Suchergebnisse

Since the 1990s considerable historical research has been done on the history of land tenure in South Africa. Much of the work has a bearing on the issue of land claims and restitution in the aftermath of South Africa's transition to a multiracial democracy. The government focused on the socio-economic development ofthe country and gave special attention to the upliftment ofpreviously disadvantaged South Africans. It became legal for South Africans to claim the right to land on which they had formerly lived. Many had been removed in terms of controversial racial policies of the former government. For obvious reasons both land owners and land claimants have since 1994 contracted historians to shed some light on the history of land tenure pertaining to single entities, and sometimes also large tracts of land. In addition, it was also expected of historians to try and shed some light on the future, based on their historical research findings. In the article attention is given to some new trends in the discipline of history in which the future features prominently. There seems to be broad support amongst theorists for the integration of natural and human/social sciences and technology studies in contemporary research. Furthermore, multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research methodologies require of historians to take note increasingly of ongoing changes in scientific thinking with a view to synchronising our contemporary knowledge with an understanding of the past. Reference is made to complexity, actor-network theory (ANT) and a return to universal history. Within the framework of an empirical philosophical approach to the history of land tenure in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga eight theoretical statements are posited on the evolution of land tenure in Mpumalanga. These include: • private ownership of land is legally justified in South Africa; • the emergence of modern land tenure in Mpumalanga is the result of customary practices formalised in the nineteenth century; • land tenure can be understood in terms of our comprehension of assumptions about materialism; • lack of integration in former times undermined the legitimacy of black land ownership; • land tenure in the Lowveld should be seen as part of an ecology that includes the Middle Veld, Highveld and Drakensberg escarpment; • land is an actor and part of a network of interactions that emerged historically; • the value of land is constantly subject to entropy determined by its usefulness; and • traditionally land as a production factor was a mediatory actant, but since 1994 it has been transformed into a remediating actant. The final section of the article features a brief assessment of the manner in which European land tenure and Roman Law were transformed in the transition from classical times to the Middle Ages in Europe in the 3rd to 4th centuries CE. On the frontiers of the former empire erstwhile Roman citizens and their offspring had to find consensus on the legal tenets of land tenure in consultation with foreigners who settled in parts of the former empire. Many elements of Roman Law remained intact in parts of Europe. This was made possible by what Innes describes as processes of ethnogenesis. Contemplating the future of land tenure in Mpumalanga's Lowveld it is suggested that attention be given to the peripheral deconstruction of land tenure in a transforming commons in which negotiated processes of ethnogenesis, could potentially lead to a state of equilibrium. ; http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/tvg/v52n4/05.pdf

Since the 1990s considerable historical research has been done on the history of land tenure in South Africa. Much of the work has a bearing on the issue of land claims and restitution in the aftermath of South Africa's transition to a multiracial democracy. The government focused on the socio-economic development of the country and gave special attention to the upliftment of previously disadvantaged South Africans. It became legal for South Africans to claim the right to land on which they had formerly lived. Many had been removed in terms of controversial racial policies of the former government. For obvious reasons both land owners and land claimants have since 1994 contracted historians to shed some light on the history of land tenure pertaining to single entities, and sometimes also large tracts of land. In addition, it was also expected of historians to try and shed some light on the future, based on their historical research findings. In the article attention is given to some new trends in the discipline of history in which the future features prominently. There seems to be broad support amongst theorists for the integration of natural and human/social sciences and technology studies in contemporary research. Furthermore, multi-, inter-, and transdisciplinary research methodologies require of historians to take note increasingly of ongoing changes in scientific thinking with a view to synchronising our contemporary knowledge with an understanding of the past. Reference is made to complexity, actor-network theory (ANT) and a return to universal history. Within the framework of an empirical philosophical approach to the history of land tenure in the Lowveld of Mpumalanga eight theoretical statements are posited on the evolution of land tenure in Mpumalanga. These include: • private ownership of land is legally justified in South Africa; • the emergence of modern land tenure in Mpumalanga is the result of customary practices formalised in the nineteenth century; • land tenure can be understood in terms of our comprehension of assumptions about materialism; • lack of integration in former times undermined the legitimacy of black land ownership; • land tenure in the Lowveld should be seen as part of an ecology that includes the Middle Veld, Highveld and Drakensberg escarpment; • land is an actor and part of a network of interactions that emerged historically; • the value of land is constantly subject to entropy determined by its usefulness; and • traditionally land as a production factor was a mediatory actant, but since 1994 it has been transformed into a remediating actant. The final section of the article features a brief assessment of the manner in which European land tenure and Roman Law were transformed in the transition from classical times to the Middle Ages in Europe in the 3rd to 4th centuries CE. On the frontiers of the former empire erstwhile Roman citizens and their offspring had to find consensus on the legal tenets of land tenure in consultation with foreigners who settled in parts of the former empire. Many elements of Roman Law remained intact in parts of Europe. This was made possible by what Innes describes as processes of ethnogenesis. Contemplating the future of land tenure in Mpumalanga's Lowveld it is suggested that attention be given to the peripheral deconstruction of land tenure in a transforming commons in which negotiated processes of ethnogenesis, could potentially lead to a state of equilibrium ; Sedert die 1990s het heelwat geskiedenisnavorsing op die terrein van grondbesit in Suid-Afrika plaasgevind. Dit was grootliks die resultaat van maatreëls deur die regering om voorheen benadeelde Suid-Afrikaners ekonomies op te hef en ook die geleentheid te gun om grond te verkry wat, na alle waarskynlikheid, onregmatig van hulle vervreem is. In die artikel word gefokus op teoretiese aspekte van die dissipline van geskiedenis en die vraagstelling na die toekoms waarop grondbesitters en grondeisers antwoorde soek wanneer die navorsing van historici oorpeins word. Nadat 'n uiteensetting gegee word van sommige van die nuwere tendense in terme van multi-, inter-, en transdissiplinêre navorsing, kompleksiteit en akteur-netwerkteorie, word ingegaan op die geskiedenis van grondbest in die Laeveld van die Mpumalangaprovinsie. Agt teoretiese stellings word gemaak wat op 'n empiriese filosofiese grondslag verantwoord word, na aanleiding van die geskiedenis van grondbesit in die gebied. In die gevolgtrekking word 'n vergelykende benadering gebruik wat daarop dui dat 'n proses van etnogenese moontlik in die toekoms nodig sal wees om knelpunte met berekking tot die bestaande grondbesitstelsel in 'n staat van ekwilibrium te laat oorgaan ; http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/tvg/v52n4/05.pdf

A historiographical survey of water history In this article historiographical information is utilised to indicate the potential of water as a subject of historical research. In particular applicable practical needs in contemporary society that pose a challenge to the historian to look at the past from a different perspective, are emphasised. Attention is given to the socio-economic and political aspects of the hydrosphere and areas in which historians can render a valuable contribution. The history of water is noted for its interdisciplinary character. A variety of disciplines in the natural sciences and humanities are of value to the historian. Ultimately, when relevant questions are posed within the framework of historical water research, it is clear that the field has considerable potential to stimulate transdisciplinary scientific work.

There are growing concerns in South Africa about the threat that acid mine drainage (AMD) poses to local natural water resources in many of the country's mining areas. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the toxic water has been responsible for pollution in parts of the country. Government and operators in the country's water sector have actively been working in recent years at addressing the problem. This article deals with a contemporary history of an AMD crisis in the coalmining town of Carolina, in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, and explains how the matter was eventually resolved. The discourse focuses on how people of Carolina responded to the contamination of the municipality's water supply system and eventually chose to follow the path of active protest. The water crisis even made a detour to the high court, with a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) actively supporting the cause of local residents. Although by September 2012 the town's water supply was restored, the community remained distrustful of the local authority's ability to secure a consistent supply of good quality water. The authorities took some measures to restore trust. People had been traumatised and sound relations had to be restored in the aftermath of the crisis. The Carolina crisis of 2012 is contemplated from the perspective of the current threat that AMD poses to South Africa's finite water resources and the danger of mining in sensitive areas. ; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17532523.2014.943978 ; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17532523.2014.943978

There are growing concerns in South Africa about the threat that acid mine drainage (AMD) poses to local natural water resources in many of the country's mining areas. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the toxic water has been responsible for pollution in parts of the country. Government and operators in the country's water sector have actively been working in recent years at addressing the problem. This article deals with a contemporary history of an AMD crisis in the coalmining town of Carolina, in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa, and explains how the matter was eventually resolved. The discourse focuses on how people of Carolina responded to the contamination of the municipality's water supply system and eventually chose to follow the path of active protest. The water crisis even made a detour to the high court, with a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) actively supporting the cause of local residents. Although by September 2012 the town's water supply was restored, the community remained distrustful of the local authority's ability to secure a consistent supply of good quality water. The authorities took some measures to restore trust. People had been traumatised and sound relations had to be restored in the aftermath of the crisis. The Carolina crisis of 2012 is contemplated from the perspective of the current threat that AMD poses to South Africa's finite water resources and the danger of mining in sensitive areas. ; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17532523.2014.943978 ; http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17532523.2014.943978

The constraints that have been experienced in recent years with the Delmas water supply have largely been as a result of it being situated in a dolomite area, the environmental reality which, from a human and economic standpoint, seems to be a definite drawback. Previous reports on diarrhoea outbreaks in the Delmas area (1993, 2005 and 2007) have consistently noted a groundwater contamination of the A well field's groundwater abstraction boreholes. While water contamination certainly had a role to play in the diarrhoea outbreaks, there were other contributing environmental factors. Amongst these were the physical environment has been severely polluted and significant interventions in environmental elements, such as local surface water streams, that were recorded during the research process. The nature and extent of water (raw, potable and waste) management in and by the Delmas Local Municipality will be the focus of this article, and certain significant geohydrological issues to consider in the achievement of effective municipal governance will be debated. Recommendations on the possible improvement of the municipal water services management in and by the Municipality will form part of the debate and may serve as pointers for improving the governance, by local governments, of the geohydrological realities that cause constraints in their various areas of responsibility. These outcomes may also find an application in other similarly problematic municipal areas. ; http://reference.sabinet.co.za/document/EJC120336

The constraints that have been experienced in recent years with the Delmas water supply have largely been as a result of it being situated in a dolomite area, the environmental reality which, from a human and economic standpoint, seems to be a definite drawback. Previous reports on diarrhoea outbreaks in the Delmas area (1993, 2005 and 2007) have consistently noted a groundwater contamination of the A well field's groundwater abstraction boreholes. While water contamination certainly had a role to play in the diarrhoea outbreaks, there were other contributing environmental factors. Amongst these were the physical environment has been severely polluted and significant interventions in environmental elements, such as local surface water streams, that were recorded during the research process. The nature and extent of water (raw, potable and waste) management in and by the Delmas Local Municipality will be the focus of this article, and certain significant geohydrological issues to consider in the achievement of effective municipal governance will be debated. Recommendations on the possible improvement of the municipal water services management in and by the Municipality will form part of the debate and may serve as pointers for improving the governance, by local governments, of the geohydrological realities that cause constraints in their various areas of responsibility. These outcomes may also find an application in other similarly problematic municipal areas. ; http://reference.sabinet.co.za/document/EJC120336

As a result of the growing demand for additional water supplies, officials at the National Department of Water Affairs (DWA) continually monitor consumption patterns. The unlawful abstraction of water for irrigation purposes along the Axle and Liebenbergsvlei water transfer scheme, a South African river catchment, has been identified as a potential over-consumption hotspot. An investigation into the evolution of modern farming and irrigation developments along this important water transfer scheme found that restrictions on irrigation water abstraction have primarily focused on the water security of downstream urban and industrial users who receive water at a high assurance of supply. During periods of normal rainfall the authorities paid little attention to the existing use of water from the Liebenbergsvlei water transfer scheme. Subsequent restrictions placed on local water abstraction for irrigation has achieved mixed results. This paper focuses on the perspectives of irrigation farmers who may be unlawfully using water from the transfer scheme. Their views are compared with those expressed by the authorities on this issue, and the way in which the authorities attempt to regulate water use in the region within the confines of existing legislation. The responses from the different sectors were qualitatively analysed and suggested solutions have been formulated for further discussion. The study's major findings reveal that the contestation around water use for agricultural purposes will continue as long as the misunderstandings surrounding legal or illegal water use persist. As demand on water is escalating, it is considered important to put in place water security measures designed to safeguard the available water in light of scarcity. ; https://doi.org/10.4102/td.v6i1.128