Afrika Haus Berlin - Bochumer Str. 25 - 10555 Berlin (Moabit) - U-Bahn Turmstraße afrikahaus@t-online.de

South Africa – divided forever?

24.08.2015 19:00 Uhr - 20:30 Uhr


BERLINER AFRIKAKREIS

The Initiative Southern Africa (INISA) and the Society for International Development (SID-Berlin) cordially invite you in cooperation with the Afrika-Haus:
Afrika-Haus Berlin, Bochumer Str. 25, 10555 Berlin (U-Bahn: Turmstr.)

Speaker:
Dr Ismail Lagardien (Guest Scholar at German Development Institute; former Member of the Secretariat of the National Planning Commission in the The Presidency of South Africa)

Dr Naniso Tswai (Journalist, Author and Researcher, Berlin)

Chair:
Andreas Baumert (Initiative Südliches Afrika, INISA e.V.)

The discussion will be in English. No registration necessary.

South Africa is still one of the socio-economically most divided societies in the world (with one of the highest Gini coefficients). Racial origins determine to a large extent identity politics in post-apartheid South Africa. Whereas, at the outset of democracy Nelson Mandela and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission received much attention and praise for their efforts towards reconciliation and nation building. Today’s continuity of racial, economic, and political division has massive implications for the development of South Africa, as large parts of society feel excluded and frustrated. Xenophobic attacks of recent years seem to be another aspect of a society at unease with itself.
Considering the state of the nation today, why are the apartheid cleavages so sustainable, never ending? How does this situation of a divided society influence developmental efforts of the South African government which stresses the concept of a developmental state based on collective and inclusive efforts for economic development? What needs to be done to overcome some of the dividing societal factors, if anything can be done at all?

Best regards
Rene Gradwohl
INISA e.V.
www.inisa.de