Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit RURAL ORGANTSATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA: A DlRECI'ORY Barry Streek Saldru Working Paper No. 57 cape TOtm October 1983 ISBN 0 7992 0563 X ..t TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCT:):ON (i) ORGANISATIONS 1 GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS 59 ADDITIONAL ORGANISATIONS* 65 TYPE OF ACTIVITY 70 AREA OF ACTIVITY 81 , . * This appendix of 'Additional Organisations' was compiled after the main index was completed. The .,, information comes from various sources but mainly from the well-produced 'A Directory of Community Development Projects and Agencies in KwaZuluand Natal'by S.W. Dube (University of Zululand) .. " i INTRODUCTION The majority of South Africans, about 54% according to Charles Simkins in a 1981 Saldru report, live in those areas which have variously been described as 'reserves'. 'bantustans', 'homelands' or 'black national states'. The overwhelming majority of these people survive in grim poverty. Outside the homelands, but still in the rural areas, there are many people whose lives are also characterised by a struggle for survival. One of the major challenges facing South Africa today is that of poverty and what should be done about it. The long-term solution lies in the distribution of resources - in the nature of political and economic power. However, there are a number of organisations in the rural areas trying to do what they can within the political and economic realities of today. They are often in remote areas where isolation makes communication with groups and people difficult. They are often desperately short of money, technical expertise and other resources. They often make mistakes. But they, what­ ever their strategies, are trying to do something about rural poverty in South Africa. This publication is the first attempt to list those organisations. It is hoped that it will give some idea of who is active in the rural areas and that it will contribute to breaking down the isolation of those dedicated people who are working in those organisations. Because it is the first time such a publication has been compiled, there are bound to be mistakes and omissions. I apologise for these but the problems of remoteness and communication were substantial. This publication should, therefore, be regarded as a first draft. A second, more accurate and more comprehensive, list of these organisations is planned. Provision has been made in this volume for organisations to submit correct and updated information for incorporation into the next edition. It is hoped that organisations will take the op?ortunity to provide more adequate information. ii It is also intended in the second volume to provide a list of organisations which are providing financial assistance to groups in the rural areas, particularly as the struggle for funds is one of the major problems facing organisations. However, it is important that this information is accurate before it is published. Wherever possible, the addresses, telephone numbers and contact people in the rural organisations has been provided. It was not possible to obtain this information for all organisations. In particular, the World Vision organisation felt that any contact with its projects should be conducted through its headquarters in Johannesburg. Another problem with the compilation of this list was simply definitional: what is an organisation? In practical terms, there is no easy answer. Some projects may simply be extensions of church missionary work with no visible existence on their own. Others may be names given to particular aspects of a single organ~ isation's work. In the end, I have opted for a vague definition. The list includes those bodies which appear to have a structure and existence separate from their parent, donor or supporting bodies. It also includes a separate list of government sponsored bodies, which are basically parastatal, but it does not include government departments. Government schools are, therefore, ex­ cluded from any list, but creches and pre-schools which have to raise their own funds and are not directly controlled by govern­ ment are included. Other than the parastatal organisations, commercial companies have also been excluded. There are certainly some commercial companies involved in rural development but it proved impossible to compile adequate information on them. Geographic restraints have also been imposed. Except for two groups which may be of interest to organisations in South Africa, projects in Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland as well as Namibia have been excluded. This list is intended to reflect those organisations working in the rural areas of South Africa, including the homelands. iii The compilation of this list has inevitably involved a large number of people, too many to be named, but their support was motivated by an overall desire to assist those groups who are trying to do something about poverty in the rural areAS and to help overcome their isolation. It is hoped that this publication will contribute to those intentions. Barry Streek _________-,J j I ~ s= ii ~:: '"c ~~ R > ~E ~ r-'" ~~ £ 0 iilii C'\ ~ >'" ~~ Z ~::: ~ N(n ~~ ~O 0 ~C I'; I ",-I = ~ _:I: m i »- 0 .nTEn AND SD UTIltRl Wt~------------ ~ ~ ~ ~> z c; !S - 6 ","Tl .....>:;0 -9 ~ a! ! -n- ,. ; ; ~> z ~ ~ 3: '" .' , SOUTN EASTERI DlAMGE fREE STATE. EASTERI CAPE / (N t ~ (J i --_._ .. _._"---,,--.. ,,--_ ........... _.. ,, .. <, .. , " (; IOIINErI AND EASTER.IIAMSVAAl UTAl. SOUIN EASTERN TUNSVAAl 8 Q ORGANIZATIONS ACAT (Africa Co-operative Action Trust) Address: Acat Southern Africa P.O. Box 1743 Pietermaritzburg 3200 Telephone: (0331) 52302 Contact: Founder-Member: Dr. L. McCrystal (Chairman) Transkei Director: John Saulez KwaZulu Director: Von van der Linde Ciskei Official: Rev. E. Germiquet Objectives: (i) Self-help schemes in rural areas (ii) Promote savings clubs (iii) Training people in administrating clubs (iv) Improved farming methods (v) Promoting Christianity (vi) Water development projects (vii) Savings projects Acat was born out of concern for the future of South Africa after 1976 Soweto riots and based on the Christian principle of 'Show a man your faith by the things you do'. Acat's Strategy: to plan and promote INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT in Africa and to function as a communicator, motivator, catalyst, a co-ordinator amongst and between Christians, churches, governments, private sector and other concerned organisations or institutions. In the actual field of rural development, Acat's function is as a training organisation and makes use of the concept of 'Training Multiplicatory' because of the immensity of the task and to best apply available resources. It is the responsibility of the local Board to negotiate with government to extend an invitation to Acat - South Africa to act as the government's rural development agency. Acat is compiling a handbook for subsistence farmers to produce their own balanced diet. Acat has 600 savings clubs in Kwazulu and 209 savings clubs in Transkei. Average membership is 30 Der club - 18 000 in KwaZulu. The savings clubs may graduate to become future co-opera­ tives. The challenge in Acat is that we will continue to produce the results to motivate 'Pro-Tech' missionaries (Pro­ fessional and Technical Christians) to join us as the work expands, governments to appoint us as their rural develop­ ment agents and to get the private sector to support us financially to meet our budget needs. Has produced booklets: 1. Better nutrition for your family 2. ACAT - Savings Clubs 3. The traditional balanced diet ~-- -~--- 2 • " 4. How to prepare a balanced diet 5. Energy for domestic use 6. Bio-climatic regions 7. Farmers calendar for crop protection 8. How to store surplus crops 9. Family budgeting 10. Staple food - package programme 11. Vegetable - ackage programme 12. Poultry - package programme 13. Rabbits - package programme 14. Milk production 15. Fruit trees 16. Trees - building and fire wood 17. Water development 18. Veld and pasture management 19. Soil conservation Acat is also compilint a Training Officers Manual. AFRA (Association for Rural Advancement) Address: P.O. Box 2517 pj.etermaritzburg 3200 Telephone: (0331) 57607 Contact: Chairpe~son: Peter Brown Organiser: Cheryl Walker/Ian Donald ,Objectives: (i) To monitor, enquire into, record and publicise the social and economic position of rural people of Natal. (ii) To take action to alleviate hardships, discrimination and oppression suffered by them, and to encourage their social and economic advancement, with specific regard to re­ settlement. AFRICAN ART CENTRE (SAIRR) Address: 12 Printing Office St. Pietermaritzburg 3201 Telephone: (0331) 21795 or 23395 Contact: ,Mrs. D. Lawrence Objectives: (i) Promotes relationships between races ~ . (ii) Promotes African arts and crafts (iii) Provides bursaries (iv) Sells handicrafts on behalf of craftsmen. AFRICAN HOME CRAFTS AND ART Address: P.O. Box 261 Tzaneen 0850 Objectives:Produces karakul and mohair rugs, and.carpets. L 3 AFRO-ART Address: 36 Van Zyl Street Messina 0900 Objectives: Wooden products, Calabashes, Carvings. AGENCY FOR INDUSTRIAL MISSION (AIM) Address: c/o Presbyterian Church in Africa POBox 310 Odendaalsrus 9480 Contact: Marius Khoza Objectives: (i) Sewing projects (ii) Daycare and preschool centre. ALL SAINTS HOME INDUSTRIES Address: P.O. All Saints Transkei 5052 Objectives: Beadwork Clothing ARDRI (Agricultural and Rural Development Research Institute) Address: University of Fort Hare Private Bag X1314 Alice Ciskei 5700 Telephone: 463 Contact: Professor T.B. Bebridge (Head of Department) Mrs. J. Holcroft (ARDRI Documentation Centre) Objectives: (i) Training in agricultural extension and rural development: , ' in order to ensure that courses at all levels meet the real needs of rural development it is essential to receive feedback information on extension and rural development problems in the national states. It is clear that the general principles of extension which pertain to adult education can be applied to all organisations concerned with community and rural development in the national states. All courses have clearly defined objectives designed to meet the needs of organisations which send people to university for extension and rural development training.