Collapse, conflict or social cohesion? Learning from livestock dipping associations in KwaZulu-Natal BlogFeatured BlogUncategorized

Collapse, conflict or social cohesion? Learning from livestock dipping associations in KwaZulu-Natal

By Tim Gibbs At a time when there is much talk about corruption and state failure, especially in local municipalities, the quiet revival of government subsidised cattle dipping in KwaZulu Natal (KZN) in recent years is an important ‘success story’ that deserves far more attention. Today, around 90-95% of the 1600 dipping tanks in the communal areas of the province…
PLAAS
October 5, 2020
Will expropriation unlock land reform? BlogEquitable Access to LandFeatured BlogUncategorized

Will expropriation unlock land reform?

By Farai Mtero The National Assembly re-established the Adhoc Committee to amend Section 25 of the Constitution since the original committee could not continue its work on the 18th Constitutional Amendment on expropriation of land due to the Covid-19 national lockdown. This brings back onto the agenda a highly contested and divisive issue amongst South Africans. The point of contention…
PLAAS
August 10, 2020
Draft National Policy on Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation: Prospects for a pro-poor land reform? BlogEquitable Access to LandFeatured BlogUncategorized

Draft National Policy on Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation: Prospects for a pro-poor land reform?

By Farai Mtero South Africa’s land reform has shifted markedly from its pro-poor focus which was its key defining feature in the early years of democracy. The new Draft National Policy on Beneficiary Selection and Land Allocation presents an opportunity to rethink the direction of land reform in South Africa and reclaim the pro-poor land reform agenda. Recent research by…
PLAAS
August 10, 2020
woman fish processor in Lagos
African small-scale fisheries in the time of Covid-19: Voices from the continent – A Nigerian perspective Blog

African small-scale fisheries in the time of Covid-19: Voices from the continent – A Nigerian perspective

By Kafayat A. Fakoya In Africa, Nigeria’s small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector is undisputedly the largest in terms of catch and employment. The sector provides food security, income and livelihoods to a conservative six million fisherfolk, and represents 70% of total fish production—most of which is accessible as an irreplaceable source of animal protein and micronutrients to a multitude of masses.…
PLAAS
July 2, 2020
covid 19 masks police south africa
Is there space in South Africa for a democratic politics of life in response to Covid-19? BlogFeatured Blog

Is there space in South Africa for a democratic politics of life in response to Covid-19?

By Andries du Toit and Diana Mitlin More than sixty days after its commencement, South Africa is cautiously easing its way out of one of the most sweeping lockdowns of the global Covid 19 pandemic.  In many ways, this new phase—‘Level 3’ of the South African government’s risk-adjusted pandemic response—is turning out to be a confusing and ambiguous new time; …
PLAAS
June 11, 2020
plaas cattle farmer small holder farm
Lockdown challenges for land reform beneficiaries Blog

Lockdown challenges for land reform beneficiaries

By Nkanyiso Gumede Smallholder farmers and land reform beneficiaries have been greatly affected by the lockdown in South Africa since it began on 26 March 2020. Lockdown meant less mobility for these farmers and a drop in demand for produce, which meant a loss of income. These farmers mainly supply to informal markets, which include bakkie traders, street vendors, hawkers,…
PLAAS
June 10, 2020
The effects of Covid-19 on youth in South Africa: Mr President, what is your plan? BlogFeatured Blog

The effects of Covid-19 on youth in South Africa: Mr President, what is your plan?

By Cyriaque Hakizimana The Covid-19 crisis is likely to deepen the hardship experienced by the youth in South Africa who are already considered to be the most vulnerable in the South African labour market. Even before the current crisis, young people were the hardest hit by the economic slowdown. Approximately 8.2 million (40.1%) of South Africa's 20.4 million young people…
PLAAS
May 20, 2020
informal settlement peri-urban economy people shopping
Dancing on the same spot? Covid-19 in the peri-urban low-income economy BlogFeatured BlogUncategorized

Dancing on the same spot? Covid-19 in the peri-urban low-income economy

By Katlego Ramantsima “I became sick when I heard that there was a lockdown because I don’t have a permanent job.” So says Lindiwe Mthembu, a 35-year-old mother of four from Orange Farm, South of Johannesburg. She’s been struggling to feed her family during the Covid-19 pandemic and national lockdown. “I survive on piece jobs working as a domestic worker,…
PLAAS
May 19, 2020
Policies and lifestyles need update in face of Covid-19 BlogFeatured Blog

Policies and lifestyles need update in face of Covid-19

By Epiphania Ngowi and Emmanuel Sulle As we continue to face huge impacts of this unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, not only on our lifestyles but also our approaches, strategies, and policies to combat this pandemic must swiftly change as the need arises. Globally, leaders keep revising their strategies as they grapple with the devastating impacts of COVID-19 on lives of the…
PLAAS
April 18, 2020
The four immediate impacts of Covid-19 regulations on the Mozambican farmers BlogFeatured BlogUncategorized

The four immediate impacts of Covid-19 regulations on the Mozambican farmers

By Phillan Zamchiya, Clemente Ntauazi and Boaventura Monjane In order to guard against the spread of Covid-19, Mozambique declared a state of emergency for 30 days with effect from 1 April 2020. The government announced several regulations meant to limit the movement of people and goods in a decree. This was bound to affect different sectors of the economy and…
PLAAS
April 17, 2020