Towards a regional development strategy for Namaqualand

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dc.contributor.advisorWilson, Francisen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorDunne, Janeen Maryen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-20T15:37:10Z
dc.date.available2015-12-20T15:37:10Z
dc.date.issued1986en_ZA
dc.descriptionBibliography: leaves 269-279.en_ZA
dc.description.abstractInitiated by the Second Carnegie Conference on Poverty in South Africa, this study analyses the causes and extent of underdevelopment and poverty in Namaqualand and outlines a possible approach to redress these problems. Namaqualand is shown to be a sparsely populated area, the physical characteristics of which are both a fundamental cause of underdevelopment and a constraint on future development. It is argued that competition for land and other resources is an important cause of poverty in the region. The processes by which the indigenous population was forced into uninhabitable areas, and mission stations were established to reserve land for local people, are traced. The contradictory role of missionaries is analysed as well as Government and other's efforts to coerce the region's inhabitants into wage labour. Relevant literature is reviewed to elucidate underdevelopment and the scope for future development. The conclusion drawn is that no body of theory adequately explains Namaqualand's underdevelopment or offers workable solutions. An eclectic approach is adopted. The present socio-economic characteristics of the population and the state of development in the major economic sectors are described. It is evident that there is little economic diversification. Namaqualand's inhabitants depend heavily on economic activities vulnerable to marked fluctuations. Employment opportunities are limited. Living standards are constrained by poor education, physical and social mobility. Current development projects and strategies are listed and analyzed. Initiatives taken by various development agents are found to have been retarded by the constraints already mentioned. It is concluded that they lack co-ordination and do not form part of a clearly formulated development strategy. A development proposal encompassing distinct strategies is presented. These are: (i) to enhance economic mobility (ii) to improve the quality of life (iii) to exploit development potential. The ways in which these strategies complement one another are outlined, and government's role emphasized. It is argued that efforts should be concentrated on activities in which Namaqualand appears to have a comparative advantage. The need for applied research into appropriate projects and techniques is stressed as is community involvement in all phases. Close co-operation between development agents is essential. Finally in an addendum some constraints and parallels between Namaqualand and some smaller black homelands in South Africa are drawn. Statutory influx control has not determined Namaqualand's low population mobility. Emigration is possible and should constitute a vital element of any development strategy for the region. The effect on the rest of South Africa would be negligible compared to the black homeland's surplus population. At the same time the need for local government initiatives and for the transfer of public resources into such regions is stressed.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationDunne, J. M. (1986). <i>Towards a regional development strategy for Namaqualand</i>. (Thesis). University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15857en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationDunne, Janeen Mary. <i>"Towards a regional development strategy for Namaqualand."</i> Thesis., University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15857en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationDunne, J. 1986. Towards a regional development strategy for Namaqualand. University of Cape Town.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Thesis / Dissertation AU - Dunne, Janeen Mary AB - Initiated by the Second Carnegie Conference on Poverty in South Africa, this study analyses the causes and extent of underdevelopment and poverty in Namaqualand and outlines a possible approach to redress these problems. Namaqualand is shown to be a sparsely populated area, the physical characteristics of which are both a fundamental cause of underdevelopment and a constraint on future development. It is argued that competition for land and other resources is an important cause of poverty in the region. The processes by which the indigenous population was forced into uninhabitable areas, and mission stations were established to reserve land for local people, are traced. The contradictory role of missionaries is analysed as well as Government and other's efforts to coerce the region's inhabitants into wage labour. Relevant literature is reviewed to elucidate underdevelopment and the scope for future development. The conclusion drawn is that no body of theory adequately explains Namaqualand's underdevelopment or offers workable solutions. An eclectic approach is adopted. The present socio-economic characteristics of the population and the state of development in the major economic sectors are described. It is evident that there is little economic diversification. Namaqualand's inhabitants depend heavily on economic activities vulnerable to marked fluctuations. Employment opportunities are limited. Living standards are constrained by poor education, physical and social mobility. Current development projects and strategies are listed and analyzed. Initiatives taken by various development agents are found to have been retarded by the constraints already mentioned. It is concluded that they lack co-ordination and do not form part of a clearly formulated development strategy. A development proposal encompassing distinct strategies is presented. These are: (i) to enhance economic mobility (ii) to improve the quality of life (iii) to exploit development potential. The ways in which these strategies complement one another are outlined, and government's role emphasized. It is argued that efforts should be concentrated on activities in which Namaqualand appears to have a comparative advantage. The need for applied research into appropriate projects and techniques is stressed as is community involvement in all phases. Close co-operation between development agents is essential. Finally in an addendum some constraints and parallels between Namaqualand and some smaller black homelands in South Africa are drawn. Statutory influx control has not determined Namaqualand's low population mobility. Emigration is possible and should constitute a vital element of any development strategy for the region. The effect on the rest of South Africa would be negligible compared to the black homeland's surplus population. At the same time the need for local government initiatives and for the transfer of public resources into such regions is stressed. DA - 1986 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 1986 T1 - Towards a regional development strategy for Namaqualand TI - Towards a regional development strategy for Namaqualand UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15857 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/15857
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationDunne JM. Towards a regional development strategy for Namaqualand. [Thesis]. University of Cape Town ,Faculty of Commerce ,School of Economics, 1986 [cited yyyy month dd]. Available from: http://hdl.handle.net/11427/15857en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentSchool of Economicsen_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Commerceen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.subject.otherEconomicsen_ZA
dc.titleTowards a regional development strategy for Namaqualanden_ZA
dc.typeMaster Thesis
dc.type.qualificationlevelMasters
dc.type.qualificationnameMAen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceThesisen_ZA
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