Books
How South Africa Works - And Must Do Better
Director, The Brenthurst Foundation
Former President and CEO of the NEWSEUM, USA
Acclaim for How South Africa Works - And Must Do Better
“Are the economic imperatives for employment and growth reconcilable with those for transformation and redress? What are the tough choices confronting a developing economy to lift itself out of poverty into a globally competitive player? Read more from Herbst and Mills to find out the answers.”
“South Africa 20 years after transition is a complex and multidimensional country. Competing alliances and juxtapositions have changed the dynamics of the “new South Africa”. How South Africa Works helps to understand the evolving paradigm and provides potential solutions. It is a welcome and unemotional addition to the debate — a worthwhile read!”
“As we enter the third decade of our democracy, the disjuncture between South Africa's potential and its performance has never been as stark. How South Africa Works is an urgent call to all South African leaders to revisit yesterday's assumptions and to abandon the politics, policies and practices that are stifling growth and with it, for millions, the hope of a better tomorrow.”
The overwhelming challenge that South Africa faces, and has to date failed to address, is unemployment, which falls especially on African youths who were promised a better future after 1994. If the current unemployment challenge is not addressed, it will be impossible to sustainably lift many millions of people out of poverty. How South Africa Works reviews the country's major economic achievements over the past two decades. Through numerous interviews with politicians, business leaders and analysts, it examines the challenges and opportunities across key productive sectors - including agriculture, manufacturing, services, and mining - illustrative of the policy challenges that leaders face. It scrutinises the social grant and education systems to understand if South Africa has established mechanisms for people not only to escape destitution but be ready to be employed, and identifies steps that some of South Africa's most notable entrepreneurs have taken to build world-class enterprises. Recognizing the essential challenge to cultivate more employers to employ people, How South Africa Works concludes by offering an agenda and active steps for greater competitiveness for government, business and labor.
The book was launched across South Africa during July 2015. This video, shot and produced by Thomas Sandell, covers the first episode of launches.
Published by Panmacmillan, the book argues that South Africa has gone from a society divided by race and apartheid to, now, access to jobs. If the unemployment challenge, which falls mainly on African youths, is not addressed, it will be impossible to sustainably lift many millions of people out of poverty.
Based on several hundred interviews with politicians, business- and opinion-leaders, and analystsin South Africa, 'How South Africa Works' digs into the challenges and opportunities across key productive sectors - including agriculture, manufacturing, services and mining. It scrutinises the social grant and education systems to understand if SA has established mechanisms where people can not only escape destitution but be ready to be employed. Despite the challenges of current day South Africa, Herbst and Mills find that some entrepreneurs have nonetheless be able to build world-class companies.
Recognising the essential challenge to cultivate more employers to employ people and the deep talent that resides in the private sector, 'How South Africa Works' offers and agenda and actions for greater competitiveness for each of government, business and labour.
'How South Africa Works - And Must Do Better', authored by Brenthurst's director Dr Greg Mills and advisory board member Dr Jeffrey Herbst, published by Panmacmillanand launched in July 2015, is accompanied by this ballad and video:
'This is how it works' is written by Robin Auld and Mills. Mixed at Murray Anderson's Cape Town Milestone studio, it is performed by a band brought together for the occasion, the Philippi All-Stars, additionally comprising pianist Hilton Schilder, Barry van Zyl on the drums, Peter Ndlala (Bass) and backing singers Fancy Galada, Zami Mdingi and Poseletso Sejeosingo. The video was shot and produced on location in the Western Cape by Shaun Cameron.
