The North-West University (NWU) Business School recently presented a Think Tank on the topic South Africa 2024 – a scenario perspective.
Dr Frans Cronje, CEO of the Institute of Race Relations, and Dr Oscar van Heerden, Director Operations at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflections, made presentations.
This particular Think Tank focused on political, economic, social and technological variables and the impact this will have on South Africa’s future towards 2024.
Although South Africa is facing major political, economic, technological and social challenges, both presenters were positive about the future if the key political, economic and educational issues are addressed.
Dr Cronje emphasised the importance of property rights, the deregulation of markets and empowerment strategies as critical factors that may contribute to a better future for all South Africans. According to his viewpoint, empowerment should not be based on race, but rather in terms of poverty as the most important criterion.
He referred to surveys indicating the positive and constructive relationships among racial groups in the country – contrary to what happened in Senekal and Brackenfell, for example.
Dr Van Heerden emphasised the importance of social cohesion, state capacity, a strong and active civil society, technological innovation and forms of socio-economic empowerment to address challenges in the South African context. He made specific mention of the importance of research and innovation as a determinant for development, and the importance of social grants for poor South Africans in the future.
Both presenters referred to the uncertainty in the framework of the ANC and the impact it could have on future support and the elections of 2021 and 2024.
Dr Van Heerden expects the ANC to improve their support base, while Dr Cronje emphasised the mediocre nature of party politics in South Africa, the disintegration of the ANC, the reconfiguration of politics and the necessity of coalition politics in the future.
For more information contact Prof Andre Duvenhage at Andre.Duvenhage@nwu.ac.za or 082 883 4156.
