Soweto and the legacy of apartheid - the costs of doing business in undeserved markets

Sheny Medani

Ten years after the transition to democracy, South Africa's predominantly black population, living in socially under-serviced areas created by apartheid, faces the challenge of integrating into a world dominated by global competition, rapid acceleration into the job market through affirmative action and the creation of a black middle class.

Soweto and the legacy of apartheid – the costs of doing business in undeserved markets

Sheny MedaniMarket Decisions, South Africa

INTRODUCTION

Today, the continent of Africa presents the greatest challenge in terms of economic development. Almost 850 million people live in Africa, but our development has been hindered, amongst other things, by:

  • Poor leadership and bad governance;

  • Low levels of grassroots development and insufficient skills;

  • High risk, from a political and financial aspect;

  • A weak private sector and a strong public sector presence within the economy;

  • High dependency on donor aid;

  • Poor infrastructure;

  • Corruption, currency fluctuations and other (see...

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