Abstract
After 1994 the South African government had to contend with the consequences of the forces of globalisation in addition to meeting the challenges of nation building. The new democratic government inherited a fragile economy burdened with large debt, slow economic growth, increasing unemployment rates and unacceptable levels of poverty (Padayachee, 2005:22). Constitutional imperatives called for a just and equitable society, a fundamental principle that formed the basis for all future policies and legislation (RSA, 1996).
Highlights
After 1994 the South African government had to contend with the consequences of the forces of globalisation in addition to meeting the challenges of nation building
The Gini-coefficient suggests that South Africa has a high rate of inequality and has been compared to Brazil in this respect
Socio-economic policies have been targeted towards achieving macro-economic stability, increasing access to basic services, especially water, electricity and health, and social security (Fedderke, 2006; Van der Berg et al, 2005)
Summary
After 1994 the South African government had to contend with the consequences of the forces of globalisation in addition to meeting the challenges of nation building. The purpose of this paper is to analyse policies with respect to social development initiatives, the gains that have been achieved and the challenges that remain for poverty-stricken South Africans within a globalised environment. CONCEPTUALISATION OF GLOBALISATION AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Globalisation has increased in complexity over the past decades because of the growth in technology and trade; travel between countries has become more rapid as a result of more sophisticated and improved engineering; people migrate across national borders for a range of reasons; and there is a desire (albeit among a few wealthy individuals and companies) to accrue wealth beyond national borders. Social welfare systems have been informed by a complex range of historical, cultural, political, social and economic institutions and processes. The ultimate goal of social welfare is to improve the well-being and quality of life, of poor and marginalised people in South Africa. When social goals are combined with economic objectives by investing in human capital, the well-being of all individuals in society can be achieved
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