The Lived Experiences of Women at Umlalazi Nature Reserve on Incema Grass Harvesting: A Decolonial Perspective

The South African land appropriation/dispossession by the white settlers contributes towards challenges faced by women who harvest incema grass (Juncus kraussii) either for income-generating or subsistence as an activity. This is an essential means by which poverty situations for families in rural spaces can be alleviated. The study aims to investigate (i) the causes of the shortage of incema grass (ii) the inability to access the incema grass in the vast land of our forebears and (iii) what causes the decline of incema grass which has a significant economic value and the impact it will have on the future sustainable harvest. The Marxist Feminist Theory underpins this paper and intersects it with the history of land expropriation, South Africa’s triple challenges, viz., unemployment, inequalities, and poverty. As a result, the park authorities have reduced the number of women harvesters, harvesting days, and amounts of bundles permitted due to the limited grass availability. Ecological uncertainty disrupts the continuity of human life, and women are the victims of environmental problems that occur. The in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted to examine the impact of incema grass on women in rural spaces and their livelihoods and thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The results indicated that the livelihoods who benefited from the harvesting of incema grass are negatively impacted however the park authorities indicate that the harvesters practice unsustainable harvesting methods which are some of the contributing factors. The study recommended that the harvesters be encouraged to spread the growth of incema grass as an additional activity to subsistence farming in identified areas that are suitable for its growth such as wetlands.

Keywords: Land Appropriation. Protected Areas. Incema. Marxist Feminist Theory.