A community asset mapping programme for roots-driven sustainable socio-economic change in rural South Africa by Melanie Desireé Nicolau Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the subject Geography at the University of South Africa Supervisor: Dr. A.C. Harmse 2013 P a g e | ii I declare that “A community asset mapping programme for roots-driven sustainable socio-economic change in rural South Africa” is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. 23 August 2013 Signature Date Melanie Desireé Nicolau Student Number 31075649 P a g e | iii Table of Contents List of Figures ........................................................................................................... ix List of Tables ............................................................................................................. x List of Photographs ................................................................................................... xii List of Acronyms ...................................................................................................... xiv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... xv Abstract ................................................................................................................ xviii Chapter One: Placing poverty and inequality in South Africa into the global context .............................................................................. 1 1.1 Global inequality and poverty ..................................................................... 2 1.1.1 Understanding inequality ........................................................................... 2 1.1.2 Understanding poverty .............................................................................. 3 a. Absolute poverty ....................................................................................... 6 b. Relative poverty ........................................................................................ 7 c. Measurements of poverty .......................................................................... 7 1.1.3 The relationship between poverty and inequality ....................................... 10 1.1.4 Global strategies and comparisons related to poverty and inequality ............ 11 1.2 An overview of the extent and spatial distribution of poverty and inequality in South Africa ........................................................................ 15 1.2.1 An evaluation of South Africa in terms of global measures and goals related to poverty and inequality .............................................................. 16 1.2.2 The spatial distribution of the poor in South Africa ..................................... 18 1.2.3 Policies related to rural development in South Africa since 1994 .................. 21 1.3 Community driven change: the key to facilitate inclusive and sustainable poverty relief and inequality reduction in South Africa .............. 24 1.4 The aim of the research .......................................................................... 25 1.5 Partnerships involved in the research ........................................................ 26 1.6 Geographical area of the study ................................................................ 28 1.7 Post development theory ........................................................................ 30 1.8 Methodology used in this research ........................................................... 32 1.9 Contribution of this research to the discipline of Geography ........................ 34 1.10 Chapter outline ...................................................................................... 34 Chapter Two: Participatory rural appraisal: a methodology to facilitate roots-driven change in rural areas ............................................ 36 2.1 The development of Rapid Rural Appraisal .............................................. 37 2.1.1 The main characteristics of Rapid Rural Appraisal .................................... 38 2.1.2 The major limitations of Rapid Rural Appraisal .......................................... 38 P a g e | iv 2.2 Development of the Participatory Rural Appraisal Methodology ................... 38 2.2.1 Phase One: the need for major participatory and visual approaches ............ 40 2.2.2 Phase Two: The period of innovation and need for improvisation ................ 40 2.2.3 Phase Three: Shifting the focus to social learning, participatory monitoring and evaluation........................................................................ 52 2.3 Concepts and principles of contemporary Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) .................................................................................................... 52 2.3.1 The principles of Participatory Rural Appraisal .......................................... 53 a. The changing roles of the researcher and community members .................. 54 b. Conscious enquiry and analysis and rapid learning ..................................... 56 c. Neutralising the biases of outsiders towards a community .......................... 56 d. Optimising trade-off ................................................................................ 57 e. Triangulation .......................................................................................... 59 f. Recognising and supporting diversity, complexity and multiple realities ........ 60 g. The sequence of application ..................................................................... 60 h. Handing over the stick ............................................................................. 61 i. Self-critical awareness ............................................................................. 62 j. Sharing .................................................................................................. 62 2.3.2 Participatory mapping ............................................................................. 63 a. Social Maps ............................................................................................ 64 b. Resource maps ....................................................................................... 64 2.3.3 Scientific validity of participatory approaches and techniques ...................... 65 2.3.4 Application of Participatory Rural Appraisal in the discipline of Geography in South Africa ........................................................................................ 66 2.4 Conclusion .............................................................................................. 68 Chapter Three: Asset-based community development as a possible tool for wealth creation in South Africa: Mathopestad, North- West Province ........................................................................... 69 3.1 Asset-based community development (ABCD)............................................ 69 3.1.1 Definitions of asset-based community development ................................... 69 3.1.2 The approach followed by asset-based community development ................. 71 3.1.3 Defining assets within the asset-based community development approach ................................................................................................ 73 3.1.4 Application of asset-based community development ................................... 74 3.2 The Greater Rustenburg Community Foundation application of asset- based community development in North-West Province ............................. 75 P a g e | v 3.3 The application of ABCD in Mathopestad (North-West Province) .................. 78 3.3.1 Pre-preparation ..................................................................................... 81 3.3.2 Three day workshop .............................................................................. 81 a. Community appreciative enquiry ............................................................... 82 b. Capacity inventory .................................................................................. 82 c. Association mapping ................................................................................ 84 d. Community asset mapping session ........................................................... 84 e. Transect walk ......................................................................................... 85 f. Community economic analysis .................................................................. 86 g. Action planning ....................................................................................... 87 h. Next steps and planned monitoring and evaluation .................................... 87 3.3.3 Monitoring and evaluation ........................................................................ 89 3.3.4 Roots-driven change challenges identified in Mathopestad after Asset- based Community Development .............................................................. 94 3.3.5 The transition of ABCD to CAMP as a tool for wealth creation in rural South Africa ............................................................................................ 96 Chapter Four: The development of CAMP for the rural communities in South Africa: Case study from the Free State Province ........... 98 4.1 The four day workshop .......................................................................... 99 a. Community appreciative enquiry and association mapping .......................