Rural geography research in post-apartheid South Africa: patterns and opportunities

Abstract

This review article represents an attempt at highlighting the important research conducted by geographers in rural areas of South Africa. Acknowledging the challenges facing many review articles on broad disciplines or sub-disciplines such as rural geography, the paper mostly focuses on selected research that took place over the last two and a half decades or so, that covers the areas of land rights, biodiversity conservation and justice, rural development and livelihoods. The conclusion is that rural geography research in South Africa is of major significance in South Africa’s attempts to fulfil many of the post-apartheid goals of improving the lives of the marginalized. It is also argued that research conducted under the rural geography banner can grow in the same pace as the new challenges emerge, including being in positive interaction with other sub-disciplines (e.g. urban geography) in addressing challenges such as urban–rural fringe and urban sprawl.