GRASSLANDS ABLAZE: VEGETATION BURNING BY RURAL PEOPLE IN PONDOLAND, SOUTH AFRICA

ABSTRACT

Despite decades of anti-fire rhetoric and different legislation regulating the use of fire, poor rural people in South Africa continue to burn vegetation outside of the recommended periods. This paper explores some of the possible reasons for this ‘uncontrolled burning’ by rural people. Using a village case study from Pondoland, the paper argues that people's defense of their livelihoods is a key reason; whether this be through using fire to manage natural resources or as a form of protest against those they perceive to be powerful. Thus, detailed understanding of the nature of livelihoods, the history and struggles of the people concerned, as well as local institutional landscape is crucial. Environmental degradation, whether by fire or other things, therefore, is not an ecological issue alone, it is as deep as the people's histories, economic and political situation and, therefore, has to be dealt with and understood in that context.