Veteran journalist Allister Sparks has been on the forefront of developments in South Africa for years. His new book, First Drafts, takes a look at some of the most momentous occasions in recent history. In this article, written for Business Day, he changes tack and looks at the way forward. The sages always say you need to know where you come from to see where you’re going – and Sparks has some clear ideas of what needs to be done to ensure a prosperous future:
As we approach the end of this last year of the first decade of the new millennium, South Africa is poised at a critical point in the evolution of our new national society.
We are part of a pack of newly emerging economies that are emerging from the global recession in better shape than the old developed countries. Leading this group of young hard-chargers are the already acclaimed BRIC foursome of Brazil, Russia, India and China, but others are in the pellaton, too, such as Australia, South Africa and another promising Latin American contender, Chile, where I am at the moment attending the wedding of the youngest of my four sons. That in itself is an illuminating experience for my sons are now living and working in four different continents, giving me personal exposure to the reality of globalisation which, in combination with digital technology, will continue to be the most powerful transformational force in the world during the decade ahead.
Moreover, we are well placed in that pack. With the Soccer World Cup offering South Africa a unique opportunity to showcase itself to the world, by mid-year we could be at the beginning of a new acceleration phase that could carry us forward to join the leaders.
Book details
Scribd.com book preview:
First Drafts: South African History in the Making
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