Suchergebnisse

Land reform in South Africa and the realisation of the section 25 property clause of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996 (hereafter the Constitution) is seen as an integral step in the democratisation process as well as in the social and economic empowerment of previously marginalised groups. For many, the true test for political transformation will be whether land needs (including protection of and care for the environment) are addressed effectively and in a sustainable manner. In recent years, however, government's addressing of land needs has become a highly controversial issue, especially where land that vests in private owners is claimed back because of its status as ancestral land. Land reform may strongly impact on the environment and sustainable development as protected in section 24 of the Constitution since it involves vast hectares of land, other environmental media and people. Restitution of land processes in terms of section 25(7), as one of the components of land reform, often does not take key provisions contained in environmental and planning law into account. In many instances, for example, government's restitution projects do not make sufficient provision for harmonisation with environmental principles contained in environmental law and no or limited systems exist whereby to inform and assist land restitution beneficiaries on compliance with environmental and planning law obligations in post settlement development endeavours. These limitations could, inter alia, be linked with the fragmentation of the environmental governance regime and a lack of role clarification. It may furthermore result in significant conflict between sections 24 and 25(7) of the Constitution as overarching framework legislation, and between developmental objectives contained in sectoral-specific subordinate legislation. The restitution of land is, amongst other policies, regulated by section 25(7) of the Constitution and the Restitution of Land Rights Act 22 of 1994 whilst section 24 of the Constitution and the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 aim at protection of the environment, the prevention of pollution, the promotion of conservation, and secured ecologically sustainable development. The conditions following land restitution settlement, including the current state of the environment on land that has been restituted, provide an interesting and factual source of reference for critical analysis of environmental policy implementation in land restitution processes and post-settlement endeavours. It further allows for a critical view on the effective or futile realisation of sustainable development in national and provincial governments' efforts to finalise claim-driven restitution of land. In order to limit the scope of this article, land restitution policy, progress with the national land restitution programme and some post-settlement accounts will be critically analysed and assessed in the light of obligations and initiatives for environmental governance derived from the legal framework concerned. A land restitution case is briefly discussed with subsequent comments and suggestions for the way forward.

Modern times see an increased emphasis on the importance of sound governance in and by the local sphere of government. This holds particularly true for South Africa where, since the coming into effect of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa 1996,1 a number of objectives, critical functions and developmental duties have been laid before the door of local authorities. A comprehensive resource book on domestic local government law in South Africa has, therefore, been long-awaited. In his reference and source book entitled Principles of South African Local Government Law, Bernard Bekink makes a significant contribution to local government law and governance in South Africa.

The book provides a critical evaluation of South Africa's freshwater resources to illustrate the way in which its freshwater resources, water access, services and infrastructure have continued to decline over the past three decades. The continued decline of water governance, management, water service delivery, dilapidated water infrastructure, dysfunctional local governments and overall excessive water degradation is illustrated and emphasized using real-life examples and case studies from various contexts within the country. The main argument of the book is that South Africa's freshwater resources have declined to such an extent that it can be described as a predicament. Questionable water governance decisions and reactive water management practices have led to no improvement and/or increased degradation of freshwater resources. An overall lack of service delivery exists across the country, in various contexts, leading to further water and social decline. An inter-disciplinary evaluation of South Africa's current water predicament is provided, major water crises are prioritized, and suitable recommendations are given to transform its predicament into problems which can be addressed. Suitable background information is given to emphasize the necessity of good water governance, management, and service delivery. South Africa's freshwater resources are evaluated with specific focus on the decline of informed water governance, management, service delivery and water quality. Factors requiring urgent attention are determined and suitable recommendations and/or actions are provided. An evaluation and overall synthesis focused on the transformation of the predicament into problems is provided. Primary water problems are prioritized according to urgency and suitable recommendations are given to assist in transforming the country's current complex water predicament into "simpler" water problems. Political will, collaboration with researchers, stakeholders, non-governmental organizations, and cooperation of civil society is required. South Africa's already scarce freshwater resources and decaying infrastructure will persist and possibly collapse if no major actions or interventions are implemented. .

Intro -- Preface -- Acknowledgements -- Contents -- Abbreviations -- List of Figures -- Water as a Global Risk -- 1 Current and Future Water Availability -- 1.1 Realisation of Water as an Important Resource -- 1.2 Current Water Availability -- 1.3 Global Water Use -- 1.3.1 Agricultural Water Use -- 1.3.2 Industrial Water Use -- 1.3.3 Domestic Water Use -- 1.4 Future Water Availability and Conclusions -- References -- 2 Current and Future Water Scarcity and Stress -- 2.1 Current Water Scarcity and Stress -- 2.2 Case Studies of Current Water Scarcity and/or Stress -- 2.2.1 Desiccation of the Aral Sea and Lake Chad -- 2.2.2 China: Plentiful but Unusable -- 2.2.3 Sri Lanka: Water Scarcity Due to Drought or a Lack of Planning -- 2.2.4 The Horn of Africa-Persistent Cyclical Drought -- 2.3 Conclusions -- References -- 3 Climate Change: Current Drivers, Observations and Impacts on the Globe's Natural and Human Systems -- 3.1 Brief Introduction to Climate Change -- 3.2 Observed Changes Within the Climatic System -- 3.2.1 Atmosphere -- 3.2.2 Ocean -- 3.2.3 Cryosphere -- 3.2.4 Sea Level -- 3.3 Primary Drivers -- 3.3.1 Natural and Anthropogenic Radiative Forcings -- 3.3.2 Human Activities Affecting Emission Drivers -- 3.4 Attributions of Climate Change -- 3.4.1 Natural and Human Influences -- 3.4.2 Observed Impacts -- 3.5 Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Risks to Natural and Managed Resources -- 3.5.1 Terrestrial and Inland Water Systems -- 3.5.2 Food Security and Food Production Systems -- 3.6 Impacts and Vulnerabilities of Human Settlements, Health, Livelihoods and the Economy -- 3.6.1 Urban Settlements -- 3.6.2 Rural Settlements -- 3.6.3 Human Health -- 3.6.4 Human Livelihoods -- 3.6.5 Economy -- References -- 4 Climate Change and Freshwater Resources: Current Observations, Impacts, Vulnerabilities and Future Risks -- 4.1 Brief Background -- 4.2 Main Drivers.

As a longstanding cabinet minister, chairperson of the African Union Commission and ANC presidential hopeful, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma has always been in the public eye, but to many people this media-averse politician remains an enigma. Praised by some and criticised by others, and variously described as 'undiplomatic' and 'one of the continent's best political operators', it is difficult for the public to form an opinion of her. In this book, journalist Carien du Plessis investigates Dlamini Zuma's life and career, tracking her early years, education and involvement in the struggle; her role as a cabinet minister under all four presidents of democratic South Africa; and her achievements as AU Commission chairperson. The book considers her feminism and political philosophy; tracks her presidential ambitions and campaigning; and explores how her personal relationship with one of her most important backers, President Jacob Zuma, has influenced her. -- Back cover

Introduction -- The 'civilisation project' of China -- Values in China as compared to Africa -- Science and society in China -- The politics of China -- China's economic transformation -- what lessons can Africa learn? -- Chinese society in flux -- a study of ethnicity, guanxi and urbanisation from the late imperial China until today -- China's involvement with Africa -- Concluding recommendations -- Appendix 1 : The role of land in China's economic development -- Appendix 2 : China's Special Economic Zone Model -- the fire-starter of industrialisation in Africa?

Running like a red thread through this book are the manifestations of Sino-African relations dating back many centuries. In this way, The Rise and Decline and Rise of China: Searching for an Organising Philosophy takes forward the work MISTRA conducted on the Mapungubwe society, one of the advanced states that existed in southern Africa some 800 years ago. What makes this research report unique, though, is that the treatment of these issues has been undertaken primarily from an African perspective. --Provided by publisher.