Trevor R. Hill

Learning from the people: Participatory rural appraisal, geography and rural development in the ‘new’ South Africa

Abstract Top-down rural development strategies in Africa have generally not succeeded in raising living standards among the rural poor. It is argued that inappropriate development strategies have stemmed from methodologies that fail to appreciate the whole picture in rural communities, and in particular ignore local peoples perceptions, needs and understanding. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) represents a significant step forward in the design of methodologies and a selection of these techniques is evaluated. Many PRA methods have much in common with the field research methods that have been used by geographers over many years to interpret people-environment relationships. A research investigation in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa, suggests that geographers could have an important role to play in this area of applied research and, in particular, in the context of post-apartheid South Africa there is an urgent challenge to be met in promoting rural development in poor, former black Homeland areas.

Urban advantage or Urban penalty? A case study of female-headed households in a South African city.

Basic services have improved in many urban areas of South Africa, which should improve health and well-being. However, poverty and ill-health persist and are unequally distributed by race, class and place. This paper explores conditions of the most marginalized group, female-headed households, in a case study of Msunduzi Municipality (formerly Pietermaritzburg). Data from two household surveys conducted in 2006 show important patterns regarding the incidences of and coping strategies around, illnesses and deaths. While some positive environmental health outcomes are apparent, considerable stresses face households in relation to HIV/AIDS related deaths, poverty, and lack of health services. The insights of both urban environmental health and feminist geography assist in explaining the gendered and spatialized patterns of health in post-apartheid urban South Africa.

The implications of a changing climate on the Kapenta fish stocks of Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

The influence of climatic variables (rainfall, temperature and evaporation rates) and lake water levels on the stocks of the sardine fish species Limnothrissa miodon (Boulenger), commonly known as Kapenta in Lake Kariba, was investigated. Secondary data of the climatic variables, water levels and fish catches recorded from 1963 to 2008 were analysed to determine their trends over time as well as the relationships among them. The analyses showed that rainfall is decreasing at a rate of 0.63 mm per year around Lake Kariba, while evaporation rates have increased by 31% at an average rate of 2.77 mm per year since 1963. The temperatures around the Kariba area have been rising since 1964; with the maximum range increasing at a faster rate than the minimum temperatures. Kapenta fish production has decreased significantly (R 2 =0.85, P≤0.05) since 1974 at an average rate of 24.19 metric tons per year. This pattern of decrease was also observed in the artisanal fish catches that have declined at an average rate of 37.26 metric tons per year between 1974 and 2003. All the climatic factors as well as the water levels could explain variations in the Kapenta fish catches with the water levels exerting the greatest influence (R 2 =0.84, P 0.05); followed by maximum temperature (R 2 = 0.72, P≤0.05), evaporation and rainfall. In turn, water levels are largely influenced by climate with temperature and rainfall explaining a significant portion of the variation in the water levels (R 2 =0.99, and R 2 =0.93, P≤0.05) in that order. This suggests that both climate (maximum temperature in particular) and nutrients, which are influenced by water levels, are the primary determinants of Lake Karibas Kapenta production. Concerning are the possibilities that a changing climate in and around the lake may continue to adversely affect water levels, the stratification cycle, nutrient fluxes and the Kapenta fish production in the lake.

Description, classification and ordination of the dominant vegetation communities, Cathedral Peak, KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg

A survey of 13 vegetation communities which span the major topographic and successional differences in the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg was undertaken. A basic description of species present and their abundance was recorded. Furthermore, an analysis was performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of classification and ordination to delimit the representativeness of samples within particular vegetation communities and the relationship between chosen dominant communilies based on homogeneity with regard to species composition and abundance. The analysis was performed using two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) to describe the distinctiveness or, in the case of the grassland communities, the close association between the various communities. Results are a record of the dominant vegetation communities within a region displaying a steep altitudinal, and hence environmental, gradient, the homogeneity of samples taken within a community and the distinctiveness and/or similarity between these communities.

An Assessment of Coastal Development and Land Use Change Using the DPSIR Framework: Case Studies from the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Coastal areas are experiencing high levels of development, largely driven by a number of aesthetic and recreational factors, increased mobility, availability of disposable income for middle and upper income groups and the promise of job opportunities and improved economic well-being for lower income groups. As existing coastal urban nodes expand development “shifts” to less developed areas and places increasing pressure on the surrounding natural environment. This article considers the coastal zone of two municipalities in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, with similar environmental characteristics but disparate socioeconomic and governance histories. It identifies and integrates the drivers of development and land use change in the coastal zone of these municipalities by means of an adapted Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) Framework. Development and land use change are driven by a combination of social, economic, and legislative factors that need to be considered for future management and planning in this unique dynamic system.

Partnership for Success—Community-Based Economic Development: A Case Study of Ngolowindo Cooperative, Malawi

Africa has a disproportionate share of the worlds poorest countries and within this context economically weak states generally lack the ability to provide the ideal level of support and opportunities for their citizens. This paper examines how, in Malawi, a community-based economic development initiative, with the aid of a supportive NGO, has significantly improved rural livelihoods and facilitated market access in the formal market economy. Active government and NGO support for small scale irrigation farming coupled with their encouragement of community development led to the emergence of the Ngolowindo agricultural cooperative which serves as a useful model and example of locality-based development in Africa. After providing a context for the study in terms of both contextual literature and details specific to the Malawian context, the paper examines how the cooperative emerged, how it operates, what role the supporting NGO plays, and how products are sold. The study concludes with an overview of key findings and an examination of the lessons for local development in Africa.

Statistical determination of sample size and contemporary pollen counts, Natal Drakensberg, South Africa

Abstract Thirteen vegetation communities in the montane region of the Natal Drakensberg, South Africa, an area noted for good palynological sites, were sampled to improve upon the knowledge of existing contemporary pollen-vegetation relationships and to determine modern pollen assemblage analogues. Sampling was by means of surface soil samples. A sampling strategy was determined to identify the number of samples to be collected and the size of the pollen counts per sample to be undertaken in order to obtain a good (95% confidence level) representation. Analysis of variance statistical tests were used to improve upon and make recommendations for a modern pollen sampling strategy. It is recommended that twenty surface soil samples would suffice and that a count of 250 pollen grains and spores was sufficient in all the studied vegetation communities except for the Highland Sourveld, Protea savanna and Leucosidea sericea scrubland. In these communities a count of 1,000 pollen grains is recommended. The conclu...

Rural development in Hertzog, Eastern Cape: Successful local economic development?

The governments recently released rural development strategy identifies the important role which local economic development can play in the rural areas of South Africa. This article examines the key features of local economic development and the degree to which recent initiatives in the rural village of Hertzog conform with the basic principles of local economic development. The recent establishment of an agriculture cooperative and smallholder farming on irrigated one‐hectare plots forms the basis of the initiative. Community structures, strategies and achievements are outlined and assessed.

An exploratory analysis of stakeholders’ expectations and perceptions of corporate social and environmental reporting in South Africa

This paper presents the results of a study that surveyed South African stakeholders of corporate social and environmental reporting to assess their perceptions of what businesses should be reporting, and how effectively they perceive it is being reported. Evidence was gathered from questionnaires completed by respondents of samples from key stakeholder groups, and from interviews of representatives of other stakeholders groups. The study found that areas traditionally associated with CSR reporting such as impacts on the environment, employees, consumers and the broader public, were considered to be inadequately reported. The study also found that many areas of traditional financial and corporate governance were also perceived to be less than adequately reported. The paper concluded that this represents evidence for a need for improved corporate reporting. Stakeholders believed that there is insufficient pressure on companies to present CSR disclosure. The study also showed that stakeholders believed that CSR should be included with the annual report, should be prepared to the same standards as financial reported, and should be externally verified or audited.

The closure of coal mines and local development responses in Coal-Rim Cluster, northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The impact of mine closure can have a devastating effect on the local economies of the towns that they once supported. Drawing on comparative, international material, this article examines the nature and effectiveness of the local economic development responses that have been initiated in the former coal-mining towns in northern KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Although a range of innovative locally identified strategies have been embarked upon, considerably greater effort and investment will be needed in order to catalyse significant and meaningful regeneration endeavours.