ANB-BIA SUPPLEMENT

ISSUE/EDITION Nr 324 - 15/05/1997

South Africa

In Search of Economic Justice

by A. Green-Thompson, South Africa, April 1997

THEME = SOCIAL ACTION

INTRODUCTION

The demise of South Africa's Reconstruction and Development Programme and the launch of the Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy, gave rise to serious concern that the new strategy was only concerned with economic growth and not with people

The Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) of the first democratically elected government, captured the imagination of all sectors of South African society. It was what we had been waiting for - a plan to address the legacy of poverty and deprivation left by the apartheid system. Communities were to be mobilised to participate in the process of rebuilding the country. The RDP was to be people-centred and people-driven.
This was music to the ears of those working in the Church, as our main focus was also for the poor and deprived. We embraced with open arms the aims and objectives of the RDP, and where we could, we participated in programmes to educate people and empower them to become involved in the process of reconstruction. In March 1995, a national economic Consultation was held, that formulated a Catholic response to the RDP, and outlined areas of co-operation with other agencies in promoting the programme. All of a sudden, the RDP office was gone, and with it the hopes and aspirations of millions of South Africans - or so it seemed. As a Church, we felt let down as there was little or no explanation given for this decision.

GEAR

The launch of the government's Growth, Employment and Redistribution strategy (GEAR) early last year, added to the fears that the RDP was now "RIP". GEAR seemed to have thrown out much of what was commendable in the RDP, and appeared to embrace the principles of the capitalist system. One of the Bishops was moved to say of GEAR that "...rampant capitalism has been unleashed on an unsuspecting populace." As the Catholic Church, we felt a pressing need to inform ourselves on what exactly this new GEAR was. In this regard, a second Consultation on Economic Justice took place in Johannesburg between 10-14 March this year.

Fears

This concern about the demise of the RDP, was reflected among the 70 delegates at the Consultation. They felt that the new strategy was not people-centred, but instead concerned only with economic growth. Instead of creating more space for participation by communities in the reconstruction of the economy, the pursuit of profit seems to have become the primary focus. GEAR is urging greater sacrifice from the poor, while the rich continue to rake in greater wealth. This trickle-down approach to poverty alleviation, is a far cry from the vision set out in the RDP.
Many felt, too, that GEAR is far removed from the lives of ordinary people. Drawn up and finalised by technocrats and economic experts, it fails to put a human face on the reconstruction process. Instead, those in dire need of basic social services, are left to the wiles and vagaries of market forces, as they try to make a living. It became clear among the delegates that the economic legacy of apartheid is the enemy. Neo-liberal economic policies that put profit before people were identified as the greatest threat to the new found freedom in South Africa. Whether GEAR is reflective of this neo-liberal ideology became the question!

Government response

The fact that political freedom cannot thrive in a situation of economic inequity, was a common theme that ran through all the inputs. It was in the route to economic justice, that differences arose. Minister of Trade and Industry Alec Erwin defended the principles of GEAR, and resisted any implication that the government had sold out the poor. South Africa was not an island, and had to participate in the global village. Therefore, GEAR represents the best possible answer to the problems besetting the nation. Within this context - that when faced with all the options in a hostile greedy world, compromise is often necessary - we were challenged to stop demonising GEAR.

"Engage in dialogue"

Jeremy Cronin of the South African Communist Party dispelled the perception that GEAR is non-negotiable. Forums have been set up where interested parties can negotiate the implementation of government's economic policy. One example is the National Economic, Development and Labour Council (NEDLAC) in which government, labour and business participate. His challenge to delegates was to engage in the debate to try and bring a more human face to GEAR. Instead of only criticising the plan from afar, we in the Church should be bringing our community experience into it. We should be trying to bring gospel values into the discussion on reconstructing the country.
We left the Consultation more informed about and less intimidated by GEAR. The Consultation acknowledged that there were no easy solutions, and in the present world order, compromise was often necessary. The Church, however, would continue to be prophetic in striving for its ideal of a world in which justice is the definitive standard, and not profit margins. Political leaders, in seeking to rebuild the country, are obliged to seek what they think the best solution is. We in the Church, however, can challenge them to remain as true to their commitment to the poor as possible. This must be our role in the future.

Grassroots input

The awareness-raising and education process that was started with the Consultation, must be continued among our communities. In this way, ordinary people will be empowered to participate in shaping the policies that will affect their lives. It is no use for the Church to hire experts and theologians to draft Catholic policy on economic justice. Input must emerge from those at the cutting edge, those who have the most to lose or gain from the process. The Consultation agreed that we need to move the process forward. There are many initiatives in the country that are concerned with economic justice. As in the past, in the struggle for political emancipation, we need to pool our resources in order to have a greater impact. The delegates left the Consultation inspired and informed. We were more confident than we had been three days before. We returned to our homes with the challenge of Rev. Chikane from the Deputy State President's office ringing very clearly in our minds - that the struggle the Church and others waged for justice is far from over, it is only beginning.

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PeaceLink 1997 - Reproduction authorised, with usual acknowledgement