Towards sustainable rural development in KwaZulu/Natal
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2001
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Abstract
ABSTRACT
KwaZulu/Natal is situated in one of the poverty stricken Southern Africa regions. This situation was partly created by colonialism and the Apartheid system which marginalised the indigenous people. Unlike the independent countries of Lesotho, Mozambique and Swaziland which receive considerable international financial and technological aid because of their poverty rankings, however, KwaZulu/Natal does not qualify for most of these benefits because of its being pan of the Republic of South Africa whose higher Gross Domestic Product (GDP) disqualifies it from receiving much of this aid. According to the Rio Declaration, poverty is a negative indicator of sustainable development (UNCED, 1992).
The Colonial and Apartheid governments, which were characterised by social injustices and inequalities, left indelible conditions of inequalities in the rural areas of KwaZulu/Natal, especially the inequalities in agricultural land distribution. In spite of the repeal of all racial laws since 1994, and the implementation of the land reform programme under the RDP, there has to date not been a significant change in the distribution characteristics of rural land in KwaZulu/Natal. In terms of the Rio Declaration, these inequalities were inimical to sustainable development (UNCED, 1992).
The land resources of the KwaZulu/Natal Region are not homogeneous, but offer a wide variety of choices for agriculture, which is a positive factor towards rural sustainability. Some districts were, however, in marginal climatic zones where great care has to be exercised in rural land use. There is widespread land degradation. The erosivity of run off in the region is exacerbated by the fact that there is very high precipitation in the catchment areas. The variegated geological structure and ruggedness of the land, subjects most areas
in KwaZulu/Natal. especially those of the interior, to erosion which is a negative factor to
sustainability. High population and livestock densities exacerbate the natural process of soil erosion. Although it is evident that the majority of householders were aware of the problem of soil erosion and of the need to use commercial fertilisers to improve their productivity, crop failure was common due to natural hazards such as drought, floods hail, pests and diseases. The prevalence of these natural hazards affects the poor adversely and is a negative factor to sustainable rural development. The vicious cycle between poverty and land degradation found in rural KwaZulu/Natal confirms the assertion by Chambers (1987) and Redclift (1987) about the vicious circular relationship between poverty and the environment.
Given the type of crops grown and the harsh ecological environment, the small size of the average land holdings in KwaZulu/Natal were not economically viable, and most small land holdings could only produce staple crops mainly for subsistence. The difficulties of making a living from the soil, compounded by the lack of local job opportunities, compelled the young and able bodied males to seek work as migrants in the distant industrial areas of South Africa. In the absence of their male folk, the economically active women spend most of their lives in the rural areas maintaining food production and the social reproduction. Migrant labour has a number of negative effects on the stability of families and is a negative factor to the sustainability of rural communities.
With very little mineral resources, KwaZulu/Natal is a predominantly agricultural province. Since there were few manufacturing industries there were few employment opportunities. The amount of income received by many householders leaves them with little disposable income for investment. The survival strategy of the peasants in KwaZulu/Natal lies in cash income
from diverse sources such as migrant remittances, pensions, welfare payments and petty
commodity production. The residents were thus trapped in a vicious cycle of poverty which, according to the Rio Declaration (UNCED, 1992), is a negative indicator to sustainable development.
The variegated relief, and the different vegetation and wild animal species give KwaZulu/Natal scenic beauty that attract tourists from far and near. Added to these natural features are a number of battlefields, monuments, shrines and heritage sites that add to the attractions of tourists to KwaZulu/Natal. The warm climate and fine beaches and a range of accommodation from hotels to caravan parks have made Durban and the South Coast particularly attractive to the inland tourists. KwaZulu/Natal thus relies on tourism for much of its cash income, which is a positive indicator of sustainable development.
Lack of clean tap water forced the communities to drink the often polluted stream or dam water which was threatening to the health of the communities. Considerable time that could be used for other productive activities was wasted on long trips to fetch water from rivers and wells. There was also evidence of a lack of health services and schools which is a negative factor to sustainable development.
A democratic form of governance was introduced since 1994. Since then there were positive efforts made by government, the private sector and individuals to give communities socio-economic assistance as well as in protecting the environment. This was a positive move towards sustainable rural development. Yet there were still problems of corruption that threatened the conditions for sustainable development. Many tribal Chiefs and their headmen
in KwaZulu/Natal often lacked the expected leadership qualities such as administrative
expertise. In such instances the institution of the chieftainship can be an obstacle to sustainable rural development. The prevalence of faction fighting, which often involves the Chiefs, is a negative factor to sustainable rural development in KwaZulu/Natal.
The main findings of this thesis is that there are in KwaZulu/Natal a number of negative as well as positive factors towards sustainable rural development. It is possible that many of the negative ecological and socio-economic factors can be overcome by the positive rural development programmes that government and non-government agencies are engaged in. The successful implementation of these programmes is, however, dependent on the active participation of the rural communities in self-improvement projects such as the acquisition of education and skills to cope with the requirements for sustainable development. The major challenge of achieving sustainable rural development in KwaZulu/Natal is for all stakeholders to engage in integrated efforts of accomplishing equitable distribution of rural land and the eradication of poverty.
Description
Subbmitted to the Fuculty of Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (D.Phil) in the Department of Geography and Environment Studies at the University of Zululand, 2001.
Keywords
Sustainable agriculture., Sustainable development--Kwa zulu natal., Rural development--Kwa zulu natal.