Effects of the conflicting ideologies of the tripartite alliance on policy formulation and implementation in South Africa

[摘要] Issues of development are on top of the Agenda of the United Nations because it isthe international organisation that grants status to countries according to the level ofdevelopment. South Africa is rated as a developing country while the Bretton Woodsinstitutions rate South Africa as a developing economy. Bretton Woods institutions(with the specific reference to the International Monetary Fund) are interested ineconomic policies of the countries. South Africa finds itself at the centre of being ayoung democracy that has to compete globally without adequate capacity to be aglobal player. Social contract binds the government to deliver public goods to theelectorate; hence there is a need to form partnerships and networks for deliveringpublic goods. Some partnerships are formulated inside the country while some are atan international level. Partnerships and networks as stakeholders in policy makingare able to support a policy that promotes their interests. Nonetheless, twenty yearshave passed while South Africa maintains its democracy as a young one. It istherefore justifiable to conduct a historic study with a special focus on socioeconomicpolicies that are formulated with the partners and networks in the process.In line with the central argument, this study wanted to describe the effects of theconflicting ideologies in the form of socialism and capitalism to growth impediment inSouth Africa because their co-existence results to policy uncertainty. Documentsanalysed exposed that South Africa has changed socio-economic policies five timesin a period of 18 years (1994 to 2012) whose implementation strategies are reportedto be a contradiction. Moreover, instead of complementing each other, socialeconomic policies compete with each other; hence there is no meaningfulimplementation. Socio-economic policies are a tool of decreasing unemployment,poverty and inequality. Findings revealed that growth and economy stagnated hencejobs cannot be created; poverty and unemployment has increased; conflictingideologies are not always a reason policy is not implemented; state does not havecapacity to implement policy; better life for all remains an election manifesto; andpolicy goals and strategies employed during implementation are contradicting oneanother. On the other hand, the promise of a better life for is betrayed; henceimproving the quality of life, promotion of nation building and social cohesion is an illusion if South Africa is stolen (Bhorat, Buthelezi, Duma, Mondi, Peter, Qobo, Swilling & Friedenstein, 2017: 4).

[发布机构] University of the Free State