'n Evaluering van staatsbetrokkenheid by die Hartebeespoortdamskema, 1914 - 1952.
Abstract
• Opsomming:
Landelike nedersettingskemas het sedert die bewuswording
van die bestaan van armblankes 'n integrale deel uitgemaak
van staatspogings om hierdie surplus mense te rehabiliteer. Die
oogmerk met landelike nedersettingskemas was om
geproletariseerde blankes van produksiemiddele te voorsien
sodat hulle nie langer van staatshulp en die gemeenskap
afhanklik sou wees nie. Afgesien van verskeie pogings om die
vraagstuk aan te spreek, is geen omvattende staatsbeleid voor
1924 geformuleer nie. Die Hartebeespoortdambesproeiingskema
is 'n voorbeeld van een so 'n poging. Na 1924 het
nadere nedersettings (closer settlements) op
besproeiingskemas die armblankevraagstuk op hoofsaaklik
twee maniere aangespreek. Eerstens is voorkeur aan
ongeskoolde blanke arbeiders gedurende die konstruksie- en
voorbereidingsfase gegee en tweedens is vestiging tot blankes
beperk. Verskeie struikelblokke moes sedert die eerste
vestigings in 1925 op Hartebeespoort oorkom word. Teen 1952
was 451 eertydse nedersetters alreeds grondeienaars wat 'n
mylpaal in die antiproletarisasieprogram deur middel van
landelike nedersettingskemas verteenwoordig. • Summary:
Since the recognition of the existence of poor whites land
resettlement schemes formed an integral part of the
rehabilitation of these surplus people. The intention was to
provide proletarised whites with a means of production to
ensure they would no longer burden the state and society.
Despite government attempts to address the poor white
problem no clear cut policy was formulated before 1924.
However, certain measures were initiated, for example the
Hartebeespoortdam irrigation scheme. After 1924 closer
settlements on irrigation schemes alleviated the poor white
problem in two ways. Firstly priority was given to unskilled
white workers rather than blacks during the construction and
development phases. Secondly, only poor whites were to be
settled on the irrigation holdings. Since the first settlement of
poor white families in 1925 at Hartebeespoort many hardships
had to be overcome. However, by the beginning of 1952
approximately 451 settlers were land owners. This marks a
success of the anti-proletarisation programme along the lines of
land resettlement schemes.