THE magnitude of the problem of inequality in SA, compounded by the painful reality of unemployment and poverty, will hobble future development prospects unless we seriously debate the efficacy and appropriateness of our policy responses.The truth about our inequality is that it has not arisen because of some abstract market forces but is a social construct and outcome of a deliberate and legislated racial discrimination policy during apartheid.It was clear in the minds of the National Party (NP) leadership during the latter part of the apartheid era that a transition to a new political order, in line with the vision of the liberation movement, was inevitable and that political power would be in the hands of the black majority.But they were prepared to push this eventuality as far into the future as possible.However, a confluence of global political changes, beginning with the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reordering of the global balance of power, accelerated the demise of t...
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