South Africa’s changeover in 1994 from the apartheid government to the constitutional democracy remains one of the most important and impressive political transitions in the history of South Africa. Hence, South Africa’s development after the apartheid became the most crucial goal for the ANC government to achieve. The following essay highlights the importance of development in South Africa.
In so doing, firstly, this essay gives a broad outline of the development policies which were introduced in South Africa, which are as follows: RDP, GEAR, ASGISA and the New Growth Path.Secondly, the essay will proceed to critically examine the arguments of two significant government critics who are: Chris Malikane and Moeletsi Mbeki in terms of the development path policies which are in structure in developing South Africa. Thirdly, it goes on to point out relevant examples to illustrate the development that has occurred in South Africa since the ANC government took over 1994? it will conclude by taking a stand point for the argument of Chris Malikane.Contextualizing the development policies South Africa: RDP, GEAR, ASGISA and New Growth Path The development policies that were introduced in South Africa by ANC government after the apartheid government had stepped down from governing the country have had an impact in the development growth of the country. The first policy that was introduced in 1994 during the presidency of Nelson Mandela was called, the Reconstruction Development Programme known as RDP.In so doing, the National Party which was formerly controlled by the apartheid government was in power from 1948 until 1994.
In 1994 the African National Congress took over, hence, when it took over it also inherited the depts of the National Party government ( Naidoo, 2012). Furthermore, the new government that had taken over needed funds to restore South Africa after the struggle, as a result, the African National Congress approached the Global financial Institutions for financial help.Nevertheless when the Global financial Institutions agreed to help South Africa, one of the conditions it projected was that the African National Congress would adopt to the Reconstruction and Development Programme (African National Congress, 2011). According to O’Malley (1994), the Reconstruction and Development Programme is an incorporated, rational socio-economic strategic framework.
It seeks to assemble all the people and a country’s wealth toward the final abolition of apartheid and the structure of the democratic, non- racial and non –sexiest future for all countries.In addition, Reconstruction and development Programme was mainly with reference to, basic needs, in terms of clean water, running water and sanitation. Land distribution, were by every citizen in the country has their own land, unlike during the times of apartheid government were land was only given to white people. With Health care, there was a strict rule that every child was under six years of age and pregnant women must not be turned away in hospitals if they did not have money to pay for the service.
Building shelter was the most essential element of the Reconstruction and Development Programme to an extent that most of all the house that were build were named after the programme by the citizens of South Africa. The aim was to build 2 million houses which were 2 rooms; every citizen was to have a decent house that they lived in. In the lines of democracy, the Reconstruction and Development Programme were to be implemented in countries that were democratic (O’Malley, 1994). Nonetheless, the Reconstruction and Development Programme also had principles that were put in place.Among the number of principal that the programme came up with was; peace and security.
The Reconstruction and Development Programme seeks to promotes peace and security within the country, in doing this, peace and security should engage every individual and should construct on the develop the Nation peace programme (Naidoo, 2012). Moreover, Integrated sustainable development, this principle propose that development should not look at one expect of development, however, also look at the social, economic and environmental issues as well.Additionally, the linkage between reconstruction and development, the reconstruction of South Africa should also promote development. Also, the Nation Building, discrimination and racism are the fundamental reasons why the Nation building is a principle in the Reconstruction and Development Programme, the focus was on sport and creation, every racial group should be able to access everything that is in the country. In 1996 during the presidency of Thabo Mbeki, Trevor Manual who was the Minister of finance during that time introduced the second policy which was called, the Growth Employment and Redistribution known as GEAR.The Growth Employment and Redistribution policy was to stimulate growth and increase distribution in South Africa, by so doing, monitoring policy to encounter inflation, budget transformation, and tax incentive, relax exchange control and privatisation.
Hence, the policy was not to replace the Reconstruction and Development Programme; however, it was to help better the programme, and also to assemble social development goals of the Reconstruction and Development Programm.The purpose of Growth Employment and Redistribution was to increase economic growth in South Africa ( Campell, 1996) In 2005, I i oidency of Thabo Mbeki, a third policy was implemented in the South African government which was, Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa known as ASGISA. Hence, this policy was to identify and restructure the past failures of the Reconstruction and Development Programme and the Growth Employment and Redistribution policies. Nevertheless, the aim of Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa was to focus on reducing poverty and unemployment in South Africa.
Moreover, the objections of Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa were implemented upon, infrastructure programmes, sector investment or industrial strategies, skills and education initiatives, second Economy interventions, macro-economic issues and public administration issues. Therefore, policy was not taking over from the Reconstruction and Development Programme and the Growth Employment and Redistribution policies, nevertheless, it was cleaning the mistakes of the policies so that the policies can function in it respectful manner in terms of the development growth of South Africa.In 2010 under the current presidency of Jacob Zuma, a fourth policy was implemented. This policy was under the leadership of Minister Ebrahim Patel, in November 23 2010, the policy released the structure of New Growth Path (South African Government Information, 2010). This is the policy that is currently in place in the South African development path. The main focus of the policy is to create employment growth in South Africa.
Furthermore, the policy’s main aim is to generate five million jobs over the next 10 years, by so doing, a tremendous investment in infrastructure, a progression of partnership among the state and the private sector, government improvement; in terms of improving rivalry in the economy and increasing skills development and also a corresponding set of conduct across a broad front, which consists of macroeconomic strategies, microeconomic measures and stakeholder commitments to drive employment and economic growth in the country ( South African Government Information, 2010).Nevertheless, the above mention development policies that were implemented in South Africa have been criticised by many in the likes of Politicians, Economist, Sociologists and some government officials. In concerns of services delivery, covering unemployment, sanitation, health care, education especially in rural areas for the citizens of South Africa. Hence, service delivery is the vital key mandates of the system and the South African constitution obviously this mentions that all citizens are permitted to an enhanced service.
It further goes on to grant citizens of the country the accurate to protest if what has been delivered to them is not up to fulfilment with the service that the government has delivered. Noteworthy, “this kind of situation leaves one with many questions as to which political party to vote for, since the 1994 strategic and development programmes to alleviate poverty and to address the massive shortfalls in social services across the country has not been achieved” (Ditshego, 2011).In this sense, two government officials by the names of Chris Malikane and Moelesti Mbeki have posed a certain degree of arguments regarding the system and the development path. Chris Malikane and Moelesti Mbeki’s views on the Development path of South Africa The development policies that have been implemented in South Africa have been criticised by many politicians, economists, sociologist and the citizens at large.
However, the head of policy for the Congress of South African Trade Unions Chris Malikane and the deputy chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs Moeletsi Mbeki have different views on the current development path of South Africa. Looking at Chris Malikane’s views on the development path, under the COSATU membership, as it is one of the main criticisers of the Growth Employment and Redistribution policy. Chris argues that the dispute on economic policy in South Africa is at a standstill.In the argument he further argues that, there is a stalemate, however, the stalemate is not based on technical arguments but it is rather based on political stalemate. Moreover, he points out the reason being, for “the COSATU Secretariat report to the Central Committee, it was mentioned that there is a need for a political resolution” (Amandla publishers, 2011). On the other hand, this political declaration is not possible without the uplifting of the political awareness of the working class so that it becomes a unified political power.
Furthermore, without the accumulation mobilisation of the working class on the ground with a view to taking workers to the streets in order to break the stalemate ( Amandla pulishers, 2011). Chris argues that, the working class have to make certain that the changes to its policy are the result of its struggles during the apartheid government and not a result of deft strategy by its negotiators behind closed boardroom doors. In addition, he further argues, that he does not see the main changeovers to more redistributive policies.According to the Witness newspaper (2011), in support of Chris’s argument, there is no main tax improvement, nor some innovative main authoritarian interventions, apart from the ones that are possible to harm workforce, such as the projected work marketplace reforms Chris Malikane poses his argument on a Marxist perspective, he stands to support the proletariat and be against the bourgeoisie. Nonetheless, on a Marxists view the bourgeoisie are seen as the social class that owns the means of production in a capitalist society.
Marxism views the group as coming from the rich urban classes in an early capitalist society.However, with the proletariat, this group of citizen is of the lowest class in societies, a member of a proletarian is originally identified as those people who had no wealth, (Mail & Guardian, 2011:23 ). Therefore, from the above evidence, it proves that Chris Malikane is against the Growth Employment and Redistribution policy, because the policy is more economically driven and also is more capitalist based in it development for South Africa. The deputy chairman of the South African Institute of International Affairs Moeletsi Mbeki has a different approach to the development path of South Africa compare to Chris Malikane.Moeletsi Mbeki argument is mainly centralised on his book called “Advocates for change”, the midpoint of the book is that stability must never be misunderstood with stagnation.
In this sense, he point out that the African National Congress government is stagnating, meaning that the ruling partying does not offer fresh ideas in it governing for South Africa, however, it has a lot of fraud and ineffectiveness in it domination. He further goes on and argues against nationalisation, in his argument against nationalisation he looks at the lack of skills that will occur as problem when privately owned companies become government businesses.Moreover, he also points out that, when the economy is open to private entrepreneurs, entrepreneurism or skills will not be present at the forefront of these companies, as those that will be managers will lack training and being business minded. Furthermore, Moeloesti Mbeki, takes an attack in the manner of governing the South Africa by the African National Congress. He outlines that the underprivileged citizens of South Africa are the ones who are keeping the African National Congress in power.He point out that they cast their votes for the governing party in return for social grants, however, this allows the Ruling party to keep their head above water, however, in the long wrong run it affect the country when it becomes underdeveloped.
In terms of the development policies that have been implemented in South Africa since 1994, Moelosti Mbeki state his support on the Growth Employment and Redistribution policy (GEAR), in terms of privatizing government businesses to become privately owned, trading with outside countries and the distribution of resources to the privileged citizens ( South African Government Information, 2010).Moelosti Mbeki’s book and his arguments at large, on the development path of South Africa by African National Congress are Neo-liberal driven. In this sense, the approach is essentially economics and social matters, in regard that the control of trade and industry factors is moved from the public sector to the private sector.Nonetheless, taking upon the ideology of neoclassical economics, neo-liberalism, it proposes that the government reduces shortfall expenditure, limit subsidies, improve tax regulation, so to expand the tax base, eliminate predetermined trade rates, open up markets to do business by restrictive protectionism allowing people to have private possessions and back deregulation. Hence, from the above evidence, it is very clear that Moelesti Mbeki is a Neo-liberalist in terms of the South Africa development policies.
Taking closer look at South African development since 1994, after the apartheid government stepped down from power and theAfrican National Congress took over. The citizens of South Africa are free from the oppressors and they now live under the influence of the bill of rights. The system is giving privileges to those that were underprivileged during the time of the apartheid era, in terms of housing, social grant, free education, free hospital service, sanitation and many more ways. All the same, the development policies most especially the Reconstruction and Development Programme, might have been a failure in some areas of development in the country, however, development did occur regardless of how small or big it was.In addition, all the policies that were implemented in support of development did bring about change. However, even though the majority of the government elite have turned the system to benefit the capitalists and make the rich richer and the poor poorer.
From the above evidence and in support of Chris Malikane’s argument, indeed development should be in benefit of the citizens of the country especially the working class. Chris Malikane’s argument is very much centralised in equalising distribution for all and promoting growth economically, socially and politically.Furthermore, the argument also highlights how the underprivileged have been exploited by the elite in the system during the Growth Employment and Redistribution policy. Also, looking at Chris Malikane’s argument in a perspective approach, the Marxist approach outlines and declines the exploitation of the working class by the ruling class. Over all, the argument is permissible and stands to support nationalization, since it is a COSATU driven argument which is in favour of the working class and the underprivileged in the system.
In conclusion, all development policies have played a vital role in the development of South African, the Reconstruction Development Programme introduced basic needs, sanitation, housing, social grants and many more. The Growth Employment and Redistribution emphasized on the economic growth of the country. The Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa focused on reducing poverty and employment in the country and also cleaning the mistakes of GEAR.The current development path which is in progress, New Growth Path looks at job creation, however, it also looks at the mistakes of the previous policies and is trying to deliver social service to the civil servant and citizens of South Africa.
On the other hand, a number of critics have occurred in concern with the development policies that have been implemented in the country since 1994, in the likes of two governments official Chris Malekane and Moelesti Mbeki. South Africa is developing countries aiming to be a developed country therefore, whatever policy introduced should be implemented if it seeks promote development in the country.
