Despite the international recognition and praise that South
Africa received in 1994 for organizing its first free and fair, multiracial
presidential elections, the country continues to exhibit
increasing signs of state fragility on a number of different fronts
that could be traced back to the economic, social and political
legacies of Apartheid. Primarily, this paper analyses some immediate
social and economic challenges facing the country in its
transitional period. With the collapse of Apartheid, the country
has largely achieved racial peace, but not social harmony.
Although some progress has been made with regard to spurring
economic growth and instituting painful macroeconomic stabilization
policies, the plight of its black majority remains bleak as
it had been under white rule. Unless social and economic reforms
are sped up, South Africa’s achievements over the past 13 years
will be undermined by the brewing dissatisfaction and frustration
with the government’s handling of the economy and its attempts
in addressing the social ills of Apartheid that still haunt it.
