Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)
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The Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) does research, policy engagement, teaching and training about the dynamics of chronic poverty and structural inequality in Southern Africa, with a particular emphasis on the key role of restructuring and contesting land holding and agro-food systems in the subcontinent and beyond. Our focus is on the analysis of marginalised livelihoods in Southern Africa, especially of subsistence and smallholder farmers and farm workers, of coastal and inland artisanal fisheries and fishing communities; and of informal self employment in rural and urban areas.
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Agricultural extension and commercialisation in rural Malawi: implications for livelihoods, class and gender differentiation
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)This doctoral research aims at understanding the relationships between agricultural extension, commercialisation, and social differentiation and their implications for livelihoods in rural Malawi. The research addresses a ... -
Livestock, grazing and land reform in Matabeleland south, Zimbabwe: dynamics of accummulation and social differentiation
(University of the Western Cape, 2023)This thesis examines emerging patterns and processes of accumulation and social differentiation amongst land reform beneficiaries in dryland pastoral settings in southwestern Matabeleland Zimbabwe, where livestock production ... -
Water use and waste management strategies in Sakubva, Mutare (Zimbabwe)
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)Following the severe drought of t99t/92, the city of Mutare embarked on a multi-million Dollar water supply project. This project brought water from the Pungwe River via pipeline to the city of Mutare. The project was ... -
The role of social networks in farm production in Zimbabwe's resettlement programme: the case of an AI model scheme in Murewa District
(University of the Western Cape, 2007)Land has been a source of political conflict in Zimbabwe since colonization, both within indigenous black communities and especially between white settlers and the black rural communities. At independence in 1980 Zimbabwe ... -
The impacts of large-scale agricultural investments on food production systems: The case of Gurué district, Mozambique
(University of the Western Cape, 2022)Large-scale agricultural investments in Mozambique peaked following the food, fuel and finance crises in 2008 and so far, more than 34 land deals have been established in the country. Proponents of such investments point ... -
Water use and waste management strategies in Sakubva, Mutare (Zimbabwe)
(University of the Western Cape, 2002)Following the severe drought of 1991/92, the city of Mutare embarked on a multi-million dollar water supply project. This project brought water from the Pungwe River via pipeline to the city of Mutare. The project was ... -
The role of night paddock manuring in the reduction of poverty and conflict amongst farmers and grazers in small Babanki (Cameroon)
(University of the Western Cape, 2008)Agriculture and livestock production were the mainstay of the economies of many sub-Saharan African countries, including of Cameroon, in the 1970s. Things began to change with the discovery of petroleum products and natural ... -
The politics of inclusive business models in agricultural investments: The case of sugarcane production in Kilombero, Tanzania
(University of Western Cape, 2021)In recent years, donors, policy makers, and non-governmental organisations working on land and agricultural issues have latched onto the catch phrase ‘inclusive business models’ as an alternative to large-scale land ... -
Food provision challenges facing Early Childhood Development Centres in two Cape Town townships
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)Early childhood has been identified as a critical period for providing nutritional intervention, with nutritional adequacy during the first 1000 days having long term implications for human development. South Africa’s ... -
Investigating socio-spatial trajectories of class formation: Accumulation from below and above on 'New Qwa Qwa farms' from the mid-1980s to 2016
(University of Western Cape, 2020)This thesis investigates socio-spatial trajectories of class formation and processes of accumulation from below and above on redistributed farmland, the ‘New Qwaqwa Farms’ in the Eastern Free State province of South ... -
Food provision challenges facing early childhood development centres in two Cape Town townships
(University of Western Cape, 2020)Early childhood has been identified as a critical period for providing nutritional intervention, with nutritional adequacy during the first 1000 days having long term implications for human development. South Africa’s ... -
Investigating socio-spatial trajectories of class formation: Accumulation from below and above on 'New Qwa Qwa farms' from the mid-1980s to 2016
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)This thesis investigates socio-spatial trajectories of class formation and processes of accumulation from below and above on redistributed farmland, the ‘New Qwaqwa Farms’ in the Eastern Free State province of South Africa, ... -
Namibia’s land redistribution programme: A case study of Steinhausen (Okarukambe) constituency in Omaheke region
(University of Western Cape, 2020)As a means to assuage historical land inequities, resultant socio-economic disparities and poverty alleviation, the Namibian Government undertook to reform the land sector. Guided by the Constitution and the Resolutions ... -
Namibia’s Land Redistribution Programme: A Case Study of Steinhausen (Okarukambe) Constituency in Omaheke Region
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)As a means to assuage historical land inequities, resultant socio-economic disparities and poverty alleviation, the Namibian Government undertook to reform the land sector. Guided by the Constitution and the Resolutions ... -
Housing development and customary land tenure systems in Ghana: A case study of peri-urban Kumasi
(University of Western Cape, 2020)This research examines the ways in which the rapid commoditisation of land in Ghana’s peri-urban areas is transforming local customary tenure systems. The research focuses on two selected research sites in Ghana’s peri-urban ... -
Obesity in Children: Environmental and Parental Influences. The Case Study of Khayelitsha in South Africa
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)Overweight and Obesity are conditions of excessive fat accumulation in the body of an individual. Due to the growing prevalence of the obesity epidemic, obesity has become a global public health concern. Overweight among ... -
The contribution of communal rangelands to rural people's livelihoods in the Maluti district
(University of Western Cape, 2001)The contribution of common property resources to rural people's livelihoods is enormous, yet policy makers overlook it. Wild resources, grazing resources and trees provide an important buffer for most rural households. ... -
The role of local government in common pool resource management: the case of municipal commonage in the northern cape
(University of Western Cape, 2004)Municipal commonage has the potential to make a major contribution to land redistribution in South Africa. During the Apartheid era, land under the control of local government was leased out to commercial farmers at ... -
Analysis of government compliance in the provision of water and sanitation to rural communities: a case study of Lepelle Nkumpi local municipality, Limpopo province
(University of Western Cape, 2020)A persistent challenge facing especially post-apartheid South African rural municipalities is service delivery compliance. Under the guise of scarcity, rural municipalities repeatedly do not comply with legislation, ... -
Ocean governance in South Africa: Policy and implementation
(University of the Western Cape, 2020)Ocean Governance in South Africa has gained momentum over the last decade with the publication of the Green and White Papers on the National Environmental Management of the Ocean in 2012 and 2014, and the promulgation ...
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