Abstract:
The increasing frequency of droughts in southern Africa is placing pressure on resource-dependent populations
and constraining their ability to build resilience. This study investigates how rural communities in Bushbuckridge,
Mpumalanga, South Africa, perceive and respond to El Ni˜no-induced droughts. Using a mixed-methods
approach, including surveys and interviews, this research examines household awareness, sensitivity, and
adaptive capacity, as well as the factors shaping these dimensions. The findings show that households with
greater climate awareness better recognize the potential impacts of El Ni˜no-related drought on agriculture,
livestock, and the local economy. Households with members engaged in local non-farm activities or migrant
labor displayed higher adaptive capacity but also greater vulnerability in terms of sensitivity, as reliance on
external income often reduced on-farm labor and adaptation efforts. Social networks emerged as both an asset,
facilitating the spread of adaptation information, and a liability, sometimes reinforcing misinformation and
delaying the uptake of science-based strategies. Gender dynamics also influenced adaptive capacity, with maleheaded
households generally having more resources and labor to implement adaptation measures. These findings
highlight that resilience is not solely determined by material resources but emerges from the interaction of
awareness, livelihood diversification, social relations, and gendered access to assets. The study underscores the
need for resilience initiatives that strengthen local extension services, improve risk communication, and engage
social networks while addressing gendered constraints, in order to support timely, informed, and equitable
drought adaptation in rural communities.
