The role of “black capital” in revitalising land reform in Limpopo, South Africa

In this article Aliber and Maluleke grapple with similar questions of social differentiation in their exploratory study of emergent black farmers who lease land on floundering land reform projects. Examining the partnerships between these commercially-oriented lessees and project beneficiaries through a number of case studies, the article discerns how small-sale black investors are well suited to involvement in these particularly sites. The authors not only draw attention to the complex social, institutional and commercial dynamics surrounding attempts to sustain commercial agriculture in the context of land reform projects, but warn of the limitations of attempting to revive failed projects by simply injecting additional infrastructure

Sharing diversity: establishing and supporting community seedbanks in South Africa (pilot phase 2013-2015)

A promising start has been made: the two new community seedbanks of Gumbu and Sterkspruit and complementary technical support provided by the government will allow farmers to improve seed conservation technologies, increase access to crop diversity, apply crop improvement practices and explore seed production and marketing opportunities. The Gumbu community seedbank in particular illustrates the key role of women farmers in local conservation efforts and how these efforts in turn have the potential to change the local agro-ecological and socio-economic landscape. Future work will continue to pay attention to the successes and challenges of such farmers’ efforts and continue to draw more attention and support to: encourage the safeguarding and improvement of local plant species and varieties maintained by smallholder farmers and their communities recognizing the central role of women; value and reward farmers’ collective efforts to safeguard and improve agricultural biodiversity and associated cultural values and knowledge; and support farmers technically and financially to organize themselves, and strengthen their organizational capacity taking into consideration the leadership role of women

Livelihoods after land reform: The South African case

SA’s land reform regarded as a failure – economic objectives – the spectre of ‘failed projects’ – changing the racial pattern of land ownership – too slow • No consensus as to why, or what to do • Even so, ambitious if vague promises • Dominant ethos = modernisation “Another focus area [of the Department] will be skills transfer, to promote the transfer of skills from white commercial farmers to black subsistence farmers” (Joemat-Pettersson, 2010

Embracing diversity: inputs for a strategy to support community seedbanks in South Africa’s smallholder farming areas: Report of field visits to Limpopo and Eastern Cape

This report presents the findings of a field mission to Limpopo and Eastern Cape provinces of the Republic of South Africa. The mission aimed to assess the viability of establishing and supporting community seed banks in the country’s smallholder farming areas. Tools used included four cell analysis, seed network mapping, seed survey and historical trend analysis. The report recommends establishing pilot community seed banks in each province backed up by sound management and monitoring plans

Taking up the cudgels against gay rights? Trends and trajectories in African Christian theologies on homosexuality

Against the background of the HIV epidemic and the intense public controversy on homosexuality in African societies, this article investigates the discourses of academic African Christian theologians on homosexuality. Distinguishing some major strands in African theology, that is, inculturation, liberation, women’s and reconstruction theology, the article examines how the central concepts of culture, liberation, justice, and human rights function in these discourses. On the basis of a qualitative analysis of a large number of publications, the article shows that stances of African theologians are varying from silence and rejection to acceptance. Although many African theologians have taken up the cudgels against gay rights, some “dissident voices” break the taboo and develop more inclusive concepts of African identity and African Christianity

Mobilizing diversity: establishment of the first two community seedbanks in South Africa’s smallholder farming areas

This report presents the findings of the 2015 field missions to Limpopo and Eastern Cape provinces of the Republic of South Africa. The missions aimed to build the technical and organizational capacity of the farmers to be able to manage the community seedbanks independently, with minimum support from Bioversity International and the NPGRC. Physical buildings were built or prepared and farmers in the two project sites contributed seeds for the very first collections of their community seedbanks. Contributing farmers have agreed on the functions and governance and management structures of the community seedbanks, and have learned about seed registration, and seed selection, treatment, storage and maintenance

Sharing diversity: exchanging seeds and experiences of community seedbanks in South Africa

This report describes the main activities carried out in 2017. The community seed banks of Gumbu and Sterkspruit increased the number of accessions, reproduced seeds of a number of priority crop varieties and strengthened their technical and organizational capacities. They also participated in the first community seed bank exchange and learning workshop that brought together farmers and officials from various provinces. A new community seed bank was set up in Northwest province. Farmers and staff of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Bioversity International shared their experiences in a number of (inter) national events. The accumulated experiences of establishing and supporting community seed banks in South Africa were used as input for the development of two community seed bank manuals, one for facilitators and one for farmers. The three community seed banks established so far will support the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ strategy on conservation and sustainable use of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture both in situ and ex situ

Green shoots. Community seedbanking in South Africa: endeavours and outcomes 2016-2019

This brief summarizes the progress made in establishing and supporting a national network of community seedbanks in South Africa in the period 2016-2019. Three community seedbanks are up and running. Some exchanges of seeds and knowledge have taken place within the country and with neighboring Zimbabwe. Recurring drought is a major challenge to maintain collections viable, but plans are made to bring more diversity to the community seedbanks