To resolve SA’s inherent contradictions we must tackle an entrenched elitist agenda of narrow and vested interests and move the country to the vision enshrined in the Constitution. We are facing a mismatch between SA’s political economy and the society whose aspirations the system is meant to address. While democracy unlocked a path to political rights for all South Africans, socioeconomic rights have remained elusive for millions. This is not unlike the situation in other African countries with similar colonial histories. The postapartheid economy is unable to deliver on the social contract enshrined in the Constitution — its structure makes socioeconomic inclusion an impossibility. The political economy cannot address the discrepancies between the society envisioned in the Constitution and the lived reality of citizens. While SA has achieved a remarkable level of stability compared with its African neighbours and is democratically sound from an institutional perspective, the linge...
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