Economic conditions among Blacks on Eastern Cape farms

This report is based on fieldwork which was conducted in 1984. A number of factors, beyond the control of the Development Studies Unit, have delayed the publication of the research findings until now. Though the data may be somewhat dated, the work deals with a much neglected research area, and is published in this Working Paper in the interests of a wider understanding of the nature of the circumstances which characterise the living environments of disadvantaged rural African communities in the Eastern Cape region. As the country enters a period of socio-political transition, rapidly rising social and economic expectations abound. The challenge is to devise appropriate strategies which can be applied in order to initiate a process of development aimed at improving the life-chances and livelihoods of all of the people. In this regard, a strong case can be formulated for some priority to be accorded to marginalised African rural communities.Digitised by Rhodes University Library on behalf of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER