Black Economic Empowerment in South African Agriculture: Lessons from and for the Citrus Industry
(2024) EKHS35 20231Department of Economic History
- Abstract
- Almost 30 years have passed since the dismantling of South Africa’s apartheid system, putting an end to the long history of racial segregation, discrimination, and oppression. But has it really changed? This research highlights the emergence of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as an affirmative policy instrument to advance land reform and rectify the enduring inequalities in the country’s agricultural sector. Through an extensive review, the study reveals the historical complexities and discourse around empowerment, while exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with its implementation in the citrus industry. The findings identify a variety of models, each encompassing a unique design and approach to empowerment, to drive... (More)
- Almost 30 years have passed since the dismantling of South Africa’s apartheid system, putting an end to the long history of racial segregation, discrimination, and oppression. But has it really changed? This research highlights the emergence of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as an affirmative policy instrument to advance land reform and rectify the enduring inequalities in the country’s agricultural sector. Through an extensive review, the study reveals the historical complexities and discourse around empowerment, while exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with its implementation in the citrus industry. The findings identify a variety of models, each encompassing a unique design and approach to empowerment, to drive transformation in the citrus industry. Notably, joint ventures and equity-share schemes emerge as the predominant strategies, two models that are further examined through a case study analysis of leading projects within the sector. Although these models hold significant potential for true empowerment and agrarian reform, the conclusion notes that BEE remains a work in progress, facing substantial hurdles that impede the growth and success of many initiatives to date. The implications and lessons learned presented here aim to assist stakeholders with a first step in the right direction, making informed decisions about BEE models moving forward. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9146634
- author
- Seuren, Anouk LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- EKHS35 20231
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- Apartheid, Black Economic Empowerment, Agricultural Reform, Citrus Industry, Inclusive Economic Growth, South Africa
- language
- English
- id
- 9146634
- date added to LUP
- 2024-01-25 08:43:36
- date last changed
- 2024-01-25 08:43:36
@misc{9146634, abstract = {{Almost 30 years have passed since the dismantling of South Africa’s apartheid system, putting an end to the long history of racial segregation, discrimination, and oppression. But has it really changed? This research highlights the emergence of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) as an affirmative policy instrument to advance land reform and rectify the enduring inequalities in the country’s agricultural sector. Through an extensive review, the study reveals the historical complexities and discourse around empowerment, while exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with its implementation in the citrus industry. The findings identify a variety of models, each encompassing a unique design and approach to empowerment, to drive transformation in the citrus industry. Notably, joint ventures and equity-share schemes emerge as the predominant strategies, two models that are further examined through a case study analysis of leading projects within the sector. Although these models hold significant potential for true empowerment and agrarian reform, the conclusion notes that BEE remains a work in progress, facing substantial hurdles that impede the growth and success of many initiatives to date. The implications and lessons learned presented here aim to assist stakeholders with a first step in the right direction, making informed decisions about BEE models moving forward.}}, author = {{Seuren, Anouk}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, title = {{Black Economic Empowerment in South African Agriculture: Lessons from and for the Citrus Industry}}, year = {{2024}}, }