OPTIMISATION OF DIFFERENT LAND USE REGIMES IN THE MHALA DISTRICT, MPUMALANGA / OPTIMISERING VAN VERSKILLENDE GRONDGEBRUIKSPATRONE IN DIE MHALA DISTRIK, MPUMALANGA

Abstract

Communal, commercial and nature conservation land use alternatives occur together at the perimeter of Manyeleti Game Reserve in Mhala district. The different land use alternatives were compared with one another with the purpose of determining the best possible land use. Communal households and the Seville scheme households perform poorly in support of household welfare. This holds disastrous implications for future generations if nothing is done. The Uthla scheme households perform better and generate larger incomes, but at the expense of communal households. Both schemes are highly subsidised by government. Manyeleti Game Reserve is mismanaged and the worst land use alternative in the area, providing no benefit to people living at its perimeter and needs government support for its continued survival. Using multi criteria analysis a combination of communal and conservation land use alternatives is found to be the best alternative, maximising the communities' welfare and conserving the environment.

Kommunale, kommersiële en natuurbewaringsgrondgebruikalternatiewes kom saam voor in die omtrek van die Manyeleti Wildtuin in Mhala distrik. Die verskillende grondgebruiksalterna-tiewes is met mekaar vergelyk met die doel om te bepaal wat die beste moontlike grondgebruik sal wees. Kommunale huishoudings en die Seville-rskema huishoudings presteer swak in terme van die ondersteuning van huishoudelike welvaart. Dit sal rampspoedige implikasies vir toekomstige geslagte inhou as niks daaraan gedoen word nie. Die Uthla skema huishoudings vaar beter en genereer groter inkomstes, maar dit geskied en koste van kommunale huishoudings. Beide skemas word hoog deur die regering gesubsidieer. Die Manyeleti Wildtuin word wanbestuur en is die swakste landgebruiksalternatief in die gebied; dit bied geen voordele vir die mense in sy omtrek nie en benodig regeringshulp vir oorlewing. Multi-kriteria-analise het getoon dat 'n kombinasie van kommunale en bewaringsgrondgebruike die beste alternatief bied; dit maksimeer die welvaart van die gemeenskappe en bewaar die omgewing.