Human Sciences Research Council, Municipal Commonage Workshop

Human Sciences Research Council, Municipal Commonage Workshop, held at the Development Bank of Southern Africa, Midrand, November 2003 Abstract Lest we forget, land reform has and remains one of the most onerous challenges facing post-apartheid South Africa. Yet, notwithstanding the potholes as we tackle these mammoth challenges head-on, we are proud about our achievements thus…

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Review of Municipal Commonage programme of the Department of Land Affairs

The term municipal commonage is traditionally applied to land owned by a municipality or local authority. The land was usually acquired through state grants or from the church. The land was granted to serve the needs and interests of the poorer residents of the specific town.  Commonage lost its traditional character when previously disadvantaged residents…

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Commonage in Pofadder

 Commonage in Pofadder, Khai Ma Municipality, Northern Cape Anja Benseler, 2004 Abstract Municipal commonage is an essential tool towards economic development of communities and especially in poor rural areas it presents an opportunity to subsidise household income and acts as a sustainable food source. For many inhabitants, owning a few stock units on the commonage…

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Perceptions of climate change and barriers to adaptation amongst commonage and commercial livestock farmers in the semi-arid Eastern Cape Karoo

Muller, C and Shackleton, SE (2013), Perceptions of climate change and barriers to adaptation amongst commonage and commercial livestock farmers in the semi-arid Eastern Cape Karoo, African Journal of Range & Forage Science. Click here for online version http://dx.doi.org/10.2989/10220119.2013.845606 ( you may need to pay for this item), or contact Sheona Shackleton at s.shackleton@ru.ac.za. Abstract…

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Commonage in Philippolis

In the south western provinces of South Africa, municipalities own vast tracts of agricultural land. This phenomenon is primarily found in rural towns in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape and the Free State. Many municipalities inherited public land from their 19th century predecessors. In some cases, for example in Aberdeen in the United Kingdom, municipal commonage land was…

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The Governance and Management of Commonages in three Small Towns in the Eastern Cape

Martens, C (2009), The Governance and Management of Commonages in three Small Towns in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, Masters thesis, Environmental Science, Rhodes University, Grahamstown.   Abstract Commonage is land that is usually found adjacent to a town, which is owned by the local municipality and acquired through state grants or, historically, through the church. Since…

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Municipal Commonage Management in Emthanjeni Municipality, De Aar Area

Cartwright, A, Harrison, T and Benseler, A (2002), Municipal Commonage Management in Emthanjeni Municipality, De Aar Area, unpublished report, Local Government Support and Learning Programme, Department of Local Government, Northern Cape.   Introduction The National Department of Agriculture and Land Affairs has set the target of redistributing 30% of the land to black aspirant farmers by…

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Municipal Commonage Administration in the Free State Province

Buso, N (2002), Municipal Commonage Administration in the Free State Province: Can Municipalities in the current Local Government Dispensation promote emerging farming? Unpublished report, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria.   PURPOSE OF RESEARCH The primary purpose of doing the research concerned was to establish whether municipalities in the current local government dispensation in the Free State…

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