Rural development in Hertzog, Eastern Cape: Successful local economic development?

The government's recently released rural development strategy identifies the important role which local economic development can play in the rural areas of South Africa. This article examines the key features of local economic development and the degree to which recent initiatives in the rural village of Hertzog conform with the basic principles of local economic development. The recent establishment of an agriculture cooperative and smallholder farming on irrigated one‐hectare plots forms the basis of the initiative. Community structures, strategies and achievements are outlined and assessed.

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Both lecturers in Geography at Rhodes University. The authors acknowledge the financial assistance of the Human Needs, Resources and the Environment Programme of the Human Sciences Research Council and Rhodes University. Thanks go to Sue Abraham of the Department of Geography at Rhodes University for drawing the map. The assistance and commitment of Charles Meyer of the Mpofu District Forum are gratefully acknowledged.