Cobus Venter

Stepping on Freedom Cobus Venter

South Africa has achieved much to the great benefit of the broad population since 1994. However, since the start of the financial crisis, which also coincided with a change of leadership within the ANC, all is not well economically. Much can be blamed on specific factors such as weak international demand and the end of the super cycle in commodities but there is no doubt that domestic policy choices have played a significant role. This book, argues that we are currently endangering the very foundations of modern south Africa namely the supremacy of individual rights as enshrined in our constitution. Economic growth for sustainable transformation is urgently required. The unbridled free market or traditional laissez-faire economics will not provide this growth, but nor will state planning. The author argues that ONLY a system based on the absolute equality of individuals, governed by the independent rule of law and guided by market forces can achieve this. The current interventionist stance of government and the concept of the developmental state is not new in the world nor will it succeed. The state has a pivotal role to play in addressing the structural and historic inequality in the country, but must guard against unintended consequences flowing from actions that inhibit market mechanisms. If anything, the logic contained in the book shows how current state planning might inadvertently, but surely, lead to the very erosion of the freedom that so many people fought for without delivering the goods as promised. Our good intentions will grind us to a halt.