by Virginia Kapembeza Muwanigwa
“We have, at last, achieved our political emancipation. We pledge ourselves to liberate all our people from the continuing bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. “
These words by Nelson Mandela marked his entrance into power as the President of the Government of National Unity (GNU) on the day of his inauguration on 10 May 1994, after the phenomenal success of the 24 April first all-race elections in South Africa.
Two years later, the country has begun to tackle some of the problems of social inequity related to poverty, gender discrimination and deprivation. The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) described as “an integrated and coherent way in which the government is aiming for sustainable economic growth while trying to meet the socioeconomic needs of South Africa’s people”, has had some considerable success in the last two years.
At its onset, the RDP pledged to build a million houses, provide jobs, health and education facilities. It would also provide running water sanitation and bring electricity to about 2.5 million homes.
Twenty-two Presidential Lead Programmes had a visible impact in these sectors while more than five million primary school children benefitted from nutrition programmes. About 9 000 jobs were created, 173 clinics built and free primary education is now a reality.
Gavin Lewis, an RDP consultant however, says by the end of 1995, only 12000 houses had been built, 6 percent of the number promised annually, while rural areas remain marginalised with inadequate schools and people having to walk long distances to clinics.
Analysts say progress was more dramatic in the provision of electricity, water and post boxes. Since 1994, about 563 000 houses or shacks were connected to electricity while at least 400 000 freshwater taps were installed, the majority in the rural areas.
The RDP office, which to many symbolised the way for socio-economic development, has closed down and its activities are being streamlined into relevant ministries by a task force appointed to oversee the reallocation of RDP projects and staff.
Some analysts, however, believe the objectives of the RDP might get marginalised in the interest of fiscal policy and economic growth. But government says that the RDP office was never meant to be a long-term mechanism but formed a stop-gap measure toward the realisation of its objectives while institutional mechanisms were being rationalised.
Among the major achievements of the GNU is the adoption of the post-apartheid constitution on 8 May. The constitutional process, which involved several consultations with the citizens, received about 2 million submissions countrywide.
The National Party (NP) which took part in the constitutional negotiations, announced its intended withdrawal from the Government of National Unity (GNU) as from 30 June this year. Citing the constitution as its reason, the party said there is no provision for power-sharing after the 1999 elections and hence the decision to become opposition.
The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) led by Home Affairs Minister Mangosuthu Buthelezi, boycotted the constitutional negotiations but has promised to challenge the new constitution before the Constitutional Court. Buthelezi, leader of Inkatha, says people should not delude themselves into thinking that just by voting in a new constitution, all problems will be solved.
Labour issues in South Africa form another hurdle and the government has put in place the National Economic Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) to negotiate labour relations and this has seen a reduction in the number of strikes.
Crime has remained one of the country’s most troublesome challenges. In his New Year’s message, President Mandela said: “… we continue to have an unacceptably high crime rate. Although our overall approach is to ultimately defeat crime by removing its causes, we have taken immediate measures to deal with the lawbreakers.” Among these measures is the Community Safety Plan which obliges all South Africans to cooperate in the eradication of crime.
Mandela said despite crime and violence, the country has achieved the highest level of social, political and economic stability in its history while “…the local elections brought democracy where we live.”
Democracy was indeed entrenched through the country’s local elections in November last year. The elections, which were held in all the provinces of the country except the volatile KwazululNatal province, saw the ANC securing the majority votes. Elections in Kwazulu had been scheduled for May but because of continued political violence have been postponed to a date “not later than 20 June”.
Another achievement was the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission which according to South Africa’s High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Kingsley Mamabolo aims “to heal our past” through voluntary exposure of apartheid abuses of human rights.
The Commission will not differentiate between apartheid atrocities and those of liberation movements. Chief Executive officer of the Commission, Dr. Boo Minyuku, says: “…We are dealing with human beings whose rights have been violated and violations know no affiliation.”
”We have nothing to-hide. Instead we want to help create a climate in which the healing process of our nation is enhanced,” read a statement by the ANC.
“The ANC will never condone any human rights violations which may have been committed by freedom fighters during the heat of the struggle,” continued the statement. According to the party however, the actions of those who fought to fortify apartheid cannot be equated against those who fought for democracy.
Meanwhile, the trial of former Defence Minister Magnus Malan, who with 19 other defendants is being charged with murder in connection of the massacre of 13 suspected ANC sympathizers people at Kwarnakhutha, 30 kilometres south of Durban, is continuing and, running parallel to the Truth Commission symbolises another exorcism of the country’s apartheid ghosts.
Despite being a relatively young democracy, South Africa is among the leaders in having integrated gender issues into its policies and taken definite steps to initiate programmes. Political representation in parliament for South Africa is 24 percent, second highest in SADC after Mozambique’s 24.4 percent and among the highest internationally.
Among some of the institutions that have been agreed to in principle to further the gender cause in South Africa are the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) and Office on the Status of Women (OSW) in the President’s office. The option of a Women’s Ministry was refused by women ”to avoid a situation where this exists but is not effective”.
Speaking on the occasion to mark the country’s national day recently, Mamabolo said among the highlights of the past two years were successes in sports which invoked national pride. South Africa has excelled in soccer, cricket, rugby and the All Africa Games.
“Our young men and women have conquered continents and the world in a number of sporting codes. The rugby World Cup stood out as a particular spectacle. Our whole nation stood behind a sport which was once a symbol of apartheid,” said Mandela.
The government has, however, still to cope with harsh economic realities inherited from previous governments which promoted economic policies that greatly favoured the development of the needs of the minority population groups at the incalculable expense of the vast majority.
The successive budgets since 1994 have sought to consolidate socio-economic development through devoting more funds to social serviced such as education, health, and employment creation while budget allocations for defence have simultaneously decreased. Last year, the economy registered its highest growth rate since 1988 at 3.5 percent.
A blow to the GNU may be seen as the resignations of two Finance Ministers, Derek Keys and Chris Liebenberg in two years. Some analysts believe, however, that the government is better off with Trevor Manuel, the new Minister as he, unlike his predecessors, has more political clout.
Manuel, the first ANC Minister for Finance and former Minister of Trade and Industry, was awarded the “Global Leader for Tomorrow” title at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in 1994 in recognition of his contribution to world trade and some feel the ministry can only gain from his proven ability.
Since embracing democracy, South Africa has been looking beyond its borders. It has re-joined such organisations as the Commonwealth, and in August 1994, became the eleventh member of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC). South Africa’s entry into SADC created greater anticipation of regional integration hinging on the country’s relatively developed economy and advanced infrastructure.
South Africa has been involved in conflict resolution in the region and the presidents of Botswana and Zimbabwe, Mandela were instrumental in the resolution of the Lesotho crisis.
Apart from hosting several regional and international conferences the country also convened a SADC Heads of State meeting to discuss the situation in Nigeria.
Regional relations with South Africa, have however, not been all smooth. There has, for example, been an outcry over the country’s protectionist trade policies which have resulted in de-industrialisation in its neighbours. South Africa has been reluctant to renew bilateral agreements with Zimbabwe which expired three years ago, making it impossible for the latter to export its textiles down south due to high tariff barriers.
Trade negotiations between South Africa and Zimbabwe at one point reached a deadlock after failure to agree on some clauses. But Mamabolo says negotiations do not mean that there will be agreement as “any agreement must of necessity take into account the needs and fears of both sides or it won’t last.”
Although a lot has been done in the past two years to improve living conditions for the majority of South Africans, there is consensus that the “process of economic reconstruction is actually much more difficult than the liberation struggle.”(SARDC)
