Conclusion

Abstract

Poverty persisted and inequality worsened in South Africa after democratization in 1994. Despite confident assertions by both the ANC and its critics, and an abundance of data, it is difficult to pinpoint precisely the trend in income poverty. Both the ANC and government and their critics use data selectively. It seems likely, however, that poverty rates worsened in the late 1990s before declining in the early 2000s and perhaps then worsening again after 2008. Throughout this period the rich got richer, and income inequality widened. Life expectancy plummeted before recovering somewhat, whilst happiness rose sharply but then reverted to levels that were commensurate with differential economic prosperity. Overall, after twenty years of democracy, poverty remained widespread, the poor lived shorter lives, and were not much happier, all despite considerable affluence elsewhere in society.