Kagiso Trust Consultancy

Challenges of a changing South Africa

Whereas development policies for South Africa are now largely in place, the need to translate them into tangible outcomes that will have a direct bearing on the lives of ordinary citizens remains a fundamental challenge. In meeting this challenge, the importance of partnerships between the government, non governmental and private sectors, community based organizations and development planning and facilitation organizations is critical.

Ongoing support and intervention is required to deepen and consolidate democracy at all levels of South African society. The transition to democracy in 1994 has changed but not dissipated the role of state, the private sector and civil society organizations in facilitating development and democracy.

In the state sector, local government in particular has been encumbered with a wide range or responsibilities often without concomitant human and financial resources. The need to strengthen public sector capacity, particularly at local government level, is well recognized.

There is limited capacity within communities to access government and other development resources and to participate in their own development.

On its part, the private sector is confronted by the need to develop public, private, community partnerships, to develop new management practices and to build new relationships with labour in a changed South Africa.