Transcript Slide 1

The rise and fall of South African industry:
What has South Africa’s two nationalisms
achieved?
By Moeletsi Mbeki
July 2009
Afrikaner nationalism: It’s main agenda was to ensure
Afrikaner people caught up with English speaking white
South Africans and to reduce the influence over South Africa
of British Imperialism.
• Educate Afrikaner population
• Raise poor Whites from poverty to skilled worker status
• Build transport and communication infrastructure to bring
agricultural closer to its main markets in the cities
• Promote Afrikaner entrepreneurs and state industrial
enterprises so as to provide jobs for Afrikaner
professionals and tackle sanctions
• Attract other foreign investors besides the British
especially into manufacturing sector
• Compensate to high White labour costs by driving down
Black labour costs.
Black nationalism: The main agenda of Black nationalism
was to achieve political equality between the races by
restoring democracy that had been initiated by the British at
the Cape Colony in the mid 19th century and to equalise the
standard of living between Blacks and Whites while
maintaining intact the inherited capitalist economic system.
• Negotiate a democratic system that was acceptable to
Whites in general and to owners and controllers of South
Africa’ economic commanding heights.
• Agree to sunset clause for the White civil service.
• Follow neo-liberal economic policies to stabilise public
finances and national currency.
• Accept Black Economic Empowerment and Affirmative
Action proposed by big business.
• Drive income re-distribution to Black middle class and
social welfare to Black masses.
Economic Outcomes: 1909 to 1994
1. Afrikaner nationalism drove policies that led to the
industrialisation of South Africa in order to provide
employment for Afrikaners.
2. Over time Afrikaner nationalism constructed society which
was living on borrowed time because of inherent instability
became a race against time to reduce the Afrikaner
people’s dependence on the state.
Economic Outcomes: 1994 to 2009
1. Black nationalism’s main economic achievement became
wealth re-distribution in order to promote Black household
consumption.
2. The promotion of increased household consumption
resulted in greater imports of consumer goods leading to
the partial de-industrialisation of South Africa.
Consumer spending as percentage of GDP
Bric comparison
% of GDP
75
SOUTH AFRICA
70
65
60
BRAZIL
55
INDIA
50
RUSSIA
45
CHINA
40
35
30
1990
1991
Source: OECD
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
Manufacturing as percentage of GDP:
1980 to 2006
35
30
25
20
ZIM
RSA
15
10
5
0
1980
South Africa - pink
Zimbabwe - blue
1985
1990
2000
2006
Employment trends in South Africa and elsewhere, 1980-2006
150
Middle income
countries
140
Ireland
Netherlands
130
Netherlands
South Africa
180
170
160
120
Ireland
150
140
110
European Union
130
120
100
110
South Africa
90
100
90
80
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
Source: World Development Indicators as
reported in the WEFA data set
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
1991
1990
1989
1988
1987
1986
1985
1984
1983
1982
1981
1980
1980
80
Source: Employment (1980=100) from
International Labour Statistics (ILO)
Consumer spending as percentage of GDP
Developed Countries
• .
Compliments Financial Mail
Production and Employment Trends in SA Footwear Industry
Year
Local Production
Imports
Employment
2006
20.35%
79.65%
10 100
2005
16.95%
83.05%
1995
47.91%
52.09%
1985
78%
22%
Source: South African Footwear and Leather Industries Association
23 600 (1997)
Breakdown of South Africa’s merchandise exports
100%
per cent share
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
1990
Minerals
Source:
1991
Basic metals
Quantec
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Basic chemicals & refinery products
1997
1998
1999
Pulp & paper
2000
2001
2002
Motor vehicles & parts
2003
2004
2005
Other goods exports
China's exports to SA
8%
2%
4%
6%
40%
7%
9%
9%
15%
Source: Emerging Market Focus (Pty) Ltd 2004
Machinery & car components
Textiles
Footwear
Chemical products
Agricultural produce
Base metals or articles thereof
Mineral products
Building material
Other manufactured products
SA exports to China
6%
8%
3%
Base metals & articles thereof (steel)
Mineral products
5%
45%
Chemical products
Paper pulp
7%
Basic raw materials
Machinery, equipment, car & motor
components
Other
26%
Source: Emerging Market Focus (Pty) Ltd 2004
Maths and science output of the SA schooling system
What the ANC failed to do between 1994 and 2009
• Provide competent management to state owned
enterprises such as SABC, SAA, Transnet and the Land
Bank.
• Address erratic service delivery to its primary
Constituency in the black townships.
• Create modern passenger and freight transport system.
• Reorganise the commercial agricultural sector in order to
restore food security and overcome the country’s
dependence on food imports.
What the ANC failed to do between 1994 and 2009
continued
• Achieve effective management of the country’s borders
to stop a flood into South Africa of illegal immigrants from
neighbouring countries which led to the xenophobic riots.
• Stop the de-industrialisation of the country in order to
combat unemployment.
• Review affirmative action programmes which are
contributing to the country’s brain drain.
• Address the HIV/AIDS pandemic which is leading to a
sharp decline in the population’s life expectancy.
What the ANC failed to do between 1994 and 2009
continued
• Redesign the expensive education system that is unable
to produce the skills required by employers.
• Develop policies to overcome rampant crime as well as
corruption.
• Implement programmes that bring government closer to
the people by implementing electoral reforms that
increase the accountability of elected officials.
• Manage the country’s urbanization process to eliminate
formal settlements and bring work places closer to
workers’ residential areas.