CULTURAL PERCEPTION MODULE: SOUTH AFRICA

The cultural discourse in Apartheid South Africa centered on:

Cultural difference oBasis of Apartheid ruleoNation divided into cultural groups each with its own traditions and unique culture

Cultural sameness – oPromoted in opposition to the apartheid state and the regime of cultural differenceoDifferences are imposed to serve the interest of Apartheid

In the cultural discourse in Post Apartheid South Africa cultural connectedness is emerging as new cultural strategy

Cultural connectedness:

Accepts difference and sameness as part of ordinary people’s experience of the “new South Africa”Assume that multicultural South Africa is still racially and culturally dividedAims to make South Africa a better place to live in by:

oBringing about a greater sharing of ideasoBroadening the basis of association and collective identities across racial lines.

The Objective of the Cultural and Perception Module is therefore to establish:

How agriculture could contribute towards a culture of connectedness, andIts role to make our country a better place to live in.

To achieve this the study:

Obtained the views of ordinary people from diverse farming backgrounds through FGDs and individual interviews on the following:

oThe importance, expectations and problems of agriculture in South Africa.oThe social and political role of agriculture.oCritical contemporary issues such as land invasion, land reform and labouroThe future of agriculture

Aggregated the views for comparative analysis into:oThe views of black farmersoThe views of white farmers

Analyzed these views in terms of :oThe ideas that unite and divide farmersoAgriculture’s role towards cultural connectedness

The Results of the study indicated that:

White and black farmers are divided and that a collective identify as farmers is still a long way off because:

oIn black farmers’ perceptions the unequal distribution of agricultural resources and white farmers’ attitudes towards blacks are dividing black and white farmersoIn white farmers perceptions ‘political slogans, unrealistic expectations and farm attacks are keeping white and black farmers apart

Agriculture nevertheless has the potential to contribute to greater connectedness because:

oThere is a growing consensus among black and white farmers on the need for successful land redistributionoThere is a growing realization among black farmers that support from the white commercial farming sector is indispensable for sustainable land reform

Closer association and connectedness could be build on:

oThe common believe among white and black farmers on the importance of agriculture.oTheir common conviction that the state and farmers need to address problems togetheroTheir shared view that the state has failed farmers thus faroThe common problems such as declining profit margins and rampant crime white and black farmers face.

Black and white farmers’ shared views on land reform would be the most important factor towards connectedness because:

oThe demand for land by black farmers coincides with white farmers’ support for land reformoBlack farmers’ recognition for support from white farmers coincides with white farmers’ belief that they should share their experience, knowledge and skills.

Connectedness within agriculture will not follow naturally and would have to overcome critical challenges. Chief among these are:

oThe slow tempo of land reform and the uncertainty surrounding land reformoContrasting perceptions on title to land between black farmers (blacks are entitled to land) and white farmers (title to land through the market).

Frustration is mounting among both black and white farmers and:

Comparisons with land reform in Zimbabwe are inevitable and some black farmers see land invasions as the solution to slow land reformNegative attitudes are growing among white farmers largely because of the array of new legislation

However:

Neither the negative attitudes of whites or threats of farm invasions are conducive to connectednessConnectedness through agriculture critically depend on:

oHow Government manages the tempo of land reform and title to landoThe enthusiasm with which farmers become engaged in land reform