Die toepassing van projekbestuursbeginsels in die proses van plaasarbeiderbemagtiging

Abstract

There are more or less 900 000 farm workers in South Africa. Among these approximately 600 000 are permanently employed, while the rest are seasonal workers. It is estimated that six to seven million people are currently living on farms, which implies that up to seven people are dependent on the wages of a single farm worker. In order to improve the situation of farm workers, the Department of Labour implemented the minimum wage system for farm workers on 1 March 2003. The argument is posed, however, that many farm workers would lose their jobs because of the sectoral stipulations. Unemployment has far-reaching consequences. Farm workers who have lived on farms before, have to resettle and adapt to new social structures, such as community structures and new codes of conduct. In order to adapt to social change, it is argued that training agencies could use project management as a suitable management tool to launch empowering interventions. The analysis of the social conditions in which farm workers find themselves ought to be undertaken on the basis of a specific theory on changes. From this perspective certain theories of social change have been identified. Empowerment is discussed as a process of change. This means an increase in influence and control by acquiring knowledge and skills by means of the necessary training. While theorists on conflict view conflict as the main driving force in change, empowerment is considered to be the process by means of which change can be managed effectively. For the rest the principles of project management are discussed to show that the project cycle is based on project management principles. If project management principles and the project cycle are applied as yardsticks during an empowerment project, the chances of being successful will be much better than when launching an unstructured and unplanned project. The most important conclusion to be made from this research is that the management of change by means of empowerment projects is of decisive importance to unemployed farm workers. Empowerment projects for unemployed farm workers are the first steps in the direction of effective management of social change and sustainable development in South Africa.