Anthropology
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Browsing Anthropology by Author "Esterhuyse, P."
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Item Open Access The makings of field rangers in Limpopo province: An exploratory ethno-perceptive study(University of the Free State, 2022) Haupt, Naomi; Gordon, R. J.; Esterhuyse, P.; Marks, S.Field rangers are the first and last line of defense in environmental protection, working on the ground to ensure the integrity of conservation areas. In the previous decade, the ranger’s responsibilities have shifted from a conservation-based outcome to para-militarization in protecting high-value species, such as the rhino. Increasingly, rangers are drawn into law enforcement responsibilities and away from the breadth of other duties relating to biodiversity and conservation. Recruits often originate from communities living around protected areas, lacking alternate employment opportunities. Rangers often live among those connected to transnational wildlife trafficking networks, making them targets for intimidation and corruption. This further contributes to the social and familial pressures rangers face from hostile or co-opted community members involved in poaching or actively supporting poaching networks. Due to these circumstances, rangers may place their lives at risk daily in carrying out their work and may face increasingly significant challenges. Although some literature is available on rangers’ activities in preserving biodiversity globally, little is known about the rangers themselves. This narrative is not an exhaustive work on them but instead offers a glimpse, lifting the veil for the reader to see and experience a moment in the lives of the rangers. The research focuses not on military perspectives but on the human dimension behind firearms and uniforms.Item Open Access Socio-cultural dynamics of a rainwater harvesting project in rural Thaba Nchu(University of the Free State, 2015-07) Goitsemodimo, Relopile Gosiame; Esterhuyse, P.English: Rural poverty is a major crisis across the world, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa where the majority of the population reside in rural areas. South Africa is no exception, with a rural population that exceeds 40% and is characterised by widespread poverty (unemployment, food insecurity, environmental degradation and resource shortage, particularly water). The study focuses on the largely rural town of Thaba Nchu, with 42 villages, in the Free State Province about 60 km east of Bloemfontein. Water shortage is a major constraint in this semi-arid town with low and erratic rains of about 500 mm per annum, as it affects many of the livelihood strategies practised in the rural areas such as crop production and livestock breeding, which rely mostly on rainwater. The majority of the households are therefore dependent on social grants as the main source of income and the support they receive from their social networks (relatives, friends, neighbours and other acquaintances). In order to enable households in the area to enhance food security and well-being, the Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation project introduced the Infield Rainwater Harvesting (IRWH) technique. However, the acceptance and sustainability of the project as well as the technique applied have been affected by various factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate the socio-cultural dynamics and livelihoods in the villages of Potsane and Rietfontein (Thaba Nchu), in order to gain an insight into the impact of the rainwater harvesting and conservation technique on sustainability and food security. Ethnographic research methods such as participant observation, in-depth interviews with key informants, focus group discussions with selected members of the communities and case studies with leading members of the Rainwater Harvesting and Conservation (RWH&C) project were employed in the study. These techniques were favoured because they tend to forge a closer relationship between the researcher and the participants, who are viewed as valuable members of the research.