The Economy and Politics of South Africa: An Inseparable Pair

2. Introduction

Has the post 1994 South African government succeeded in improving the economic status of previously disadvantage groups? In the following essay I will be discussing the co dependence of the economy and politics in South Africa.

3. Shift in political power

After 27 April 1994 South Africa was challenged with enormous economic and political transformation. The power of political dominance now lied with the previously disadvantaged black majority and this brought on the necessity to re-evaluate existing racial discrimination and unearned privileges.

On the journey to transformation a number of law reform and Affirmative Action (AA) measures have been initiated, for example the Labour Relations Act of 1995, the Constitution of South Africa of 1996, the Basic Conditions of Employment Act of 1997. After these came the Employment Equity Act of 1999, the Skills Development Act of 1998 and the Skills Development Levies Act of 1999. The intention of the last two Acts was to promote recruitment, succession planning, development and training amongst persons in designated groups and finally to address the skills gap. (Booysen, 2007) These policies were created and implemented to impact on as many South Africans as possible and not only to benefit large businesses and a chosen few individuals of society.

4. 888888888

In President Jacob Zuma’s address to the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment Summit on the 3rd of October 2013 at the Gallagher Estate in Johannesburg he discussed the successes and failures since the passing of the BBEEE Act 10 years ago.

President Zuma confirmed that they approach economic transformation by:

• creating decent employment for all South Africans

• eliminating poverty and dealing decisivel...

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...ment post 1994 has made progress in eradicating inequality and addressing poverty and unemployment by implementing legislation and different policies. The South African economy is stimulated to grow by the different policies, as is shown by the report of Statistics South Africa.

Works Cited

Aron, J., &Muellbauer, J. (2013). Wealth, Credit Conditions, and Consumption: Evidence from South Africa. Review of Income and Wealth.

Booysen, L. (2013). Societal power shifts and changing social identities in South Africa: workplace implications. South African Journal of Economic and Management Sciences, 10(1), 1-20. http://polity.org/article/sa-jacob-zuma-address- by- the-president- of-south-africa-to- the-broad-based –black-economic-empowerment-summit-gallagher-estate-johannesburg-03102013-2013-10-03

Labour Market Dynamics in South Africa, 2012.Report 5 November 2013.