http://hdl.handle.net/10500/2784 Sat, 25 May 2013 18:02:46 GMT 2013-05-25T18:02:46Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5799 The tourism sector, development policy and inequalities in the development of the Eastern Cape Acheampong, Kofi Owusu This study on the relations between tourism policies and the tourism development conditions in the Eastern Cape of South Africa is a contribution to the on-going research projects on the transformation that has taken place in the post-1994 development process of South Africa. One theme associated with these studies relates to the important roles that have been played by public bodies in influencing the nature of the transformation in the development of South Africa. The study is based on the expectation that the current policies can open up more investments and other opportunities in the tourism sector to the benefit of the provincial economy. To find out the concrete nature of the changes associated with the current tourism development policies, data collection was organized from six groups of stakeholders in the tourism sector of the 39 local municipalities of the Eastern Cape Province. The use of factor analysis led to the identification of five hierarchies or clusters indicating the levels of inequalities in the tourism development of the province. To obtain an understanding of the processes behind the observed inequalities, the stakeholders were given the opportunity to disclose their concrete activities as they related to the policies. The findings indicate that generally, much has changed since 1994, as a result of the levelling of the playing field in the tourism sector for both the producers and consumers in the industry. It is recommended, however, that measured in terms of the maximum benefits that could be derived from the provincial tourism sector, the government officials associated with the tourism sector in particular need to provide more effective leadership in the implementation of the current tourism development policies. The thrust of the study is that the tourism policies in the Eastern vii Cape can only generate the maximum positive benefits if, inter alia, all the stakeholders in the tourism industry are empowered to produce at their maximum. Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5799 2011-09-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5622 Assessment of potential and impacts of afforestation in the Letaba catchment, Limpopo Province, South Africa Mkwalo, Andile Churchill The plantation forestry is economically a very important industry in South Africa because it promotes the upliftment of many rural South African communities. However, afforestation has significant impacts on water use and biodiversity in a catchment. Thus, understanding the effects of afforestation on water resources at the catchment level is fundamental for optimal water resource allocation, long-term sustainable use, development and conservation. Much of the Limpopo Province is climatically and physiographically suitable for plantation forestry but it only contains approximately 4.7 % of the total existing plantation area in South Africa. For example, the size of the Letaba Catchment of the Limpopo Province is 13 669 km² but only approximately 484 km² of it is currently afforested. This study aims to identify potential areas for further afforestation in the Letaba Catchment using the Water Resources Modelling Platform (WReMP) model to determine if afforestation can be expanded here to promote development in South Africa‟s poorest Province. Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10500/5622 2011-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4756 Causes and consequences of rural-urban migration: the case of Woldiya town, North Ethiopia Miheretu, Birhan Asmame In developing countries like Ethiopia rural-urban migration affects development in both urban and rural areas. As such, this study aims at establishing the major causes and consequences of the movement of people from rural to urban areas. To achieve the objective 500 migrant household heads were selected randomly from three kebeles of the town. Both primary and secondary data were employed and were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The study revealed that migrants came to Woldiya in search of employment and to utilize urban services and education. Hence, the out flow of economically active people from the rural agricultural sector has a negative effect on production in the areas of origin and the receiving area now experiences problems such as a shortage of housing, unemployment, increasing cost of living, lack of access to social services, Therefore, to mitigate the problem of rural-urban migration is launching of integrated rural development policy Wed, 01 Jun 2011 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10500/4756 2011-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3265 A geographic perspective of labour-intensive methods in the development and maintenance of transport infrastructure Musekene, Eric Nndavheleseni The study investigates the extent of distributional impacts of labour-intensive road projects using a geographical approach. The aim is to evaluate infrastructural effectiveness. The central premise is that the interface between road investment and economic development has broad implications that are beyond transportation’s basic purpose of providing access and mobility. Communities are motivated by the outcomes and impacts of road infrastructure development in improving the productiveness of the economy, in line with socio-economic development and other multiplying effects. The objective was to describe the nature and delivery mechanisms of labourintensive road projects, evaluate the impact thereof on the project participants and their communities and explore the constraints and challenges experienced by these initiatives. The impact of the Gundo Lashu programme was measured, based on an assessment of programme outputs, outcomes and impacts, to determine whether the project had the desired effects on individual participants and their households. A matched control case study design, using a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches was adopted. The study found that the Gundo Lashu programme had achieved the expected outputs in terms of the total number of jobs created, total road length constructed and maintained. However, the communities’ socioeconomic outcomes and the impacts of the programme on poverty and sustainable livelihoods were mixed. These conclusions re-affirm the notion that the development of rural road infrastructure alone by labour-intensive construction methods, is not sufficient in tackling poverty. While government is focusing on addressing unemployment and skills development through labourintensive road construction programmes, there is a need to ensure proper integration of government services to make a significant impact. Huge deficiencies exist in the inter-linkages between the programme planning process and the municipal planning system and that there are a number of management and planning, structural and functional, human resources and funding barriers to proper planning, implementation and monitoring of projects within the Gundo Lashu programme. Various challenges and barriers emanates from lack of coordination, political interferences and lack of strategic direction. Key recommendations include comprehensive road planning, better project targeting mechanisms, development of guidelines for future maintenance, skills training and capacity development, and resultsbased monitoring. Thu, 01 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10500/3265 2010-04-01T00:00:00Z