Dissertation
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DISSERTATION Livelihoods in the Lake Gariep Region: A Study of Socio-Economic Conditions in Post-1994 Rural South Africa ‘ubomi obungcono’ Mag. Hermine Julia Stelzhammer angestrebter akademischer Grad Doktorin der Philosophie (Dr. Phil.) Wien, 2012 Studienkennzahl lt. A 291 300 Studienblatt: Dissertationsgebiet lt. Politikwissenschaft Studienblatt: Betreuerin / Betreuer: Prof Walter Schicho Livelihoods in the Lake Gariep Region: A Study of Socio-Economic Conditions in Post-1994 Rural South Africa ubomi obungcono Hermine Stelzhammer, Magistra (Universität Wien) A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirements of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Department of Modern History, Politics and International Relations, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia and of the Degree of Doctor der Politikwissenschaft, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Vienna, Austria Submitted on 2 April 2012 Certification I acknowledge that I have submitted this doctoral thesis to the University of Vienna as part of a co-tutelle agreement with Macquarie University. I certify that the thesis is an original piece of research and that it has been written by me. Any help or assistance has been properly acknowledged. Hermine Stelzhammer ii Abstract The core empirical research of this thesis investigates livelihoods in three rural communities at Lake Gariep, South Africa’s biggest water body. More than 6000 people are living within the study area: Venterstad and Oviston, situated in the province of the Eastern Cape; and Gariep, in the province of the Free State. Severe poverty characterizes all three locations. The fish stock at Lake Gariep is one of the most important food resources for locals. This study constitutes the first social research undertaken in the area. It contributes to the existing body of knowledge on livelihood studies and natural resources in general and in post-apartheid South Africa in particular. A mixed methodology, combining the livelihood approach with extensive in situ surveys is applied. Wide-ranging socio-economic data and qualitative material on life satisfaction were generated through two large household surveys conducted in 2007 and 2011. The methodology enables a comprehensive assessment of the role of fishing for rural communities, its contribution to their well-being, and the constraints fishermen have to face. The analysis is extended to the relationship between the micro-level represented by the case study and the macro-level of the political and economic situation in contemporary South Africa. The thesis argues that the rural poor at Lake Gariep are a localised example of a broader failure to make substantial progress towards achieving major national policy objectives of economic development, food security and poverty eradication since 1994. In stark contrast to these proclaimed goals, South Africa is characterized by increasing inequality and poverty. The reasons for this are manifold: historical and global economic pressures, but principally it is a result of political and administrative failure. i Acknowledgements I would like to express my sincerest thanks to those who assisted me with this study. I am especially indebted to the following people. First of all I wish to thank the residents in the Oviston, Venterstad and Hydro Park, for your patience with me and your time you devoted to my questions and for the strengths and courage I learnt from you! Thank you! The first time in my life I arrived in Cape Tow, was on the 27th of April, 2006. People all over the country were celebrating the Freedom’s Day, and I was fascinated about the passion and love people have for their country. The first person I met and you impressed me Chris!, telling me about his life, his anger and unhappiness, was the gardener of our rented house in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape. You opened my eyes Chris! Thank you! I remember the day in Grahamstown, when I left the area, where white people reside, driving to the other side of the hill, to the locations of Black South Africans. Suddenly I entered a different world, very alive, children playing everywhere, dogs running around, women selling fruits and veggies at the corner of the street, very busy. When looking back, I don’t know anymore what made me feel so bad, maybe I was terrified. Four years later I am very thankful that I got the opportunity to undertake this study, to stay in Venterstad and Oviston for conducting my research and to get to know so many very inspiring South Africans! Many thanks to Debbie Bruinders and Dr Julie Smith, my friends and colleagues at the Institute for Social and Economic Research, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. Many thanks to Prof Valerie Moller, thank you for your generosity for being my host at the Institute and for giving me guidance with the field work at Lake Gariep and for being a friend. Debbie, thank you for your friendship and encouragement. Julie for your comradeship, humour and solidness and impossibly winning spirit and the special courage you taught me – thank you my comrade! ii Dr Peter Teske, thank you for endless hours we spent discussing my work, for your patience, thank you for your constant support at the end of the study. Lailufar, for being a very close friend to me and for our discussion – always inspiring. Dr Henning Winker, thank you for your inspiration with the initial proposal and for your long time companionship, without you this study would never have been accomplished. Princess, to you I am very much indebted – thank you for taking care of Tilda when I was busy with field work, for being my friend during my second time in Grahamstown. Thank you! Dr Steve Wood, for your impeccable eye for detail and for your time you devoted my work. Prof Walter Schicho for your time and thoughts you shared with me – thank you! Prof Geoffrey Hawker for your guidance! My parents, Ulli und Walter, for your constant support, your open ears for everything, and for supporting me endlessly and always. Tilda, my baby, and Peter thank you for being so patient with me. Thank you all! iii Dedication For Tilda iv Table of Content Abstract .......................................................................................................................... i Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... ii List of Figures ............................................................................................................ viii List of Tables ................................................................................................................. x List of Photos ............................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Theme and Research Context .................................................................................. 1 1.3 Scope and Structure of the Thesis .......................................................................... 11 1.4 Objectives .............................................................................................................. 15 1.4 Methods ................................................................................................................. 18 Chapter 2 History, Politics and Economics in Post-1994 South Africa ..................... 20 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 20 2.2 The legacy of apartheid .......................................................................................... 21 2.3 Policy and Poverty ................................................................................................. 25 2.4 Growth ................................................................................................................... 38 Chapter 3. Lake Gariep: Geography, History, Fishing ................................................ 41 3.1 Geography .............................................................................................................. 41 3.2 Regional History .................................................................................................... 44 3.3 Study Area ............................................................................................................. 49 3.4 Fishing ................................................................................................................... 55 Chapter 4 Methodology ............................................................................................... 59 4.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 60 4.1.1 The Livelihood Approach ................................................................................... 61 4.1.3 Theoretical Background ...................................................................................... 68 4.2 Case Study ............................................................................................................. 69 v 4.3 Pragmatism - Methodological Pluralism............................................................... 72 4.4 Study Design ......................................................................................................... 80 4.4.1 Survey and Questionnaire 2007 ......................................................................... 83 4.4.2 Survey and Questionnaire