Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa
Despite constitutional recognition, significant barriers remain to the integration of traditional authorities into formal planning and development decision-making processes in South Africa. Observing resistance from traditional authorities towards what they deem as exclusive and restrictive planning...
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Land |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/99 |
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| author | Kgomotso Jackson Phillip Sebola-Samanyanga |
| author_facet | Kgomotso Jackson Phillip Sebola-Samanyanga |
| author_sort | Kgomotso Jackson Phillip Sebola-Samanyanga |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite constitutional recognition, significant barriers remain to the integration of traditional authorities into formal planning and development decision-making processes in South Africa. Observing resistance from traditional authorities towards what they deem as exclusive and restrictive planning instruments, this study interrogates the intricate power dynamics between traditional leadership structures and imposed local government entities in rural development, planning, and governance processes to propose a cooperative governance framework within the South African context. The proposed framework is termed the “Rural Development and Governance Initiative” (RDGI), which aims to bridge the divide between traditional and local authorities. This study applied qualitative methods to investigate the relations between authorities in Limpopo province, South Africa. The findings reveal ongoing disputes between traditional and local authorities regarding decision-making powers, legitimacy in development and planning, and the capacity limitations and constraints faced by traditional authorities. The implications of this work extend to the (re)conceptualisation of policies and future research directions in rural governance, land development, and planning in South Africa, advocating for a shift from foreign models to those that reflect African realities and aspirations. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f33b7c5c904e4597920f97320ecfac02 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-445X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Land |
| spelling | doaj-art-f33b7c5c904e4597920f97320ecfac022025-01-24T13:37:53ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2025-01-011419910.3390/land14010099Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South AfricaKgomotso Jackson Phillip Sebola-Samanyanga0Department of Town and Regional Planning, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria 0028, South AfricaDespite constitutional recognition, significant barriers remain to the integration of traditional authorities into formal planning and development decision-making processes in South Africa. Observing resistance from traditional authorities towards what they deem as exclusive and restrictive planning instruments, this study interrogates the intricate power dynamics between traditional leadership structures and imposed local government entities in rural development, planning, and governance processes to propose a cooperative governance framework within the South African context. The proposed framework is termed the “Rural Development and Governance Initiative” (RDGI), which aims to bridge the divide between traditional and local authorities. This study applied qualitative methods to investigate the relations between authorities in Limpopo province, South Africa. The findings reveal ongoing disputes between traditional and local authorities regarding decision-making powers, legitimacy in development and planning, and the capacity limitations and constraints faced by traditional authorities. The implications of this work extend to the (re)conceptualisation of policies and future research directions in rural governance, land development, and planning in South Africa, advocating for a shift from foreign models to those that reflect African realities and aspirations.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/99traditional authoritiesrural developmentgovernanceSouth AfricaLimpopo |
| spellingShingle | Kgomotso Jackson Phillip Sebola-Samanyanga Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa Land traditional authorities rural development governance South Africa Limpopo |
| title | Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa |
| title_full | Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa |
| title_short | Beyond Colonial Legacies: (Re)Conceptualising Rural Development Through the RDGI in South Africa |
| title_sort | beyond colonial legacies re conceptualising rural development through the rdgi in south africa |
| topic | traditional authorities rural development governance South Africa Limpopo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/14/1/99 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kgomotsojacksonphillipsebolasamanyanga beyondcoloniallegaciesreconceptualisingruraldevelopmentthroughtherdgiinsouthafrica |