'n Evaluering van staatsbetrokkenheid by die Hartebeespoortdamskema, 1914 - 1952.

Abstract

• Opsomming: Landelike nedersettingskemas het sedert die bewuswording van die bestaan van armblankes 'n integrale deel uitgemaak van staatspogings om hierdie surplus mense te rehabiliteer. Die oogmerk met landelike nedersettingskemas was om geproletariseerde blankes van produksiemiddele te voorsien sodat hulle nie langer van staatshulp en die gemeenskap afhanklik sou wees nie. Afgesien van verskeie pogings om die vraagstuk aan te spreek, is geen omvattende staatsbeleid voor 1924 geformuleer nie. Die Hartebeespoortdambesproeiingskema is 'n voorbeeld van een so 'n poging. Na 1924 het nadere nedersettings (closer settlements) op besproeiingskemas die armblankevraagstuk op hoofsaaklik twee maniere aangespreek. Eerstens is voorkeur aan ongeskoolde blanke arbeiders gedurende die konstruksie- en voorbereidingsfase gegee en tweedens is vestiging tot blankes beperk. Verskeie struikelblokke moes sedert die eerste vestigings in 1925 op Hartebeespoort oorkom word. Teen 1952 was 451 eertydse nedersetters alreeds grondeienaars wat 'n mylpaal in die antiproletarisasieprogram deur middel van landelike nedersettingskemas verteenwoordig.• Summary: Since the recognition of the existence of poor whites land resettlement schemes formed an integral part of the rehabilitation of these surplus people. The intention was to provide proletarised whites with a means of production to ensure they would no longer burden the state and society. Despite government attempts to address the poor white problem no clear cut policy was formulated before 1924. However, certain measures were initiated, for example the Hartebeespoortdam irrigation scheme. After 1924 closer settlements on irrigation schemes alleviated the poor white problem in two ways. Firstly priority was given to unskilled white workers rather than blacks during the construction and development phases. Secondly, only poor whites were to be settled on the irrigation holdings. Since the first settlement of poor white families in 1925 at Hartebeespoort many hardships had to be overcome. However, by the beginning of 1952 approximately 451 settlers were land owners. This marks a success of the anti-proletarisation programme along the lines of land resettlement schemes.