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UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE STATE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES CENTRE FOR AFRICA STUDIES M.A. DISSERTATION THE INCORPORATIONMAGHAH OF INDIGENOUSJOSEPHINE AKENJI KNOWLEDGE IN LAND REFORM PROJECTS: THE BASOTHO2006125989 LETJHAB ILE AND MAOLOSI TRUST AGRICULTURAL PROJECTS MAGHAH JOSEPHINE AKENJI (2006125989) A research dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for a Masters Degree in Africa Studies with the Centre for Africa Studies, Faculty of Humanities at the University of the Free State. BLOEMFONTEIN 2009 SUPERVISOR: S. CAWOOD CO-SUPERVISOR: PROFESSOR P.J. NEL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The author of this dissertation is indebted to the Cluster of Social and Cultural Transformation in Diverse Societies at the University of the Free State for their financial support and for making this study feasible. The compilation of this dissertation was made possible and greatly enhanced by the assistance and guidance provided by Ms Stephanie Cawood, who was the project supervisor and Prof. P.J. Nel who was the Co-supervisor. Without their immense contributions, this dissertation would not be the success it is today. Special thanks also go to the moderators of this dissertation for their time and effort put in to make this study a standard academic document. A further expression of appreciation is extended to all the staff at the Centre for Africa Studies at the University of the Free State for their great moral and academic support. Very special thanks to Rev. John Moephuli for his assistance in the field as an interpreter and providing all the help one can ever need in the field. Thanks also go to the Free State Department of Land Affairs for providing Land Reform Projects from which the two cases involved in this study were selected. Above all, a special thanks to God Almighty for his guidance, love and support throughout this study. 1 DEDICATION This book is dedicated to the Akenji family for their moral, emotional and financial support throughout this study. To the Basotho Letjhabile and Maolosi Trust project members for their cooperation and support for the success of this research project. Their wonderful participation is making the struggle for the acknowledgement of their role in agriculture possible. 2 DECLARATION I declare that the Incorporation of Indigenous Knowledge in Land Reform Projects: the Basotho Letjhabile and Maolosi Trust agricultural Projects is my own work submitted for the awarding of an MA Degree and has not previously been submitted by me at another university/faculty. I further cede copyright of the dissertation in favour of the University of the Free State. 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page numbers Acknowledgement 1 Dedication 2 Declaration 3 Table of contents 4 List of acronyms 10 List of tables, figures and pictures 11 Abstract 12 CHAPTER 1: SETTING THE SCENE 1. Introduction 13 1.1. Topic 13 1.2. Research Problem 14 1.3. Research Objectives 14 1.4. Working Definition of Indigenous Knowledge 14 1.5. International Context on Land Reform 16 1.5.1. Decolonisation 17 1.5.2. Communism 18 1.5.3. Political Regime Change 19 1.5.4. Class and Tax Prejudice 20 1.6. South African Context on Land Reform 21 1.7. International Context of Indigenous Knowledge 24 1.8. South African Context of Indigenous Knowledge 25 1.9. Conceptualisation 26 1.9.1. Indigenous 27 1.9.2. Knowledge 27 1.9.3. Land Reform 28 1.9.4. Development 28 1.9.5. Transformation 29 1.9.6. Sustainability 29 4 1.9.7. Agriculture 30 1.9.8. Indigenous People 30 1.10. Outline of Dissertation 30 1.11. Historic Information 31 1.11.1. Basotho Letjhabile 31 1.11.2. Maolosi Trust 33 1.12. Value of the Study 35 1.12.1. To Project Members 35 1.12.2. To Future Researchers 35 1.12.3. To the Department(s) of Land Affairs and Agriculture 35 1.16. Chapter Summary 35 CHAPTER 2: REVIEW OF SCHOLARSHIP 2.1. Introduction 37 2.2. Towards an Understanding of Indigenous Knowledge 37 2.3. Understanding IK and IKS 42 2.4. Importance of Indigenous Knowledge 43 2.5. IK, Sustainable Development and Transformation 45 2.6. Development Paradigms and IK 47 2.6.1. The Modernisation Approach 47 2.6.2. The Dependency Approach 49 2.6.3. The Market-Liberal Approach 49 2.6.4. The Neo-Populist Approach 50 2.6.5. The Link Between the Development Paradigms and IK 50 2.7. What is Sustainable Development 50 2.7.1. Establishing the Link Between Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Development 51 2.8. Transformation 53 2.9. South African Farming Sectors 54 2.9.1. Field Crops and Horticulture 57 2.9.2. Livestock Farming 57 5 2.10. Types of Agriculture 63 2.11. Challenges when Working with IK 2.12. Indigenous Knowledge as Social Capital 65 2.13. Chapter Summary 66 CHAPTER 3: LAND REFORM PROGRAMMES 3.1. Introduction 67 3.2. Land Reform Laws 69 3.3. Land Restitution 69 3.4. Land Tenure 70 3.5. Land Redistribution 71 3.5.1. Land Acquisition and Transfer 71 3.5.2. The Delivery System 72 3.6. Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development 72 3.6.1 Objectives 73 3.6.2. Key Principles of LRAD 73 3.6.3. Eligibility Criteria of Persons for LRAD Finance 73 3.6.4. Eligibility Criteria LRAD Financing 74 3.6.5. Land Redistribution for Agricultural 74 Development Grant 3.6.6. Own Contribution to the LRAD Grant 75 3.7. Implementing the LRAD Sub-Programme 76 3.7.1. Project Identification 77 3.7.2. Design 77 3.7.3. Approval 79 3.7.4. Transfer 79 3.7.5. Post-Settlement Support 79 3.8. Chapter Summary 79 CHAPTER 4: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND DESIGN 4.1. Introduction 81 4.2. Choice of Topic 81 6 4.3. Description of Study Area 82 4.3.1. Geographical Description of Communities 83 4.3.2. Social Structure 84 4.3.3. Livelihood 85 4.3.4. Procedure 85 4.4. Description of Sample 85 4.5. Study Population 86 4.6. Design of Study 87 4.7. Type of Study 88 4.8. Data Collection Techniques 88 4.9. Data Processing 91 4.10. Data Analysis 91 4.11. Conditions for Data Collection 92 4.12. Chapter Summary 93 CHAPTER 5: PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION OF DATA 5.1. Introduction 95 5.2. Basotho Letjhabile 95 5.2.1. Functionality of Project 96 5.2.2. Patriarchy 97 5.2.3. Agricultural Activities 97 5.2.4. Understanding of IK 102 5.2.5. Incorporating IK in Agriculture in the Basotho 103 Letjhabile Trust 5.2.5a.Livestock Tending 103 5.2.5b. Ploughing 105 5.2.6. Harvesting 106 5.2.7. Indigenous Knowledge and Vegetables 107 5.2.8. Milking Cows 107 5.2.9. Indigenous Rituals associated with Agriculture 108 5.2.9a. Good Harvest and Thanksgiving Rituals 108 5.2.9b. Rain Ritual in the Basotho Letjhabile Project 109 7 5.2.10. Indigenous Taboos Associated with Agriculture 111 5.2.11. Indigenous Uses of Agricultural Produce 112 5.2.12. Commercialising Production in the Basotho 113 Letjhabile Trust 5.2.13. Indigenous Knowledge in the Basotho Letjhabile Trust 113 5.3. The Maolosi Trust 114 5.3.1. Functionality of Project 115 5.3.2. Agricultural Activities 117 5.3.3. Understanding of IK in the Maolosi Trust 118 5.3.4. Agricultural Knowledge in the Maolosi Trust 119 5.3.4a. Livestock Tending 119 5.3.4b. Ploughing 119 5.3.4c. Harvesting 119 5.3.4d. Salt Production 120 5.3.5. Indigenous Rituals Associated with Agriculture 122 In the Maolosi Trust 5.3.5a. Good Harvest and Thanksgiving Rituals 122 5.3.5b.The Rain-Calling Ritual 122 5.3.6. Commercialising Production in the Basotho 123 Letjhabile Trust 5.3.7. Indigenous Knowledge in the Maolosi Trust 123 5.4. Cross-Casing Indigenous Activities within both Projects 124 5.4.1. Introduction 124 5.4.2. Defining what Constitutes IK in Both Projects 125 5.4.3. Understanding of Indigenous Knowledge 127 5.4.4. Level of Incorporation of IK 128 5.4.5. Role of IK in Both Projects 129 5.4.6. The Level of Success of Both Projects 130 5.4.7. Comparing Literature and Data Collected 132 5.5. Indigenous Names of Agricultural Crops 136 8 CHAPTER 6: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 6.1. Summary 137 6.2. Conclusion 138 6.3. The Way Forward 144 6.4. Recommendations 144 6.5. Limitations 144 6.6. Challenges 146 List of Participants 148 List of References 150-167 9 LIST OF ACRONYMS CBO: Community-Based Organisation DLA: Department of Land Reform DME: Department of Minerals and Energy. DOA: Department of Agriculture IIRR: International Institute for Rural Reconstruction IK: Indigenous Knowledge IKS: Indigenous Knowledge Systems LRAD: Land Redistribution for Agricultural Development NGO: Non-Governmental Organisation. NRF: National Research Foundation NUFFIC: The Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education PGC: Provincial Grants Committee SADC: Southern African Development Community UN: United Nations USAID: United Nations Agency for International Development 10 LIST OF TABLES, FIGURES AND PICTURES Tables: Table 1: Sex distribution Table 2: Age distribution Table 3: IK within Basotho Letjhabile and Maolosi Trust Table 4: Level of incorporation of IK within the Basotho Letjhabile and Maolosi Trust Projects Table 5: Level of success of the Basotho Letjhabile and Maolosi Trust Projects Table 6: Indigenous names Figures: Figure 1: Defining indigenous knowledge Figure 2: Three types of change Pictures: Table 1: Map indicating locating of study communities Table 2: An indigenous house made of cow dung and mud Table 3: Focus group with men of the Basotho Letjhabile project Table 4: Focus group with women of the Basotho Letjhabile project Table 5: Cow breed in the Basotho Letjhabile project Table 6: Sheep breed in the Basotho Letjhabile project Table 7: Manure plot Table 8: Vegetable gardens Table 9: The Lekgala plant Table 10: Salt Pan Table 11: Crystallisation Table 12: Shrine for rain ritual 11 ABSTRACT Indigenous peoples around the world have sought knowledge of physical reality throughout the ages.