Food Security in the Free State Province: Meaning Making As Democratic Agency Jacqueline Del Valle Hanoman Ambrosio Purdue University
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Purdue University Purdue e-Pubs Open Access Dissertations Theses and Dissertations Spring 2015 Food security in the free state province: Meaning making as democratic agency Jacqueline Del Valle Hanoman Ambrosio Purdue University Follow this and additional works at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations Part of the Sustainability Commons Recommended Citation Hanoman Ambrosio, Jacqueline Del Valle, "Food security in the free state province: Meaning making as democratic agency" (2015). Open Access Dissertations. 466. https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/open_access_dissertations/466 This document has been made available through Purdue e-Pubs, a service of the Purdue University Libraries. Please contact [email protected] for additional information. Graduate School Form 30 Updated 1/15/2015 PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL Thesis/Dissertation Acceptance This is to certify that the thesis/dissertation prepared By Jacqueline Del Valle Hanoman Ambrosio Entitled FOOD SECURITY IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE: MEANING MAKING AS DEMOCRATIC AGENCY For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Is approved by the final examining committee: Dr. Anne Knupfer Chair Dr. Leonard Harris Dr. Harry Targ Dr. Lisa Merriweather To the best of my knowledge and as understood by the student in the Thesis/Dissertation Agreement, Publication Delay, and Certification Disclaimer (Graduate School Form 32), this thesis/dissertation adheres to the provisions of Purdue University’s “Policy of Integrity in Research” and the use of copyright material. Approved by Major Professor(s): Dr. Anne Knupfer Approved by: Dr. Ala Samarapungavan 4/7/2015 Head of the Departmental Graduate Program Date FOOD SECURITY IN THE FREE STATE PROVINCE: MEANING MAKING AS DEMOCRATIC AGENCY A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University by Jacqueline Del Valle Hanoman Ambrosio In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy May 2015 Purdue University West Lafayette, Indiana ii To the people of the Free State Province. May your kindness and generosity toward me extend toward each other, so that you can live together and help each other make this province that is your home blossom into its human greatness iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation would have never come into being if it had not been for my family and the numerous people in South Africa who helped me out of the kindness of their heart. To John, my husband, without whom this dream of doing meaningful work in South Africa would have never become possible. Thank you for South Africa, Mi Amor, and for all your support every step of the way. Hand in hand, we are carving the path to our dreams becoming reality. To my mother, Matilde, thank you for always believing in me, being there for me throughout my life and for sharing some of my adventures, including flying all the way to South Africa to accompany me on this special one. Gracias, Mi Mamita Bella. To our son, Isaac, thank you for being the wonderful young man you are and for sharing the last part of this adventure with me with great patience. To my father, Eon. I wish you were here to see this dream come true. I was very fortunate to do my study in the Free State Province, where I met the most marvelous people who helped me in every way they could. Where can I begin to thank you all? To all my participants, thank you for sharing your lives, dreams and hopes with me. I will never forget you and I hope that my work will help you. I am particularly grateful to Rindi Gordon, who took me under her wing, then in a whirlwind of two days took me around Bloemfontein to meet a number of people, see different places and always kept an eye on me while she was there. I would never have been able to carry out much of my research without her help. Thank you so much, Rindi. To Julia and Pulani, who opened their hearts to me and let me into their lives. Ke a leboha Motswalle! To all the wonderful friends at the Christian organization who always made me feel welcome with their smiles and gentleness. To my friends at the Faculty of Education of the University of the Free State who welcomed me so wonderfully and always made me feel at home, even though I was not officially iv part of the Faculty, Thank you! Baie Dankie! Ke a leboha! To Molebatsi for his encouragement and my deepest appreciation to Dipane who took time out of his busy schedule to work with me. To my Vriendin Adré for our times of ‘koek en tee’ in which we chatted endlessly and for motivating me on my path to learning Afrikaans. To Elna for her smiles and immense help always, and to everyone else for your friendship and open arms. To Phia, my companion and friend in the painstaking labour of writing a dissertation and talking about life. You are all more than my friends; you are my South African family and I will never forget your kindness. To Busi, Sister Electa and Nohlanhla for their patience and generosity in taking the time to share their work in the communities with me. To Prof. Corinna Walsh and Dr. Louise van den Berg who generously shared their research with me, and Dr. Lucia Meko for helping me to carry out my research in Phase 9. Thank you all for your kindness. To my dear friend Ivelise, whose kindness and prayers helped me through difficult moments. ¡Muchísimas Gracias Amiga mia! My deepest gratitude to the Chair of my doctoral committee, Dr. Anne Knupfer, whose guidance and dedication in helping me were invaluable and without whose help I would not have made it to the end. My special thanks to my committee members, Dr. Leonard Harris, Dr. Harry Targ and Dr. Lisa Merriweather who encouraged me and made my path towards carrying out my research and writing this dissertation so much easier. I had the best committee any doctoral student could dream of. Thank you all so very much for your support. And to God, who has guided me every step of the way, given me strength and put all these marvelous people in my life. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................................xi TABLE OF FIGURES...................................................................................................................xii ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................xiv CHAPTER 1. THE HIDDEN FACES OF POVERTY AND HUNGER ........................................1 1.1Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Purpose of the Study and Research Questions....................................................................... 6 1.3 Significance of the Study....................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Dearth of Qualitative Food Security Studies .................................................................. 8 1.3.2 Including the Voices of the Food Insecure ..................................................................... 8 1.3.3 Understanding Food Insecurity Within the Racial and Socioeconomic Dynamics of the Free State Province.................................................................................................................. 9 1.4 Delimitations and Limitations of this study......................................................................... 11 1.4.1 Delimitations................................................................................................................. 11 1.4.2 Limitations.................................................................................................................... 11 1.5 Some Definitions: Food Insecurity and Racial Categorization............................................ 12 1.5.1 World Food Program Definition of Food Security....................................................... 12 1.5.2 The South African Constitution Definition of Food Security....................................... 13 1.5.3 Whites, Blacks, Coloureds and Indians ........................................................................ 13 CHAPTER 2. HISTORY, SOCIETY, RACE AND FOOD IN SOUTH AFRICA AND THE FREE STATE PROVINCE ...........................................................................................................15 2.1 A Concise History of South Africa: Politics, Societal Dynamics, Economy and Culture... 15 2.1.1 The History of Segregation and Racial Discrimination in South Africa in the Twentieth Century: Before Apartheid..................................................................................................... 16 2.1.2 The Apartheid Regime.................................................................................................. 19 2.2 The Post-1994 Republic of South Africa: Poverty Alleviation and Food Security Programmes ...............................................................................................................................22 vi Page 2.3 National Food Policies and Programmes............................................................................. 24 2.4 National School Nutrition Programme ................................................................................ 31 2.5 The Social Grants ................................................................................................................ 31 2.6 The Free State Province: History and Contemporary Societal Dynamics........................... 34 2.6.2 The Food Situation and Food Programmes