Understanding Political Economy in South Africa Training

Objectives:
• Define political economy and its key concepts.
• Explain the relationship between politics and economics.
• Identify the main actors in South Africa's political economy.
• Distinguish between different economic systems.
• Understand the historical context of South Africa's political economy.

Topics:
• What is political economy?
• Key concepts: power, resources, distribution, and institutions.
• Overview of economic systems: capitalism, socialism, and mixed economies.
• The role of the state, market, and civil society.
• Historical background: colonialism, apartheid, and post-apartheid South Africa.
• Introduction to the South African Constitution and its economic clauses.
• Current economic indicators: GDP, unemployment, inequality.
• Major stakeholders: government, business, labour, and communities.

Objectives:
• Describe the structure and functions of the South African state.
• Analyse the role of government in economic policy-making.
• Evaluate key economic policies: NDP, GEAR, and RDP.
• Understand the budget process and fiscal policy.
• Discuss the role of state-owned enterprises.

Topics:
• The three spheres of government: national, provincial, local.
• The National Development Plan (NDP) 2030.
• Historical economic policies: RDP, GEAR, and ASGISA.
• Fiscal policy: taxation, government spending, and budgeting.
• Monetary policy: the role of the South African Reserve Bank.
• State-owned enterprises: Eskom, Transnet, SAA.
• Public-private partnerships.
• Case study: Impact of load-shedding on the economy.

Objectives:
• Explain the structure of South Africa's labour market.
• Analyse the causes and consequences of unemployment.
• Understand labour legislation and institutions.
• Evaluate the role of trade unions.
• Discuss strategies for job creation.

Topics:
• Labour market structure: formal vs informal sector.
• Unemployment: types, causes, and statistics.
• Labour legislation: Labour Relations Act, Basic Conditions of Employment Act.
• Institutions: CCMA, Labour Court, Nedlac.
• Trade unions: COSATU, FEDUSA, NACTU.
• Collective bargaining and strikes.
• Youth unemployment and skills development.
• Employment equity and affirmative action.

Objectives:
• Describe the nature and extent of inequality in South Africa.
• Analyse the relationship between inequality and poverty.
• Evaluate social protection programmes.
• Understand the role of education and health in reducing inequality.
• Discuss land reform and redistribution.

Topics:
• Measuring inequality: Gini coefficient, Palma ratio.
• Historical roots of inequality: apartheid legacy.
• Poverty alleviation: social grants, child support grant.
• Education: challenges and reforms.
• Healthcare: public vs private, NHI.
• Land reform: redistribution, restitution, tenure reform.
• Housing and basic services.
• Case study: The impact of COVID-19 on inequality.

Objectives:
• Explain the structure of South Africa's business sector.
• Analyse the role of foreign direct investment.
• Understand competition policy and regulation.
• Evaluate corporate governance and ethics.
• Discuss black economic empowerment (B-BBEE).

Topics:
• Business sectors: mining, manufacturing, services.
• Small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
• Foreign direct investment: trends and policies.
• Competition policy: Competition Act, Competition Commission.
• Corporate governance: King IV report.
• Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).
• Corporate social responsibility.
• Case study: The impact of state capture on business.

Objectives:
• Explain South Africa's position in the global economy.
• Analyse the impact of globalisation on South Africa.
• Understand trade policy and agreements.
• Evaluate the role of international financial institutions.
• Discuss South Africa's foreign economic policy.

Topics:
• Globalisation: opportunities and challenges.
• South Africa's trade: exports, imports, trade balance.
• Trade agreements: SACU, SADC, AfCFTA, WTO.
• International financial institutions: IMF, World Bank.
• BRICS and other groupings.
• Foreign policy and economic diplomacy.
• Global value chains and South Africa's participation.
• Case study: The impact of US-China trade war on South Africa.

Objectives:
• Synthesise key themes from the course.
• Analyse contemporary challenges in South Africa's political economy.
• Evaluate policy proposals for inclusive growth.
• Develop a personal action plan for engagement.
• Prepare for assessment.

Topics:
• Review of key concepts and frameworks.
• Current challenges: low growth, high unemployment, inequality.
• Policy debates: basic income grant, nationalisation, industrial policy.
• The role of civil society and social movements.
• The future of work: automation and the gig economy.
• Climate change and the green economy.
• Course assessment: case study analysis.
• Action planning for applying learning.