Faculty of Management Sciences
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Item Driving sustainable growth for small and medium enterprises in emerging urban–rural economies(MDPI AG, 2023) Tshikovhi, Ndivhuho; More, Krantisagar; Cele, ZamaswaziRural economies are crucial for global development, with more than 80% of the world’s population living in rural areas and agriculture providing livelihoods for approximately 2.5 billion people worldwide. However, these economies are often vulnerable to various factors, including climate change, natural disasters, and a lack of progressive economic policies. The main aim of making rural economies more sustainable is to promote long-term economic development, protect the environment, and improve the quality of life in urban–rural communities. This paper explored certain strategies for enhancing rural economies to be more sustainable. The results show that smart growth has been rapidly growing in urban cities, while certain communities outside urban areas have been left behind. However, both urban and rural communities need economic growth and be adaptive to smart growth to serve their communities and adhere to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the new era of innovation. Thus, we argue that rural areas are a big part of emerging economies. As such, they cannot be left behind in any smart growth. In this study, we found that rural economies need training and up-skilling in order to improve their sustainability and efficiency targets. Through a systematic review, this paper looked at various ways rural communities can solve their challenges toward smart growth and the sustainability of their resources. As a result, we propose solutions for urban–rural communities to implement in daily activities in terms of policy and practice approaches.Item Rural community perceptions on land use change and its effects on their agricultural practices in Vulindlela Traditional Area, KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa(2023-12-01) Zondi, Nkululeko EphraimThis study assessed the level of awareness among the Vulindlela rural community regarding land use and land cover changes occurring in their community. Additionally, this study sought to examine the effects of these land use and land cover changes on the agricultural practices of the Vulindlela rural community. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. Secondary data from Statistics South Africa and the Msunduzi Local Municipality were used to determine the relationship between population growth and housing unit expansion. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews to capture the community’s perceptions of land use change and its impacts on agricultural activities. The study results indicated a strong relationship (r = 0.81, t = 2.39, df = 3, p = 0.10) between population growth and an increase in housing units. Respondents also noted that land use and cover change has occurred in Vulindlela. The driver of this change is an increase in residential housing units built on land designated for agriculture (crop and pastoral fields). Residential development on agricultural fields is a result of the de agrarianisation by the local community. De-agrarianisation drivers in Vulindlela include a lack of agricultural equipment, high costs (time and money) associated with agriculture, inadequate government support, increased dependence on government grants and lack of interest in the younger generation in agriculture.Item Rural developmental initiatives in the post-apartheid South Africa : a case study on poverty alleviation in Mgobodzi, Lusikisiki Mcobothini and Gunjaneni(2022) Bakre, Olayemi Rahman; Dorasamy, NirmalaThis study paints an unambiguous reflection of contemporary South African rural communities. That which depicts a rhetoric epitomised by abject poverty, underdevelopment, inequality and marginalisation. Such an awful depiction is synonymous with the communities of Mgobodzi, Lusikisiki Mcobothini and Gunjaneni, which are yet to benefit fully from the transformation of the post-apartheid era. As an agendum to alleviating poverty amongst these poverty-stricken and under-developed communities, the government instituted rural developmental initiatives such as the RDP, GEAR, ACGISA and CRDP, amongst a host of other interventionist initiatives. Despite enormous investments and intermeshed developmental interventions, the current poverty trends amongst these communities are analogous to their pitiable condition prior to the initiation of these governmental interventions. In consonance, the focus of this study was to examine the extent to which the major rural development initiatives of the post-apartheid South Africa has contributed to poverty alleviation. It also provided a critical analysis of rural developmental initiatives implemented in the post-apartheid era of South Africa; it evaluated the capacity of local government to implement rural development initiatives; and it identified factors contributing to the successful implementation of rural developmental initiatives and the achievement of desired outcomes for rural development. Furthermore, the study also identified the weaknesses and challenges undermining rural developmental initiatives in Mgobodzi, Lusikisiki Mcobothini and Gunjaneni, whilst also designing a theoretical model in consonance with the rural development requirements of the aforementioned communities. The novelty of this study lies in its ability to synchronize and aggregate the expertise, insight, knowledge and lived-experiences of prominent rural development stakeholders as well as beneficiaries into one study. Thus, to actualise the aim and objectives, a mixed method was used as a primary study design, while a multiple-case study sufficed as the actual data collection method. While structured interviews were conducted amongst 31 prominent rural development stakeholders, questionnaires were also administered to 533 community members within the Mgobodzi, Lusikisiki Mcobothini and Gunjaneni communities. More so, a total of 41 individuals participated in focus group interviews. Further to this research design, a wide range of government documents ranging from White Papers to Green Papers, legislation; statistical reports; government gazettes and reports were also reviewed. In referrence to deductions from the qualitative and quantitative enquiry, literature and a host of other audited governmental sources, it could be deduced that rural inhabitants are not passive beneficiaries of rural developmental initiatives that are ostensibly designed to better their livelihood. A repertoire of sources points to a centralised planning of these developmental initiatives, which tends towards a top-bottom approach. Such an approach has often excluded rural inhabitants from been engaged in the planning process of their livelihood. Rather, this has been placed in the hands of state actors who may not fully grasp the grassroots and fundamental dynamics of rural spaces. This approach is adjudged not suitable for either agricultural or rural development, as typified by the Hlaleneni Landscape project in Gunjaneni. Moreover, a number of rural developmental trajectories lack crucial acumen into the fundamental needs of these poor communities. This laxity can be attributed to the habitual side-lining or exclusion of these rural inhabitants. Nevertheless, based on the repertoire of intensive literature and empirical assertions, rural development initiatives have marginally contributed to poverty alleviation amongst the communities of Mgobodzi, Lusikisiki Mcobothini and Gunjaneni. Regardless of this truism, it may be rather premature for rural development stakeholders to breathe a sigh of relief over the feats recorded over the past two decades as communities such as Mgobodzi, Lusikisiki Mcobothini, Gunjaneni and a host of other rural communities still wallow in a state of under-development and poverty. The time of realism has set in for rural development stakeholders to make more proactive interventions in addressing the awful spectre of under-development and poverty epitomised amongst these rural communities. The study further reveals that the communities of Mgobodzi, Lusikisiki Mcobothini and Gunjaneni are yet to optimize the resources and potentials within their domain. Such optimization may be orchestrated through the reinvigoration of rural municipalities; institutional partnership with rural municipalities; upscaling of subsistence farming to commercial farming; capitalising on the strategic location of South Africa‘s coast for the exportation of agricultural produce alongside other pragmatic interventionist approaches to alleviate poverty amongst these poverty-stricken communities.Item A rural perspective on the practice and challenges of community participation in post-apartheid South Africa insights from rural Beaufort-West Municipality(International Institute for Science, Technology and Education, 2021-04) Davids, Gregory; Prince, T.; Makiva, Msuthukazi; Fagbadebo, Omololu M.Post-apartheid South African (SA) government devised legalized platforms for citizen participation to channel their voice towards public policy formulation, implementation, outcome, and its impact. Instead of using these platforms, dissatisfied communities with service delivery resort to social protests and unrest. Indeed, citizens’ voice and participation in government decision-making through social protests, is among the critical elements to democracy and good governance. The study sought to investigate the practice and challenges there are, with regards to community participation at the local level within selected rural communities, in South Africa. The study relied on qualitative research methodology to gather primary data. Extant literature was consulted to collect secondary data so that the phenomenon is greatly understood. The results showed that community participation is practiced as a once-off event instead of being viewed as a process that is comprised of interrelated activities. The study concludes that effective community participation requires continual engagement across the entire policy planning, decision making, and implementation stages. Furthermore, as each public policy phase has its challenges, flexible strategies are required to facilitate community engagement and participation. This, for instance, will increase the degree of decision-making consensus, while by default reduce the level of community dissatisfaction with service delivery, which currently South Africa experiences, through social unrest.Item Insight into self-reliance of rural communities for endogenous growth in KwaZulu-Natal(Siauliai University, 2022-06-06) Zondo, Robert Walter DumisaniIt has been established that development in most African countries has been severely affected due to the loss of the key aspects that define communities and the environments in which they live. Rural communities are normally overlooked when development interventions are implemented. Immediate intervention of rural communities requires funding for infrastructure such as earth dams, training facilities, marketing of products and services, frameworks for rural development plans as well as capacity support. Such funding plays a positive role in the development of self-reliance of rural communities. Other than funding, African indigenous knowledge is critical in advancing the self-reliance of rural communities. However, such a knowledge system is either underdeveloped or not fully utilised for development purposes. The underutilisation of African indigenous knowledge leads to the loss of valuable information that could be used for developmental purposes, ensuring unified communities. This affects the establishment of self-reliance strategies in rural communities leading to the creation of endogenous growth. Such growth enriches the development process and empowers communities to be self-reliant, thus improving quality of life. The economic empowerment strategies should result in the development of rural entrepreneurs for South Africa. This study assesses the effects of self-reliance on rural community development in KwaZulu-Natal.