South Africa�s and Botswana�s performance and outlook :: Mmegi Online

Let us begin with South Africa and then offer remarks on Botswana. South Africa was added to the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) “emerging economies” acronym and it therefore became to be known as BRICS.

This was in recognition of South Africa’s economic potential and its position as a powerhouse in Africa. Botswana, in comparison, is a much smaller country in almost every respect.

However, South Africa has been a major disappointment to many observers who are interested in the rising star’s slow but questionable rise since the end of apartheid more than two decades ago. Nelson Mandela brought a lot of hope and promise to the nation as its first post-apartheid President. However, unfulfilled dreams of economic prosperity, failed attempts at ushering in equality (social, economic and political) in a racially divided and culturally bruised admixture of civilisations; and, fundamental failures in almost every key aspect of economy, society and politics are undoing the country’s hopes for a better future for its citizens. Democracy is faltering as well through corruption and strong-arm tactics by the current government, including suppressing certain basic tenets of democracy – a free press, accountability mechanisms, and