A reflection on the South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy conference

SALDRU’s South Africa at 30 Years of Democracy conference, held from April the 2nd to April the 4th 2025 at the University of Cape Town, offered a wonderful occasion for South Africa’s social partners to engage in a dialogue on the socio-economic challenges in the country. We are grateful to the many thought leaders, policymakers, academics, and civil society members from diverse sectors that made the event so engaging.

Keynote addresses and plenary sessions provided reflective insights into South Africa's democratic journey, evaluating achievements and shortcomings in governance, economic policy, and social equity. Notably, the opening plenary featured government perspectives on the past three decades and outlined immediate strategic priorities to foster pro-poor economic growth and address persistent inequalities.

Parallel sessions explored detailed evaluations of fiscal policy, industrial development, trade, labour market dynamics, green transitions, basic education, immigration, monetary policy, competition, higher education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, and social protection. Each session combined historical analysis with forward-looking policy guidance, based on commissioned research papers and expert discussions.

Highlights included the examination of South Africa's evolving fiscal challenges, the strategic shift in industrial and trade policies, and innovative pathways in labour market reform to tackle unemployment. The green transition discussions notably addressed socioeconomic impacts, emphasising equitable transformation and sustainable job creation.

Immigration policy deliberations stressed balancing economic needs with social cohesion, while monetary and competition policies focused on maintaining stability and encouraging fair market practices. Education sessions called for systemic reforms to enhance quality and inclusivity, especially aligning curricula with contemporary labour market demands. Health discussions focussed attention on the prospects of National Health Insurance to address inequities and improve public healthcare delivery.

Additionally, the conference tackled themes of corruption, poverty and inequality, public employment, and social protection, suggesting comprehensive reforms and greater civic engagement. Policy dialogues addressed economic resilience to systemic shocks, youth unemployment, urban development, financial inclusion, and agricultural productivity. Special attention was given to infrastructure investment, envisioning it as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth and equitable development.

The closing session, "Charting a Path Forward for an Inclusive and Flourishing South Africa," emphasised actionable commitments from all societal sectors, encouraging collaborative efforts towards sustainable and inclusive development in the long-term. Participants committed to leveraging collective knowledge and resources to achieve a balanced economic, social, and environmental future for South Africa.

In closing, participants were clear that these dialogues must continue. SALDRU will explore a range of different modalities in partnership with our stakeholders to make this happen.