Security In South Africa Research Articles

Food security, wheat production and policy in South Africa: Reflections on food sustainability and challenges for a market economy

The traditional concept of security has broadened over the past decades. Food security in South Africa is an imperative for human and non-human survival. In the contemporary political economy, there is a real nexus between globalisation, exploitation, the state, scarcity of resources, the market, peoples’ need to feel secure, notions of state responsibility and food production. Political economy and human security in theoretical debates and face-to-face politics are intrinsically linked. The notion of a ‘secure community’ changed. Food security and the right to quality living became a social imperative. Understanding current agricultural economics requires the ability to link security and access to food for all. In this case study, wheat production in South Africa is addressed against the interface of the global and the local including South Africa’s transition to a democratic and constitutional state with a Bill of Rights. The current security approach represents a more comprehensive understanding of what security is meant to be and include, amongst others, housing security, medical security, service delivery and food security, as set out in the Millennium Development Goals and the subsequent Sustainable Development Goals. The issue of food security is addressed here with particular reference to wheat production, related current government policies and the market economy. The authors chose to limit their socio-economic focus to a specific sector of the agricultural market, namely wheat, rather than discuss food security in South Africa in general. Wheat was chosen as a unit of analysis because as a crop, wheat used in bread is one of the staples for the majority of South Africans and given the current negative economic developments, wheat as a staple is likely to remain integral, if not increasing its status of dependability

The impact of the homestead food garden programme on food security in South Africa

The South African government has implemented homestead food garden (HFG) programmes directed at enhancing food production in order to reduce food insecurity, malnutrition, poverty and hunger. The present paper evaluated the impact of this programme on household food insecurity using surveys of 500 households. Endogenous switching regression, propensity score matching and household food insecurity average scores were employed in our analysis. Our findings demonstrated that participation in an HFG programme could significantly enhance the food security status of participants by increasing household food supply and consumption as well as by income derived from selling any excess production from the garden. Specifically, our empirical findings showed that participation in the HFG programme significantly reduced food insecurity among rural households by as much as 41.5%. Therefore, we recommend that policy makers should encourage more rural households to participate in the programme in order to reduce their food insecurity. Facilitating easy access to credit, extension services, fertilizer, irrigation facilities and land are policy options needed to promote farmers participation in HFG programmes. Furthermore, the formation of farmer-based organizations and the building of positive perceptions about HFGs are some of the key policy options that can be employed to improve households’ participation in the programme. Promotion of education, participating in off-farm activities, access to market, irrigation, extension and credit, and adoption of fertiliser are some policy interventions that can reduce food insecurity among rural house holds whether or not they participate in the HFG programme.

The impact of climate change on food security in South Africa: Current realities and challenges ahead.

This article aims to examine the impact of climate change on food security in South Africa. For this purpose, the article adopted a desktop study approach. Previous studies, reports, surveys and policies on climate change and food (in)security. From this paper’s analysis, climate change presents a high risk to food security in sub-Saharan countries from crop production to food distribution and consumption. In light of this, it is found that climate change, particularly global warming, affects food security through food availability, accessibility, utilisation and affordability. To mitigate these risks, there is a need for an integrated policy approach to protect the arable land against global warming. The argument advanced in this article is that South Africa’s ability to adapt and protect its food items depends on the understanding of risks and the vulnerability of various food items to climate change. However, this poses a challenge in developing countries, including South Africa, because such countries have weak institutions and limited access to technology. Another concern is a wide gap between the cost of adapting and the necessary financial support from the government. There is also a need to invest in technologies that will resist risks on food systems.

The Paradox of Civil Policing in Contemporary South Africa

This article is a study of democratic policing in contemporary South Africa. The attempt in this article is to offer a scholarly analysis on the nature of civil policing in South Africa. Empirically, our focus is on everyday observations and also public discourse shaped and transmitted within the civil and political realms of the broader South African community. We argue that civil policing and security in South Africa is typified by a paradox that destroys the civic virtue and rationale of policing. It is our argument also that this paradox has posed a significant challenge to democratic and civil policing in a new South Africa. The solution to this paradox, we will argue, lies in recognising policing and security as uniquely constituted ‘public goods’. We also argue for a rethink on the place of culture in the policing register and grammar of post-apartheid South Africa. In this article, our treatment of civil policing and its challenges in South Africa is informed by recent incidences that have shown an imbrication between violence and the repertoires of policing. Overall, we contend that policing in contemporary South Africa sits at the disjuncture between political liberation and the persistent use of physical force. In all the cases, we shall refer to in this article, we will attempt to show how policing has often been entirely extricated from the habitus of law.

Language planning, security, police communication and multilingualism in uniform: The case of South African Police Services

The virulence of global conflicts and conflicts between different ethnolinguistic groups makes language, now more so than previously, a central issue within the state security apparatus. Police are at the forefront of law enforcement, making language and language planning an integral component of police communication. The centrality of language is more pertinent in complex multilingual contexts like South Africa. The sociolinguistic and discourse analysis of the security in South Africa makes an important contribution to policing to the extent that it adds social and linguistic dimensions, critical-theoretical and sociological approaches relevant to multilingualism, language policy and planning in security contexts over and above conventional security research, which, to date, has been dominated by psychological and anthropological approaches. As a result, this article explores ways in which language and language planning can address security issues in a multilingual context, focusing on the case of South Africa and the South African Police Services. The objective is to analyze multilingualism in relation to security and to draw implications for sociolinguistics of policing studies, and conversely the implications of security studies (and security, policy) for sociolinguistics and multilingualism. This article builds on the limited literature on the sociolinguistics of security and at the same time situates security at the nexus of sociolinguistics and multilingualism in South Africa. The article maintains that while it is true, to a degree, that multilingualism enhances security, the significance and value of multilingualism may be exaggerated especially if language is viewed as disembodied practice. Unless multilingualism is embedded in other semiotic practices that embrace ways in which both historical and contemporary communication in security are framed; it will remain at the periphery of police communication.

Stormwater harvesting: Improving water security in South Africa’s urban areas


 
 
 The drought experienced in South Africa in 2016 – one of the worst in decades – has left many urbanised parts of the country with limited access to water, and food production has been affected. If a future water crisis is to be averted, the country needs to conserve current water supplies, reduce its reliance on conventional surface water schemes, and seek alternative sources of water supply. Within urban areas, municipalities must find ways to adapt to, and mitigate the threats from, water insecurity resulting from, inter alia, droughts, climate change and increasing water demand driven by population growth and rising standards of living. Stormwater harvesting (SWH) is one possible alternative water resource that could supplement traditional urban water supplies, as well as simultaneously offer a range of social and environmental benefits. We set out three position statements relating to how SWH can: improve water security and increase resilience to climate change in urban areas; prevent frequent flooding; and provide additional benefits to society. We also identify priority research areas for the future in order to target and support the appropriate uptake of SWH in South Africa, including testing the viability of SWH through the use of real-time control and managed aquifer recharge.
 
 
 
 
 Significance: 
 
 
 
 Addresses water scarcity through building resilience to the impacts of climate change; improving the liveability of cities; and prioritising water-sensitive urban design.
 
 
 

Analysing challenges facing smallholder farmers and conservation agriculture in South Africa: A system dynamics approach

Smallholder farmers in South Africa find it challenging to participate in the modern economy. Most of these farmers have limited access to credit and insurance, and to markets in which to sell their produce. This paper reviews ethnographic research data and argues that smallholder farmers struggle to take part in modern agricultural value chains in South Africa. System dynamics modelling is used to understand the dynamics relating to agricultural value-chain participants, and to determine whether the ethnographic research data is sufficient to answer the question as to which value-chain participants potentially have the largest impact on smallholder farmers. The modelling results show that banks may have the potential to trigger an impact on smallholder farmers’ productivity that could then attract other value-chain industries to take part in efforts to support these farmers. Smallholder farmers could become a long-term viable and sustainable option for increasing food security in South Africa. However, this study has its limitations. The data used from existing ethnographic research, conducted by way of semi-structured interviews with valuechain participants, is limited and is not able to answer questions such as: (i) how much each industry is prepared to engage with smallholder farmers in the event of other industries being prepared to do the same; and (ii) how long it will take each industry to react to a willingness to engage. Ongoing research is required to extend the interviewee base and data in order to answer these questions and for the model to be completed and used for policy guidance.

Three National Security Legislative Regimes in South Africa

This paper investigates the three key legislative regimes posing problematic issues for ‘open democracy’ around national security in South Africa: (1) the information classification regime – the Protection of Information Act 84 of 1982 and its intended replacement, the Protection of State Information Bill/Act, (2) the regime allowing for the actual collection of much of the electronic communications from which the classified information is distilled – the Regulation of the Interception of Communication and Provision of Communication-Related Information Act 70 of 2002, and (3) the national security regime truly hanging over from the apartheid era – the National Key Points Act. These three legislative regimes are key legal elements of the larger constitutional framework governing national security in South Africa.

Water security in South Africa: perceptions on public expectations and municipal obligations, governance and water re-use

South Africa is a water-scarce country with increasing pressure on its water resources. Urgent interventions are needed to protect water security within this rapidly developing country. This paper reports on an interdisciplinary Water Security Colloquium, convened by the South African Young Academy of Science in 2014. A selected group of water professionals from academia, civil society and local government was brought together to discuss water security under three focus themes: ‘public expectations and municipal obligations’, ‘water security and governance: challenges and advances’, and ‘water re-use: health and infrastructural considerations’. Participant perceptions were generated using a focus group methodology, combined with participatory data collection methods. Under each theme, inputs were categorised as ‘challenges’, ‘gaps in knowledge’, and ‘solutions/recommendations’ and these inputs were thereafter ranked in order of importance via a ‘voting’ process. Major challenges perceived included a lack of both skills and political will in government, a need to restore citizen trust in government intention and capability to deliver water-related services, and a failure to up-scale existing water re-use technology. Participants identified understanding of the process and implications of the Green and Blue Drop Programmes, knowledge transfer to the public, and the role of educators as major knowledge gaps. The top suggestions proposed included creating public awareness around and buy-in to initiatives to improve water security, accessible and user-friendly conversion of research results to implementation, and ensuring an active role for educators in creating awareness around water security. In view of the concerns identified, participants suggested as potential solutions: improving government and public understanding around water issues, incentivising water re-use and conservation, introducing rising block tariffs and improving human capacity development in the water sector. Developing the ecological infrastructure that protects both quantity and quality of water and building strong partnerships among all stakeholders were also recognised as key. Keywords : capacity development, education, governance, water security, water re-use, water conservation, local government

Promoting food security through indigenous and traditional food crops

ABSTRACTDespite many factors weighing in South Africa’s favor on the agricultural front, including having official “food secure” status, millions of households have insufficient access to nutritionally safe food. This is largely a function of poverty, which is particularly pervasive in the rural areas. While the government’s largely unsuccessful agricultural development programs have focused on large-scale commercial crops, such as wheat and maize, indigenous and traditional food crops could play a significant role. In this article, multiple criteria analysis is used to identify indigenous and traditional food crops that have the greatest potential to enhance food security in South Africa. The different indigenous and traditional food crops options were rank according to set criteria that were derived from the definition for food security as adopted in the article. Accessibility, affordability and nutrition formed the basis of the definition as subsequently the criteria used to rank the alternatives. Results from the analysis revealed that sorghum, sweet potatoes, and amaranth are among the indigenous and traditional food crops with the greatest potential.Abbreviations: AgriSETA: Agricultural Sector Education and Training Authority; CAM: conflict analysis method; DAFF: Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; IFSS: integrated food security strategy; ITFCs: indigenous and traditional food crops; FAO: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations; MCA: multiple criteria analysis; NWP: North West Province; PIR-sensitivity test: preference, indifference, and incomparability test; PSPPD: Programme to Support Pro-Poor Policy Development

Environmental Security, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Implications for Food Security in South Africa

The cases from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa show linkages between environmental security and indigenous knowledge systems for sustainable food security. Both secondary and primary sources a...

Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity for Sustainable Food Security in South Africa

This was an investigation into the role of African indigenous knowledge systems and biodiversity in food security and nutrition. Both primary and secondary sources were used in the research process...

Social sorting as ‘social transformation’: Credit scoring and the reproduction of populations as risks in South Africa

In this article, I show that credit scoring, although not explicitly designed as a security device, enacts (in)security in South Africa. By paying attention to a brief history of state-implemented social categories, we see how the dawn of political democracy in 1994 marked an embrace of – not opposition to – their inheritance by the African National Congress. The argument is placed within a theoretical framework that dovetails David Lyon’s popularization of ‘social sorting’ with an extension of Harold Wolpe’s understanding of apartheid and capitalism. This bridging between Lyon and Wolpe is developed to advance the view that apartheid is a social condition whose historical social categories of rule have been reproduced since 1994 in the framing of credit legislation, policy and scoring. These categories are framed in the ‘new’ South Africa as indicators of ‘social transformation’. Through the lens of credit scoring, in particular, it is demonstrated that ‘social transformation’ not only influences, shapes and reproduces historical forms of social categories, but also serves the state’s attempt to create and maintain populations as risks.

A survey of car guards in Tshwane: Implications for private security policy and practice

Car guards form an integral part of South Africa’s urban landscape. This article reports on a survey of 144 car guards in Tshwane to identify the implications of their work for private security policy and practice. The profile of respondents reflects their low socio-economic status and marginalisation from the formal economy. The study found that some car guards struggle to survive financially because of the daily levies payable to car guard agencies and the managers of shopping centres. The results of the study suggest that, despite positive sentiments and advancements in policy and legislation, regulation of the formal car guarding industry remains constrained due to inadequate implementation and monitoring. The article offers insights into the factors affecting car guarding as a form of private security in South Africa.

A survey of car guards in Tshwane: Implications for private security policy and practice

Car guards form an integral part of South Africa’s urban landscape. This article reports on a survey of 144 car guards in Tshwane to identify the implications of their work for private security policy and practice. The profile of respondents reflects their low socio-economic status and marginalisation from the formal economy. The study found that some car guards struggle to survive financially because of the daily levies payable to car guard agencies and the managers of shopping centres. The results of the study suggest that, despite positive sentiments and advancements in policy and legislation, regulation of the formal car guarding industry remains constrained due to inadequate implementation and monitoring. The article offers insights into the factors affecting car guarding as a form of private security in South Africa.

Biofortification of sweet potato for food and nutrition security in South Africa

South Africa has a diverse population, with some pockets of society being in a first world setup and other pockets in a third world impoverished setup. Food provision in impoverished societies is particularly crucial. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) is a hardy crop and prominent in ensuring household food security; through its rich supply of energy, high yield potential and market value. In addition, orange-fleshed cultivars in particular are prominent in combating vitamin A deficiency due to high content of naturally bio-available β-carotene. This paper reviews interventions with regard to biofortification of sweet potato in South Africa towards addressing food and nutrition security. The focus was on the development of biofortified (high β-carotene content) cultivars and screening procedures for desired varietal traits; assessment of β-carotene, anti-oxidant and mineral content and the processing potential of orange-fleshed cultivars. Efficacy of orange fleshed sweet potato to improve vitamin A status was shown and positive effects of household production of orange-fleshed sweet potato, in conjunction with other β-carotene rich vegetables, on dietary intake, vitamin A status and food security were recorded. Dissemination efforts were initially focused on home gardens, which gradually expanded to subsistence production and enterprises. During 2014/15, over 1 million cuttings were disseminated and 5 to 40 small-scale commercial farmers in six provinces planted 0.25 to 1ha of orange-fleshed sweet potato as means for income generation. In order to exploit the nutritional benefits of sweet potato and its potential to reduce vitamin A malnutrition and food insecurity, it is recommended that policy makers set directives to incorporate orange-fleshed sweet potato in government programs related to health, rural development, social development and agricultural production. There is a great need for investment in promotion of orange-fleshed sweet potato, particularly to consumers and retailers. Private–public partnerships and investment by private companies will be crucial for upscaling the impact of orange-fleshed sweet potato on food and nutrition security.

Impacts of drought on grape yields in Western Cape, South Africa

Droughts remain a threat to grape yields in South Africa. Previous studies on the impacts of climate on grape yield in the country have focussed on the impact of rainfall and temperature separately; meanwhile, grape yields are affected by drought, which is a combination of rainfall and temperature influences. The present study investigates the impacts of drought on grape yields in the Western Cape (South Africa) at district and farm scales. The study used a new drought index that is based on simple water balance (Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index; hereafter, SPEI) to identify drought events and used a correlation analysis to identify the relationship between drought and grape yields. A crop simulation model (Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator, APSIM) was applied at the farm scale to investigate the role of irrigation in mitigating the impacts of drought on grape yield. The model gives a realistic simulation of grape yields. The Western Cape has experienced a series of severe droughts in the past few decades. The severe droughts occurred when a decrease in rainfall occurred simultaneously with an increase in temperature. El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) appears to be an important driver of drought severity in the Western Cape, because most of the severe droughts occurred in El Nino years. At the district scale, the correlation between drought index and grape yield is weak (r≈−0.5), but at the farm scale, it is strong (r≈−0.9). This suggests that many farmers are able to mitigate the impacts of drought on grape yields through irrigation management. At the farm scale, where the impact of drought on grape yields is high, poor yield years coincide with moderate or severe drought periods. The APSIM simulation, which gives a realistic simulation of grape yields at the farm scale, suggests that grape yields become more sensitive to spring and summer droughts in the absence of irrigation. Results of this study may guide decision-making on how to reduce the impacts of drought on food security in South Africa.

Implications of increasing world oil scarcity for national food security in South Africa

ABSTRACTEconomic and social stability depend on a healthy, functioning and affordable system of agricultural production and food distribution. In recent years, however, international and domestic food prices have risen considerably, partly as a result of rising oil prices. A growing body of literature indicates that world oil supplies will become increasingly scarce and expensive in the coming years, due to the depletion of easily extractable reserves. This poses a significant threat to agricultural production in South Africa, which is overwhelmingly derived from oil-intensive commercial farming. To mitigate the risk of serious disruptions to food production and distribution, the agriculture sector may require government support in the form of temporary fuel subsidies and, possibly, prioritised fuel access in order to cope with oil price shocks and potential fuel scarcity. Furthermore, to boost resilience and improve sustainability for the longer term, the agriculture sector should embark on a programme aimed at gradually reducing the reliance on petroleum products by adopting practices such as conservation agriculture and agro-ecological farming methods. In addition, since the current food distribution system is heavily reliant on road transport, and thus exposed to fuel price and supply shocks, the mitigation strategy should aim at a partial relocalisation of agricultural production and consumption, for example, by developing urban agriculture.

An Analysis of Climate Change, Poverty and Human Security in South Africa

In South Africa, climate change mitigation poses significant challenges to the South African Government because it has to juggle the climate change imperatives , with the critical issues of poverty and human security, as well as a host of daunting development challenges inherited from the Apartheid regime. This paper utilizes a qualitative methodology to collect and analyse data on climate change, poverty and human security nexus in South Africa. It outlines the development challenges and development policy responses targeting poverty and human security. The analysis of the causes and effects, as well as the impact of climate change, is followed by a discussion of the delivery of basic social services and the resultant public disaffection leading to violent service protests. A significant proportion of South Africans, especially the poor, have to contend with poverty, a lack of basic social services and unemployment which are being compounded by climate change. The final section of the paper argues that despite significant service delivery milestones, little progress has been made on the central objective of reducing poverty and inequality. Consequently, although a lot has been achieved in terms of the legislation, policies, programmes, and provision of basic services for the poor, the challenge facing the South African Government is how to link the objectives of poverty alleviation policy with those of climate change and human security priorities within a sustainable development framework. The paper recommends that in order to reduce poverty and increase the poor people's capacity to adapt or respond to climate change the government will need to: firstly , mainstream or integrate climate change adaptation with sustainable development policies; and secondly, improve the capacity of local authorities to effectively deliver services to their communities . This paper has been motivated by the explosion of service delivery protests around the country, which have become violent and increasingly xenophobic resulting in attacks on African nationals and foreign -owned small businesses in the townships and informal settlements.

Agricultural Projects and Food Security in the Post-1994 Democratic Government in Rural South Africa

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the relationship between agricultural projects and food security in rural South Africa on the post-1994 democratic government. Food insecurity has been a major problem affecting poor people in developing countries. This is a result and effect of some ill-planning of strategies that should facilitate food security. In the case of South Africa, the estimation of poverty show that the proportion of people living in poverty has not changed significantly over the years. However, those households living in poverty have continued to be vulnerable in poverty situation. On the post-1994 democratic government, agricultural projects were introduced as a mechanism of alleviating poverty and food insecurity in rural areas. Most households adopt the agricultural projects to acquire adequate food. However, there are many challenges encountered while practicing agricultural projects. Agricultural projects have been widely promoted as a solution to food insecurity, but its relationship on food security has not been measured in rural areas. The paper discusses the types of agricultural projects practiced food in rural South Africa. The paper also discusses the theoretical background of food security in the democratic South Africa. The paper further discusses the status as well as policies and legislations of food security in South Africa. The paper concludes that although agricultural projects have been initiated as a mechanism of acquiring food in rural households, much is still needed to be done in improving such projects to acquire adequate food. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n16p647