The Coega Project: Creative Politicking in Post-Apartheid South Africa
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The Coega Project: Creative Politicking in Post-Apartheid South Africa By Ongama Mtimka A treatise submitted to the Faculty of Arts, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Masters in South African Politics and Political Economy Supervisors: Ms J. Steyn-Kotze and Professor R. Haines Date: 8 January 2010 Declaration I declare that this treatise is my own work and all the sources used or quoted have been acknowledged. It is being submitted for the Degree of Masters in South African Politics and Political Economy at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, and has not been submitted before for any degree or examination in any other university _________________________ (Signature of candidate ____________________day of____________________________ (year) ________________ 2 ABSTRACT This treatise revisits the process of the implementation of the Coega Project and discusses political economic issues which emerge therein locating them in the political economic context of post-1994 South Africa. Based on an in-depth study of the “Coega Story”, and three years of observing the Coega Development Corporation engaging in the political economic space to implement the project, key themes which are relevant in understanding the nature of politics in the country are highlighted and discussed with a view to drawing lessons for future implementers of economic development projects and policy makers. Key discussions in the study include a critical analysis of the symbiotic relationship between politics and development (or broadly the economy) – where emphasis is made about the centrality of politics in implementing economic development projects; the developmental state – where key characteristics of a developmental state are highlighted; the transition from apartheid to democracy and its implications on the nature of political relations post-apartheid; industrial development as a growth strategy and the interplay of social forces in the post- 1994 political economic space. The Coega Project is located within the broader context of the ruling party seeking to advance what is called the second and, perhaps the ultimate task of the liberation struggle, socio-economic liberation. Its strategic fit in that task is discussed critically taking into account paths to industrialisation as they have been observed from Newly Industrialising Countries and South Africa’s attempts at industrialisation before and after 1994. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This treatise would not have been possible had it not been for my employment at the Coega Development Corporation. I would like to express my gratitude to the organisation particularly for its internship programme which afforded me an opportunity to work there as a new graduate in 2006. My late friend Loyiso Kato and Coega Development Corporation Chief Executive Officer, Mr Pepi Silinga, deserve special mention for continuously encouraging me to complete this treatise. I am indebted to Mr Silinga for creating the right platforms for me to gain invaluable information in the Coega Project, which I could not have accessed without his assistance. Dr Peter Inman, Mr Khwezi Tiya, and Dr Siyabonga Simayi of the Coega Development Corporation are thanked for their invaluable support throughout the research process. Ms Joleen Steyn-Kotze and Professor Richard Haines played a crucial role from the start to the completion of this project. Throughout the research process, they were a source of inspiration and they helped me bring this project to finality. No amount of words can express how grateful I am to my wife, Nonkazimlo and my son Thato. Their understanding and support kept me going. My parents and siblings deserve special thanks for their unequivocal support and sacrifices. Their financial and moral support always came at the right times, instilling a strong sense of hope and purpose. Above all, I would like to thank God, the source of my inspiration for the ability to see, read and right and for the wisdom and ability to reflect critically on social phenomena. 4 In remembrance of the late Loyiso Kato (The Black Contenda) 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS................................................................................................................................................8 CHAPTER 1 ..........................................................................................................................................................9 Contexualising the study.........................................................................................................................................9 Introduction................................................................................................................................................................9 Problem statement................................................................................................................................................13 Research hypothesis ................................................................................................................................................16 Research Objectives and Design ............................................................................................................................18 Method of study.......................................................................................................................................................19 Method of data collection .......................................................................................................................................22 Delimitations and limitations..................................................................................................................................24 Concluding remarks ................................................................................................................................................25 CHAPTER TWO .................................................................................................................................................27 Politics and development in Post-apartheid South Africa: A Theoretical Review ...................................................27 Historical perspectives on the symbiosis between politics and development .....................................................28 The developmental state..........................................................................................................................................34 State-society relationships in post-apartheid South Africa...................................................................................38 Democratic transition and it’s political implications ............................................................................................40 Industrial Development as an Economic Growth Strategy...................................................................................45 Concluding remarks ................................................................................................................................................48 CHAPTER 3 ........................................................................................................................................................51 Creative politicking: narrating the Coega story......................................................................................................51 The Coega Project ...................................................................................................................................................52 A brief history of the Coega Project.......................................................................................................................55 The change agent – procurement, jobs, etc............................................................................................................58 Relocation of the Coega Community.....................................................................................................................61 Concluding remarks ................................................................................................................................................63 CHAPTER 4 ........................................................................................................................................................64 Critical analysis of the Coega Story ......................................................................................................................64 Analysing creative politicking: a focus on social forces.......................................................................................65 Elites and creative politicking: key issues in the implementation of the Coega Project.....................................68 Contextualising Coega’s political economy ..........................................................................................................70 Concluding remarks ................................................................................................................................................73 CHAPTER 5 ........................................................................................................................................................75 The Coega Project within the socio-economic liberation imperatives of the liberation movement: focus on industrialisation....................................................................................................................................................75