Neoliberalism and the Downfall of the Growth, Employment, and Redistribution (GEAR) Strategy in South Africa: Key Lessons for Future Development Policies.

In 1996, South Africa adopted the Growth, Employment, and Redistribution (GEAR) strategy. Twenty-seven years later, conclusive evidence suggests that GEAR was not a genuine strategy for growth, employment creation, and poverty reduction but a mere consolidation of neoliberalism in South Africa. This paper considers the key targets of GEAR and trend data from 1996 onward to explain the contributions and failures of GEAR in the development of South Africa. The paper is informed by secondary data, and desk-top research was conducted to elicit data. Drawing from the lenses of a people-centred development approach, this paper argues that future development policy formulation and implementation processes should be based on substantive participation. Despite the role of GEAR in reducing the national debt and stabilising the country’s inflation, its contribution to economic growth was insignificant and only benefited the few. In fact, GEAR contributed to social and economic problems, includingunemployment, poverty, poor education, health, and the welfare system in South Africa. This paper concludes that GEAR was simply a consolidation of neoliberalism, which benefited the few better-off minorities at the expense of the poor majority. Thus, this paper eventually draws key lessons and recommendations for future development policies in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]