Weak, fragmented State threatens South Africa’s development goals - Fikeni

SOUTH Africa's inability to meet the targets of its National Development Plan (NDP) is rooted in years of corruption, political fragmentation, and institutional decay, according to Professor Somadoda Fikeni.

- BANELE GININDZA

Speaking at the launch of the Maphungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection’s (MISTRA) latest publication, The State of the South African State, Fikeni said the country’s governance structures have been severely weakened, with poor implementation following commissions of inquiry and well-intentioned policy proposals.

The new MISTRA book, authored by leading scholars, interrogates the capacity, ethics, and accountability of the South African state, offering recommendations to strengthen governance and restore institutional integrity.

Fikeni said the implosion and internal divisions within the African National Congress (ANC) had spilled over into key state institutions, resulting in poor discipline and compromised appointments.