The debate on transformation in South Africa: Accentuating radical economic transformation from an Afrocentric youth perspective

Abstract

South Africa’s democratic dispensation ushered in a number of initiatives to transform the economy and alleviate divisions of the past. The National Democratic Revolution (NDR) ideology which served as the guiding policy framework to the African National Congress (ANC) and its allies called for radical measures such as nationalisation of strategic sectors. However, the ANC followed neo-liberal path in implementing adopted policies such as the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP), the Growth, Employment and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy, the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative of South Africa (ASGISA) and the National Development Plan (NDP). The persisting triple socio-economic challenges (inequality, unemployment, and poverty) during President Zuma’s last tenure (2014-2018) spurred many calls for Radical Economic Transformation (RET). This article employs Afrocentricity as the alternative lens informed by African experiences that should provide a basis for analysis, understanding and implementation of RET as the proposed strategic policy to reduce inequality, unemployment, and poverty. The central argument of this desktop article is that African experiences should inform studies on any African phenomenon. Methodologically, the article employed Afrocentric qualitative research methodology to provide potential remedies on the research phenomenon.