Integrating human capital into South Africa's industrial policies

INDUSTRIAL POLICY

- STHANDIWE MSOMI

“THE national wealth of our country, the heritage of all South Africans, shall be restored to the people.’- Freedom Charter, 1955

Its a timeless promise, etched into South Africa’s moral and political imagination: that the wealth of this nation would one day be returned to its rightful owners: the people. But fast-forward nearly 70 years from the adoption of the Freedom Charter, and one has to ask: are we any closer to achieving that vision?

We've got policies, plans, and pages upon pages of industrial strategies. From the National Industrial Policy Framework (NIPF) to the more recent localisation and sector masterplans, South Africa has no shortage of ambition when it comes to rebuilding its productive economy. The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) has been busy crafting incentive schemes, nurturing Special Economic Zones (SEZs), and waving the flag for local procurement. But there’s a critical piece missing from the puzzle: a deep and sustained investment in our people.

If South Africa is serious about inclusive growth, we need to treat human capital not as a byproduct of policy, but as its beating heart. That means thinking holistically, not just about jobs, but about the full lifecycle of economic agency. Because building a capable workforce and future owners of the means of production doesn’t start with a factory floor, it starts in our communities, our homes and from an early age.