An investigation into prospects and challenges facing southern African countries in their quest to achieve the Millennium development goals, poverty reduction strategy : the case of South Africa

Abstract

The research paper opens with the evolution of the Millennium Development Goals as a development framework. Having considered the evolution of the Millennium Development Goals, the paper then focuses on the socio-economic and political huddles that will make the realization of the Millennium Development Goals in Southern Africa sub region elusive and insurmountable. The study deliberately uses South Africa as a case study primarily because of her geo-political and economic position in the region. The Republic South Africa is the dominant power south of the Sahara. This paper challenges the existing conviction and rhetoric that depict South Africa as the only notable country south of the Sahara that will indubitably meet the Millennium Development Goals and targets by 2015. The paper draws attention to apparent neglect of the worsening social inequalities, the country's dual economy system, socio-economic and institutional costs of HIV and AIDS as well as neo liberal economic policies that have worsened social disparities in the country. This paper, posits that despite South Africa's economic and political achievements since 1994, the country face intractable socio-economic challenges that will turn the ambition of accomplishing the Millennium Development bleak and elusive. Economic growth alone will not propel the country into sustainable development. The government needs to consider other indicators of development such as employment, health, education, lack of technical skills as well as the growing income inequalities. The paper also looks at the socio-economic and political frameworks that have been devised to propel the country into sustainable development. More emphasis is also alluded to South Africa's system of governance with more emphasis on the role of municipalities in economic development as well as the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. Regional governments are at the heart of sustainable social, economic and political development in South Africa. Provincial governments and ·municipal administration administer social service delivery in their areas of jurisdiction. By in large most of these basic services administered by regional governments such as water, health, housing and social grants are key indicators of the Millennium Development Goals. The paper finally looks at the prospects of achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the region as well as global commitment to the realization of the Millennium Development Goals. In conclusion the research study outlines the findings and recommendations.