Unemployment, poor water supplies and sanitation, lack of access to information, high incidence of HIV/Aids, poor infrastructure and inadequate education and training are some of the problems that rural communities are facing in Kwazulu-Natal.
Many of these problems are linked, so tackling them requires an integrated approach — one that needs coordination among sectors such as universities, research units, government departments, NGOs, community-based organisations and the private sector.
Now the University of Zululand has established a new professorship that will lead to the establishment of the centre of integrated rural studies.
Professor Sazile Mtshali will head the centre, which is supported with a R1,2-million sponsorship grant from mining and metals company Kumba Resources over a period of three years.
Kumba spokesperson Pat Mdoda says the idea to fund the centre came because of several discussions the company had with Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who is chancellor of the university, on how the university could address the conditions of rural communities in the province.
Mtshali says the centre differs from the developmental project it had in the past. ‘It coordinates rural development initiatives and aims to build capacity of students in linking theory and practice. It also enhances partnerships with other stakeholders in rural development,” she says.
‘We will create partnership in other provinces when times goes on,” adds Mtshali.
Business management, conflict resolutions, agricultural skills, health and nutrition, and business proposal writing will be among the centre’s offerings.
Students from the faculties of arts, education, commerce and administration and agriculture will be involved in training the communities in some of the projects.