Institutional factors in natural resource management in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa - Institutional Constraints to Small Farmer Development in Southern Africa - page 245

Payment of animal fees by community members

Beside different farmers' associations, farmers have a common fund under which they
pay animals fees. This animal fee depends significantly on the community (Chi 2 23.09,
P <0.0001). For example, Figure 10.8 illustrates that payment is less likely to occur in
Lashington with 87% of the respondents saying they do not pay such fees. In Magwiji and
Tsaba, 40% and 58% of the respondents indicated that they do not pay any fees while the
rest said they pay animal fees. The main purpose of these fees in the three communities is
to enable farmers to belong to farmers' associations. These fees are then taken to a common
fund to be used for the good of the animals.

100

80

60

Yes
No

40

20

0

Lash Magwiji Tsaba

Village

Figure 10.8. Distribution of farmers who pay animal fees in Magwii, Tsaba and Lashington.

10.9.5 Conflicts and the use of communal rangelands

Conflicts exist in the three communities. There are more conflicts in Magwiji as shown
in Figure 10.9, where 80% of the respondents reported the existence of conflicts in this
community. However, the case is different with the other two villages because only 28%
of the respondents in Lashington and 35% in Tsaba reported the prevalence of conflicts.
These conflicts mainly arise from law breakers who graze their animals where they are not
allowed and violent conflicts over the use of natural resources with neighbouring villages.

10.9.6 Sources of water for livestock

In all three communities, animals use dams and rivers for drinking. The distance between
villages and water points is less than 1 kilometre in Lashington and Tsaba while in Magwiji
is between 1 to 5 kilometres. Communities face a shortage of water for their animals during
low rainfall seasons, especially in Magwiji, and this affects rangelands conditions. Villagers