Submitted PhD thesis for examination. Project title: “Restoration after bush control and socio-economics of rural communities at Taung”. The project formed part of the “Bush Expert” Decision Support System of the North-West University, funded by the Natural Resource Management Program (NRM) of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), in collaboration with Expanded Public Works (EPWP) programs. 

The research aimed to understand the impact of bush encroachment and how to restore the land after bush encroachment control, and to understand how residents of the Manthestad community in the Taung area of the North West Province are affected socio-economically by the problem of bush encroachment. Community engagement and liaison with rural communities and land users was an integral part of this research. 

The research aims to understand the impact of bush encroachment and how to restore the land after bush encroachment control, and to understand how residents of the Manthe community in the Taung area of the North West Province are affected socio-economically by the problem of bush encroachment. 

Community engagement and liaison with rural communities and land users is an integral part of this research.