DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY RESEARCH DISSERTATION: MSc GEOGRAPHY SOCIO AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COMPREHENSIVE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME: A CASE STUDY OF MUYEXE COMPREHENSIVE RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME SITE IN THE GREATER GIYANI LOCAL MUNICIPALITY IN LIMPOPO PROVINCE, SOUTH AFRICA By DITEBOGO AUDRY RAMOVHA APRIL 2016 A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree: Masters of Science in Geography Supervisor: Professor Simphiwe E Mini TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................. ii LIST OF FIGURES ..................................................................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................... v KEY WORDS ............................................................................................................ vii DECLARATION ........................................................................................................ viii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... ix ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................ x CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Background................................................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Study Area .................................................................................................................................. 4 1.3.1 Map of Limpopo Province ...................................................................................... 6 1.4 Rationale for the Study ............................................................................................................. 6 1.5 Problem Statement .................................................................................................................... 7 1.6 Aim of the Study......................................................................................................................... 7 1.7 Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................................. 8 1.8. Research questions ................................................................................................................. 8 1.9 Structure and Design of the Dissertation ............................................................................... 9 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................... 10 SECTION A: The Meaning of Rural Development ................................................... 10 2.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 10 2.2 Definitions of Rural Development.......................................................................................... 12 2.3. Contested Global Rural Development Paradigms............................................................. 14 2.3.1 Modernisation Theory In Rural Development ...................................................... 14 2.3.2 Marxist Development Theory and Rural Development ........................................ 15 2.4 Evolving Ideas to Rural Development Internationally ........................................................ 16 2.5 Job Creation ............................................................................................................................. 17 2.6 The International Evolution of Approaches to Rural Development .................................. 18 2.7 Rural Development Strategies ............................................................................................... 18 2.8 Development Challenges Facing Rural Areas .................................................................... 19 SECTION B: RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA .................................... 20 2.9 Origins of Rural Development................................................................................................ 20 ii 2.10 Development Challenges for Rural Areas in South Africa .............................................. 20 2.11 Approaches to Rural Development in South Africa Since 1994 ..................................... 21 2.11.1 Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) - 1994 ..................................... 22 2.11.2 Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) - 1996 ................................... 24 2.11.3 Rural Development Framework - 1997 .............................................................. 26 2.11.4 Integrated Sustainable Rural Development Strategy (ISRDS) - 2000 ................ 26 2.11.5 Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA) - 2006 ...... 28 2.11.6 Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) - 2009 ...................... 28 2.11.6.1 Lessons learned during the implementation of the CRDP Programme ........... 30 2.12 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 32 CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................... 35 3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 35 CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND RESEARCH FINDINGS ............. 46 4.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................. 46 4.2 Demographic Characteristics ................................................................................................. 47 4.2.1 Age of the respondents ....................................................................................... 47 4.2.2 Gender of the respondents .................................................................................. 48 4.2.3 Marital status of respondents .............................................................................. 49 4.2.4 Educational level of the respondents ................................................................... 50 4.3 Level of employment amongst household members ......................................................... 51 4.4 Infrastructure Development .................................................................................................... 55 4.4.1 Access to basic services ..................................................................................... 59 4.4.2 Improvement on the road infrastructure ............................................................... 62 4.4.3 Suggestions on transport improvement ............................................................... 62 4.4.4 Other infrastructure development ........................................................................ 63 4.4.5 Access to social services .................................................................................... 64 4.4.7 The quality of the RDP houses and VIP toilets build in Muyexe ........................... 67 4.4.8 The contribution of CRDP to economic activities ................................................. 68 4.4.9 The long term economic benefits of the CRDP .................................................... 69 4.4.10 CRDP contribution to business activities ........................................................... 70 4.4.11 Members of the households employed in the CRDP projects ............................ 77 4.4.13 Challenges faced with in relation to employment ............................................... 81 4.4.14 Life improvement since the launch of the CRDP ............................................... 82 4.4.15 Community participation and implementation of the CRDP projects .................. 83 iii 4.4.17 Gender equality and vulnerable groups in implementation of CRDP ................. 85 4.4.18 Skills Development ............................................................................................ 86 4.4.19 Improvement on Food Security ......................................................................... 89 4.4.20 Challenges experienced at the gardens ............................................................ 90 4.4.21 The beneficiary perceptions on the CRDP Programme ..................................... 90 4.4.22 Rating on the overall success/achievement of the CRDP .................................. 92 4.4.23 The overall challenges of the CRDP .................................................................. 92 4.4.23 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 94 CHAPTER FIVE: ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION .................................................... 95 5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 95 5.2 Social and Demographic challenges and opportunities for CRDP .................................. 95 5.3 CRDP Interventions for Poverty Reduction in Rural South Africa ................................... 96 5.4 CRDP and Employment Creation for Sustainable Rural Livelihoods ............................ 100 5.5 Community Participation in CRDP Projects