EDITORIAL – Umrabulo 52nd Edition by J P Louw, Umrabulo Editor
The theme of the 52nd edition of Umrabulo Journal speaks to the subject of “Economic Recovery and Reconstruction” at a time when South Africa is grappling with means to attain an inclusive economy that is sustainable and resilient.
Talking to efforts to get the country on this very path, President Cyril Ramaphosa’s ANC’s Economic Recovery and Reconstruction Drive talks to undertakings to lift society out of its present-day socioeconomic difficulties. A point of emphasis being that a success story of efforts underway would be benefits designed to deliberately reach all and sundry across society. Dr Yacoob Abba Omar’s Economic Recovery Attempts Through Social Compacting makes a case for social compacting as sensible means through which economic recovery and reconstruction could be achieved. But also goes on to highlight factors impeding South Africa from getting this needed injection right.
Dr Kenneth Creamer’s How It Could Be Done – Thoughts On Social and Economic Transformation ponders some ideas on steps needed to move South Africa forward as he straddles across the how’s for the formal and informal economy as well as public and private sectors.
In AfCFTA and Africa’s Economic Recovery & Reconstruction Zahir Amien puts a lense on an African solution as he argues that “the time has come for Africa to rise as a formidable force on the global horizon and realise our potential. We must remain vigilant of any attempts to derail AfCFTA; we owe it to our people to ensure Africa’s economic recovery and reconstruction and to bury the final vestiges of imperialism, colonialism and neo-colonialism on the continent”
China Dodovu’s Economic Recovery & Reconstruction Lessons From Communist Party of China makes for an interesting reference point on what China can teach other nations embarking on a path of economic recovery and reconstruction. A matter of particular interest is reference to that country’s governing party as the driving force behind this agenda as he states that “since it came to power in 1994, the ANC has made major economic mistakes that it needs to admit and correct. Among the key mistakes are the key economic policies it has adopted over time and its inability to radically transform the economy to favour the historically disadvantaged persons.”
From lessons to be learned by China Dodovu, Miyelani Mkhabela talks about the need to reconfigure relations with China in Time To Rethink China’s Place In South Africa. His thesis is that there is a need for relations between the People’s Republic of China and South Africa to be strengthened more through trade relations and direct continuous cooperation.
As is custom, it is encouraged to take engagements on issues raised in this Umrabulo Journal beyond the publication pages into branches, shopfloors, our private spaces, groupings and various meeting places. Both for purposes of engaging around articles published, but also the broader subject of economic recovery and reconstruction.
The next edition of Umrabulo is themed “Imperialism Today” and articles must be submitted for consideration by 30 June 2022 to the Editor at jplouw@ortamboschool.org.za or Umrabulo@ortamboschool.org.za. Please note that articles must be aligned to theme and be 2 000 words long (and not exceed 3 000 words)