EMULATING ASIAN TIGERS WE ADMIRE IS A PIPE DREAM

THE aspirations of the National Development Plan are to set

South Africa on a path towards a developmental state akin to the model of the East Asia Tigers.

China and Korea grew by 6percent over the past six decades.

However, in this bag were also Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, that experienced growth rates of between 3percent and 4percent.

South Africa came out at about 1percent ahead of Venezuela’s 0.4percent but lower than Peru and Ecuador in this club of laggards.

As regards the demographic transition which relates to effects of changes in the relative composition of the population for specific age cohorts, South Africa has exhibited patterns that mimic Latin America.

In specific terms of the transition in age structure is the proportionate composition of the age group 15-64, relative to the one below 15 years of age and that above 65.

When the relative size of the so called working age group, 15-64, is high, then a demographic transition holds promise for a demographic dividend, because the proportion of the dependent population has shrunk relative to those who work.

The Asian Tigers in the 1960s were envious of the growth patterns witnessed in Africa, especially in Ghana.

South Africa and Korea share histories that in part look similar: occupation and discrimination by an occupying force and a demographic transition. Much as Singapore envied Bombay at the beginning of the 1960s, South Africa envies the Asian Tigers and would wish to model itself to ultimately be a developmental state.

What we know today suggests that South Africa’s dream of a developmental state is fast-paced passing mirage.

There are interesting events that illustrate how far apart the reality of practice in South Africa is from that of South East Asia.

Three years ago when the Singapore Airlines pilots went on strike, President Lee Kwan Yew told them he would shut down the pride of Korea and rebuild it without them. In 65 minutes it was all over.

In Korea when the chairpersonowner of the Korean Airline learnt that his daughter had mistreated an air hostess en route from New York to Seoul, he fired her and apologised to the nation for bringing her up badly.

A judge slapped her with a one year prison sentence.

In South Africa we have the direct opposite. Our SAA board, like many state-owned enterprises, abused the country’s taxes with impunity; pensioners did not receive their pensions in the coldest months of the year and we caused it, with insensitivity, obfuscation and legalese.

Schoolchildren drown in societal abuse and in toilets without personal accountability and consequence.

Our state capture dramatically illustrates how far apart we are from those we aspire to emulate – the Asian Tigers.

The now failed national aspiration for a developmental state is replaced by the energy- and patriotism-sapping nightmare of the state of state capture.

The legalisation of marijuana and prospective arguments for access to alcohol at schools have come at an opportune time and deliver a desperately needed antidote.

We need to calm our nerves.