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1 1 CCOOMMPPRREEHHEENNSSIIVVEE RRUURRAALL DDEEVVEELLOOPPMMEENNTT PPRROOGGRRAAMMMMEE ((CCRRDDPP)) DDRRAAFFTT SSTTAATTUUSS QQUUOO MMKKHHOONNDDOO LLOOCCAALL MMUUNNIICCIIPPAALLIITTYY ((JJAABBUULLAANNII BBAAFFAAZZII && WWAATTEERR SSMMEEEETT)) AANNNNEEXXUURREE AA . Gert Sibande District Municipality Mpumalanga Provincial Government 2 1. OBJECTIVES OF STUDY This is an annexure to the pilot project for the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) in the Mkhondo Local Municipality focusing on Jabulani Bafazi and Water Smeet.

2 2. A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE JABULANI BAFAZI & WATER SMEETH The new Department of Rural Development and Land Reform has been given the mandate by the President of South Africa to develop a Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP) throughout the country. To achieve this mandate the Department embarked on developing a fresh approach to rural development. The focus is on enabling rural people to take control of their destiny, with the support from government, and thereby dealing effectively with rural poverty through the optimal use and management of natural resources.

3 As a result of a Public-Private Partnership between the government and Mondi, an initiative to transform labour tenancy into Agri-Villages was developed. The Agri-village concept is intended to empower the communities through food security, security of tenure and economic livelihoods. This will be achieved through a co-ordinated and integrated broad-based agrarian transformation as well as the strategic investment in economic and social infrastructure that will benefit the entire rural communities. 3. STUDY AREA (JABULANI BAFAZI & WATER SMEETH) The study area is part of the Mpumalanga CRDP and falls within the jurisdiction of Gert Sibande District Municipality under Mkhondo Local Municipality.

4 Jabulani Bafazi is located on the north of Iswepe whereas Water Smeet is located on the north east of Iswepe. These areas are rural in nature with no or low levels of basic services as well as unsustainable livelihoods. 4. PROBLEM STATEMENT The communities of Jabulani Bafazi and Water Smeet are faced with insecurity of tenure due to labour tenancy because most of these community members are working for Mondi 3 who owns the properties in question. The farms are Spring Valley 429, Paardekop 428 and Bends 417. The selection of the Jabulani Bafazi and Water Smeet pilot sites were informed by a Public Private Partnership that resulted from the CRDP initiative.

5 The nature of the settlement and the condition in which the people were noted to be living under, poor access roads, unemployment, lack of basics services (water, electricity, sanitation, health facilities, transport, economic activities, basic input supplies), in contrast with potential in the area compelled for interventions. The pilot sites conformed with prescribes of the rural development policy directives, with small holding labour tenancy with active agricultural activity. The area has a reasonable natural resources which could be exploited to the betterment of the community.

6 There is a need to initially use agriculture to ensure increased production with optimal and sustainable use of natural resources. This ascertains that those who have these natural resources to their disposal uses optimally in manner that will impact positively in their livelihoods that will also lead to a vibrant economic outcome. Other secondary economic opportunities could therefore be investigated as per findings. 5. METHODOLOGY The following section details the methodology followed in the determination of interventions for Jabulani Bafazi and Water Smeeth for the first phase implementation of the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CRDP).

7 In order to determine focus areas for the CRDP within the Mkhondo local Municipality Pilot sites the following key indicators were utilized: Infrastructure Provision (Water, Electricity, Sanitation, access roads) Income Levels (Low Income Levels) Employment (High Unemployment levels, Employment Sectors) Provision of Community Facilities (Health, Education) Existing Initiatives ( Proposed project etc) 4 The indicators above were reflected spatially, overlaid and analysed informed the Key Focus Areas. Site visits were conducted to arrive at some of the interventions proposed.

8 A desk top study which included spatial analysis which focussed on the review of IDP s, SDF s and GIS Spatial Analysis information was used as indicators. Based on those indicators and community needs, issues were verified and proposals developed. A desktop analysis was done utilising the following documents: Mkhondo Spatial Development Framework Mkhondo Integrated Development Plan Spatial Information sourced from various government departments Informal interviews with community members Meetings with Mondi officials Working meetings were held and inputs gathered from the provincial Department of Agriculture Rural Development and Land Administration (ARDLA), Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Mpumalanga Provincial Land Reform Office (MPPLRO), Regional Land Claims Commission (RLCC)

9 And Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR). Maps were generated utilising all information available from the provincial ARDLA, MPPLRO, RLCC and DRDLR. 6. JABULANI BAFAZI & WATER SMEET COMMUNITY PILOT SITE (See maps) PROPERTY DESCRIPTION The pilot site for the programme is located in the Mkondo Local Municilaity approximately 34km from Amsterdam. It lies 12km adjacent to the N2 national road from Piet Retief to Ermelo. It is situated in the mountains west of the Driefontein settlement. It is composed of 3 farms that are owned by Mondi, the beneficiaries of the programme were the following communities; Jabulani Bafazi and Water Smeet which are groups of previously disadvantaged people in the Mpumalanga province.

10 5 The following properties are the farms wherein the communities reside: COMMUNITY LAND DESCRIPTION AREA (ha) Jabulani Bafazi Community It is portion 1 of the Bends 417IT (Option A development) Jabulani Bafazi Community It is portion 1 and 2 of the Bends 417IT (Option B development) Water Smeet Community It is portion 2 of Spring Valley 429IT. It is the remainder of Spring Valley 429IT. Portion 2 of Bushmanbend 433IT Portion 4 of Pardekop 428IT 3008832H FIGURE 1: OVERVIEW MAP OF JABULANI BAFAZI & WATER SMEET SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS Rainfall The area has a fairly moderate to high rainfall per annum and thus making it more suitable for dry land cropping.