Sustainability of Land Restitution Project with reference to Shigalo Land Restitution Project in Makhado Municipality, Limpopo Province

Abstract

This study was conducted in Limpopo province in Makhado municipality, Vhembe district. It concentrated on Levubu farms. There are seven Communal Property Associations (CPAs) which occupy about 258.7889 hectares of land; there are Ravele, Masakona, Tshakhuma, Shigalo, Tshivhazwaulu, Tshitwani, Ratombo but this study will concentrate only on Shigalo CPA. Two hundred and seventy respondents in Shigalo land restitution project in Makhado municipality were interviewed on sustainability of the restitution projects. It is argued that for a sustainability of restitution project, a number of requirements must be met. These include a clear and coherent vision, full participation and ownership by the beneficiaries of the project; political support at the highest level; appropriate mechanisms for implementation; sufficient funding; mutually- supportive linkages with other relevant areas of policy, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the intended beneficiaries as well as taking care of the environment for the future generation. The case study was conducted to investigate the sustainability of restitution project in Shigalo restitution community. The results obtained in this study show that Shigalo beneficiaries have ownership and full participation in the land restitution farms. It also pointed out that Shigalo beneficiaries were capacitated to increase the level of farm production and farm management skills, and they were assisted by strategic partnership. With reference to environmental conditions, the results show that the sustainability of agricultural project is also controlled by good agricultural practices that are environmental friendly. There were environmental constrains that affected farming in Shigalo projects such as drought, veld fire and frost. Shigalo restitution farms get advice on environmental problems from the Department of Agriculture. Industrial, financial and technical support will play a vital role in sustaining restitution projects.