The Impact of South Africa`s independence on the economic emancipation of the black people

Abstract

Twenty-three years after the end of apartheid in South Africa, this study takes stock of how the government has managed to address the consequences of apartheid and lay the basis for a durable and broad-based improvement in living standards for blacks and the general populace at large. It recognizes the many achievements in economic policymaking during this period, while also emphasizing the substantial challenges that remain ahead and are still haunting the blacks like a ghost from the past. The main objective that this study then unravels is the way in which under status quo blacks haven’t realized economic emancipation and are still facing challenges in terms of being economically emancipated. Through the use of questionnaires and key informant interview guides most of the data was collected using these research instruments. The study did however recognize that the most inhibiting factor towards blacks lacking behind in economic emancipation was the fact that there has been a continuation of the white monopolistic capital system that has necessarily necessitated frustration within the black people that has resulted in high levels of crime. These are all the reasons that speak volumes towards this case of black emancipation. The study therefore recommends that there be an enquiry into the issue of the gains of independence as the link between politics and economics is blurred.