f. - UZSpace Home - University of Zululand

Future", sustainable development was defined as "development that meets
the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future".
Nevertheless, this study will adopt Badri's definition by virtue of the fact that
it articulates some of the indicators necessary to measure 'sustainable
development'.
1.2.1 Women in rural development
The significance of the role women play in development is crucial, given that
women represent slightly more than half of Africa's population. However, it
is lamentable that although these women are agents of production, growth
and change, most are impoverished and live in economically deprived
circumstances (Solange and Momo, 2005:2; Amoake in Soltane 2002:1;
Adhiambo, 2001: 1).
Huyer (1997) points to the colonialist and postcolonial focus on economically
marginalized women, whose roles in reproduction, subsistence production
and community management are not valued quantitatively or economically.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic and other diseases continue to plague many African
countries, with counterproductive long term effects. According to a report by
the Department for International Development [DFID] (2006:1), 55% of
adult infections in sub-Saharan Africa affect women. For instance, the report
indicates that South Africa has one of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rates
in the world, with an estimated 5.6 million persons infected with HIV. Of
these, 3.1 million are women.
Neglect in educational development has added to the inequalities that
women face in society, due to inadequate educational facilities, resources
and manpower, which are much less in rural areas. This view is supported
by Huyer (1997), who claims that traditional African societies prioritised
7