The African National Congress (ANC) came to power in South Africa in 1994 with a promise to build a better life for all, but three decades later, the party is at risk of losing its majority due to issues such as corruption, unemployment, power cuts, and weak economic growth. The economy has regressed over the past decade, leading to a decline in living standards, high unemployment rates, and income inequality. Black South Africans, who make up the majority of the population, are disproportionately affected by these challenges.
The government’s Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment policy, aimed at promoting economic inclusion and racial equality, has failed to achieve its objectives, with wealth still concentrated in the hands of a few individuals. Critics argue that the policy has mainly benefited politically connected individuals rather than the broader population. President Cyril Ramaphosa has promised to do better if reelected, with a focus on creating more jobs. The Democratic Alliance has proposed replacing BEE with an Economic Justice policy that targets the poor black majority.
BEE has been criticized for enriching a few politically connected individuals while failing to significantly change the economic landscape for the majority of historically disadvantaged South Africans. The policy has also faced challenges in increasing black representation in top management positions in private companies. While some progress has been made in growing the black middle class, more needs to be done to support workers, particularly those on minimum wages.
BEE has been marred by corruption, with politically connected individuals being given senior positions in state-owned companies despite lacking qualifications. This has led to maladministration and corruption, particularly in public procurement processes. The collapse of state-owned entities like Eskom has further exacerbated the country’s economic challenges, leading to power cuts and infrastructure deficiencies that hinder economic growth.
Despite South Africa’s economic struggles, there are efforts to address the challenges through a partnership between government and business. The Business for South Africa initiative, involving major companies and government officials, aims to tackle issues such as transport infrastructure and electricity. This partnership is showing positive results and could potentially lead to the resolution of power cuts in the near future. The ANC’s declining influence may serve as a wake-up call for the party to address governance issues and improve performance to regain public trust.
South Africa’s economic challenges are rooted in a history of apartheid and colonial oppression that left a legacy of inequality and exclusion. While progress has been made since the end of apartheid, there is still a long way to go in achieving true economic transformation and empowerment for all South Africans. The country’s future economic success will depend on addressing issues of corruption, unemployment, and inequality, and implementing effective policies to drive inclusive growth and development.
