Interventions for Enhancing Performance of Communal Property Associations in Managing Restituted Land in Vhembe District Municipality

PhDRDV

Institute for Rural Development

The struggle for distribution of land was central to the liberation movement in South Africa. Following the end of apartheid, the new government enacted a constitution that mandated equitable land distribution. This led to the implementation of a land reform programme, encompassing land reform, restitution and redistribution. However, many beneficiaries, particularly those receiving agricultural land, lacked the necessary skills and experience in farming and land management. To address these challenges, Communal Property Associations (CPAs) were introduced as a central institution for land restitution and management. Established under the Communal Property Associations Act of 1996, the CPA was vested with legal authority to manage and hold redistributed land on behalf of beneficiaries. Invariably, CPAs are regarded as dysfunctional, mainly due to substandard performance and poor governance. The extent of these governance issues remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to examine the governance of CPAs and propose interventions to enhance their performance within Vhembe District Municipality. A survey in which Executive Committee members of 53 CPAs served as respondents was carried out. In this regard, a quantitative research design was used to explore the potential interventions for effective CPA management. Ranked means were computed for each perception to provide empirical insights to inform strategies for improving CPA performance in managing redistributed land. A significant majority (79%) of CPA Executive Committee members served on a voluntary basis. This underscores the need for targeted mentorship and training programmes to enhance their effectiveness. Challenges identified included widespread non-compliance with legal provisions and inadequate access to resources, which significantly impact service delivery and organizational functionality. Many CPAs exhibit dysfunctionality, as evidenced by poor governance and inadequate compliance with constitutional and legal requirements. The need for enhanced legal education and compliance interventions was highlighted. Variations in administrative and operational systems among CPAs were observed. A clear need for improved clarity in vision and mission, and more consistent compliance with legal provisions was unravelled. Of particular note was that Executive Committees prioritized clarity of vision (55%) but less frequently assess client needs (39%). This observation reveals a gap that could be addressed through strategic planning processes and regular client assessments. Gender balance within Executive Committees was said to be improving (mean score of 7.3), yet sub-committees showed lower levels of commitment and effectiveness (mean score of 3.5). This might indicate potential weaknesses in governance structures. Human resource management practices were weak, with mean scores ranging from 1.8 to 2.7. These results reflect significant deficiencies in recruitment, development and adherence to regulations. Financial management practices are generally robust (mean scores ranging from 4.1 to 7.3), but challenges remain in budgeting, stock control, and income diversification (mean scores from 3.4 to 5.2). Furthermore, CPAs faced difficulties in integrating their activities with government plans and achieving visibility. Mean scores ranged from 2.3 to 3.9 for these aspects. Implementing training programmes, developing comprehensive policies and enhancing resource mobilization strategies to address these issues are recommended as relevant interventions. Policy interventions should focus on compliance, leadership development, operational culture and sustainability to improve CPA performance and ensure long-term effectiveness in communal property management.

NRF