SPECIAL - Countdown to Socialism: The National Democratic Revolution in South Africa since 1994

Loading player...
South Africa’s failure to reform – and save the country, and especially its immiserated poor, from joblessness, stalling growth and widespread governance failure – can be pinned on the ruling party’s ‘unwavering determination’ to pursue the socialist-inspired National Democratic Revolution (NDR).

In this way, the ANC seeks to ‘take the country by incremental steps from capitalism to socialism’.

This is the core theme of a new book, COUNTDOWN TO SOCIALISM – The National Democratic Revolution in South Africa since 1994 (Jonathan Ball Publishers), by the head of policy research at the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), Dr Anthea Jeffery.

Her new book reveals the scale and reach of NDR precepts in South African policy-making since 1994. By way of example, NDR interventions have already made millions of people unemployable and the mining sector largely ‘uninvestable’. These policies now aim at land expropriation without compensation (EWC) and the effective nationalisation of private healthcare and pensions.

Jeffery, who holds law degrees from the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Cambridge and has a PhD in law from London University, has written 11 books, including BEE: Helping or Hurting? and People’s War: New Light on the Struggle for South Africa. She has also written extensively on property rights, land reform, the mining sector, the proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) system, and a growth-focused and non-racial alternative to BEE.

This is a recording of the inaugural book launch hosted at Exclusive Books in Cape Town on 19 July 2023.
2 Aug 2023 8AM English South Africa News Commentary · Politics

Other recent episodes

Joburg’s financial catastrophe

Chris Hattingh and Nicholas Lorimer discuss the letter by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to Joburg making clear just how bad Joburg’s finances are. They also discuss the ANC’s defence of NHI and South Africa’s opportunity to benefit from increased naval traffic around Africa.
6 May 10AM 32 min

‘Sharia court’ horror: ISIS network in SA?

Today's episode has Nicholas Lorimer and Ricardo Teixeira discuss the recent murder of several Ethiopian businessmen in Johannesburg and the possible links to a broader terror network. They also discuss theft of drugs from the Hawks and theft of guns from the SANDF.
5 May 10AM 32 min

The 46 BEE mining billionaires

Terence Corrigan and Nicholas Lorimer discuss claims that 60% of BEE benefits accrued to only 46 connected billionaires. They also talk about property rights, taxation and cities.
4 May 11AM 38 min

The rand falls, the Fed holds, stormy seas ahead

Nicholas Lorimer and Anlu Keeve discuss the worsening global economic outlook. They also chat about BEE sector codes and the legal challenges against them and they discuss the new safety budget in Cape Town.
30 Apr 9AM 35 min

Bankrupted by the city. It could happen to you.

Nicholas Lorimer and Terence Corrigan discuss the failure of Joburg's water billing system. They also discuss a community that built its own clinic in the Eastern Cape, and lastly, they discuss an "employment equity" internship.
29 Apr 10AM 33 min