Progress hinges on putting poverty alleviation before BEE
Apart from encouraging graft, prioritising transformation is unworkable even with ideal governance
Progress requires framing challenges in ways that make them solvable. Instead, SA’s 1990s political transformation was predicated on the hope that a legitimate government would provoke equitable outcomes, and that hope morphed into misconceptions that became too politically combustible to confront.
Meaningful economic progress hinges on accepting why poverty alleviation must be prioritised ahead of black transformation. That this wasn’t debated in the lead-up to May’s elections reflects how dangerous delusions are enshrined to the point of being politically irreproachable. It is easy to presume that poverty alleviation and black transformation are complementary. Yet this only holds if poverty alleviation is firmly favoured. Prioritising transformation is unworkable even with ideal governance, yet it encourages corruption...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.