand was considered a natural state for the overwhelming black majority class.
This conflict relationship formed the foundation of the South African Society's social system over years. Order in the society meant the ability to sustain a status quo of the social system. Land has,in all respects, been the borne of contention. It is arguable that land has had a determinant role in the nature of the South African state and politics.
The land redistribution programme will either improve these class antagonism or legitimase them. It pivotes upon the context under which the land redistribution is carried out and by whom it is being driven. The land redistribution programme needs to be Afrocentric in paradigm and Africans themselves need to drive the course of their own development. There are things which may be of value to Africans and which land redistribution programme, unless driven by themselves , may be found insignificant. For an example, African organization structures in rural areas are very important for self identity.
Unless the land redistribution programme recognizes these problems and challenges, there will be a moving equilibrium or status quo with regard to social change. There will be apartheid order within a democratic social system. The land set aside for settlement under the new order will still resemble the then bantustan, and black sport lands.
Description
Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Masters of Arts in the Department of Social Work in Community Work at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2000.
Keywords
Social Science, Land redistribution