Not enough has been done to address trends in poverty, inequality and state legitimacy in South Africa, the Presidency said on Wednesday.
Problems identified five years ago had proved more ”deep-seated” than previously recognised, Joel Netshitenzhe, head of policy coordination and advisory services, said at the release of the Towards a 15-year Review.
Netshitenzhe said the country had gone a long way to eradicating apartheid and had ”notched up” a fast rate of growth and development.
But, with the successes, new challenges had emerged.
”Growth has exposed weaknesses … the increase in the rate of growth does not necessarily result in a reduction in poverty.”
Nor had growth reduced inequality, but had rather created a bigger gap between the rich and poor, he said.
”The state has had to learn new ways of doing things as it implemented, but not always have these been decisive and flexible enough.
”Success will require a decisive state with higher levels of legitimacy, and a more cohesive society …”
Netshitenzhe outlined six areas where the impact of the state had shown progress and persistent or new challenges.
Great progress had been made in democratic transformation of the state, in building institutions and systems. Much had been done to improve coordination, integration and information.
”The trend of local protests indicates shortcomings in actual practice of participation platforms,” he said.
Also, not enough had been done to give sufficient profile to the government’s fight against corruption. ”Perceptions sometimes would be that corruption is increasing, whereas the reality might be different.”
He said that many cases of corruption had been discovered by the government itself. To much amusement from the gathering at the Union Buildings, he said 70% to 80% of corruption uncovered by investigative journalism had in fact been discovered by the government first.
In the social sector, there had been an overall improvement in the lives of people, mainly through targeted programmes to reduce poverty, mainly through grants, access to social services and to assets such as housing and land.
Poverty, however, remained a big challenge.
”Despite reduced income poverty and faster growth, income inequalities did not decrease and in some respects increased.
”Among many households, the cycle of poverty and dependency is reproduced by continuing weaknesses and inequalities in human and social capabilities,” the review briefing notes stated.
Netshitenzhe said South Africa’s economic policy had seen the country achieve and sustain macroeconomic stability, creating the climate for faster job-creating growth and economic reform.
However, insufficient social partnerships had limited the impact of policies. He said there was a need for more attention to economic inclusion, and for second-economy interventions with mass impact, rather than many small ones.
On crime prevention and security, Netshitenzhe said the legitimacy and credibility of the judiciary, government and police had been tested in public discourse. Crime not only affected personal safety but also the economy and public morale.
”Crime in poor areas has got a major impact on the thriving and survival of micro-enterprises,” he said. Many spaza shops had been forced to close down after being robbed numerous times.
In international relations, advances had been made on most foreign-policy objectives. Implementing the New Partnership for Africa’s Development and improving the regional climate had seen minimal progress.
Netshitenzhe said the government had been instrumental in improving the lives of vulnerable groups, including women, children, people with disabilities and youth, and was on track to meeting most of its constitutional obligations.
Employment of persons with disabilities in the public and private sectors was less than it should be, he added. — Sapa