A critical evaluation of pre- and post- 1994 large-scale development programmes in South africa with particular focus on employment creation
Date
2010-09-17
Authors
Thwala, Wellington Didibhuku
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Abstract
In South Africa, the levels of unemployment and poverty are extremely high and
these are two of South Africa’s most pressing problems. Over the past 28 years
several major programmes have been initiated in South Africa to counter
unemployment and poverty. Between 1980 and 1994, the former government
spent billions of Rands on large-scale development programmes with the stated
objective of using labour-intensive methods during the provision of physical
infrastructure, to create employment and alleviate poverty. However, this did
not solve the unemployment problem. Since 1994 the African National
Congress (ANC) government has implemented large-scale programmes with
similar objectives to those before 1994. After an analysis of the theoretical
premises and implementation of labour-intensive public works programmes in
Africa, the thesis critically evaluated several pre - and post - 1994 large-scale
development programmes in South Africa. Major conclusions are that very little
sustainable employment was created and there was no long-term programme
approach to address poverty alleviation. Furthermore, lessons that could have
been learnt from pre – 1994 have not been applied in the post 1994 period.
Shortcomings in programme planning and implementation of large-scale
development programmes in South Africa still exist. Another major conclusion
is that the pre-1994 lessons were not taken into considerations in the post-1994
programme planning and implementation. Based on the research, the author
has derived a six phase Programme Management Framework for Development
Programmes. This framework embodies a long-term programme management
approach to the planning and implementation of large-scale, labour-intensive
development programmes.
Description
Keywords
Employment creation, Infrastructure, Public works, Large-scale development programmes projects