“Where is the development in the developmental state?” This is the question that Defend our Democracy (DOD) seeks to answer in its webinar series marking 30 years of democracy.

The first of nine webinars kicked off on 4 November 2023, and will continue into March 2024.

The series is being led by author and journalist, John Matisonn, who has a keen understanding of South African political economy and social development. Political analyst Ebrahim Fakir will facilitate the series.

While the series will analyze the last three decades of democracy, it also intends to begin articulating a new vision for the country.

The first webinar was entitled, “Is South Africa a developmental state? Why the National Development Plan (NDP) failed to meet its targets”. Matisonn explained that South African development has been static despite government efforts to improve the well-being of its citizens.

There have been numerous ongoing arguments in South Africa about whether or not the country is a developmental state; some have determined that it is, while others have concluded that it is not.

Matisonn himself indicated that he is is similarly perplexed as to why South Africa is a ‘developmental state’ with little progress in this regard. This is despite the NDP being passed in 2012, with various political parties supporting it in order to accelerate South

Full Statement Attached.

Written by Tshedza Sikhwari