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

Praying for water

Michael Morris and Nicholas Lorimer discuss the serious effects of the water crisis on South Africans. They also discuss Ferrocrome smelters and Eskom’s plan to save them. Lastly, they discuss declining rates of alcohol consumption amongst South Africans and the relationship between culture and vice.
7 Apr 10AM 36 min

Lesufi pays the price of ideology

Nicholas Lorimer and Makone Maja discuss the inclusion of the EFF in the Gauteng provincial government. They also discuss the Post Office needing another bailout and they discuss allegations of reckless endangerment in Bitou municipality.
2 Apr 10AM 27 min

South Africa’s rapidly changing campaign landscape

Nicholas Lorimer and Hermann Pretorius discuss the latest campaign stunt by the Zille campaign in Joburg. They also discuss the loss of faith in democracy and the record revenue collection from SARS.
1 Apr 10AM 33 min

Petrol panic sparks tax relief

Chris Hattingh, and Nicholas Lorimer discuss the fuel levy relief offered by the finance minister. They also discuss Cadre deployment, a battle over traditional leadership and yet another investor conference.
31 Mar 9AM 31 min

Schools EXTORTED

Terence Corrigan and Nicholas Lorimer discuss the reports of extortion of schools in the Western Cape. They also discuss US-SA relations and the slum lord mafias in Joburg. They finish with a brief tribute to Steven Gruzd.
30 Mar 11AM 29 min