Upward social mobility in South Africa: the case of Bloemfontein - Future prospects for inequalities between rich and poor in the light of a growing black middle- and upper class

Abstract

At the eve of the election of a new leader of the ANC, South Africa suffers from more inequality between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’ during the early 1990s when Apartheid was abolished. Several policies aimed at the depolarisation of society have benefited a part of population, on the detriment of others. We argue that a new gap, besides the still prevalent racial division in society, is widening: a gap in terms of income, hence class Apartheid is on the rise. What is required in order to ‘make it’ in South Africa in general, and Bloemfontein in particular, differs from individual to individual. For our respondents however, social, human and financial capital proved to be of major importance. Other factors influencing both the outcomes of ANC polices and an individual’s career are the decline of the spirit of Ubuntu and the intertwined politics-business relations. In order to create ‘a better life for all’ the ANC should revise its current paths and make radical changes. According to our respondents a new developmental path is required in order to change the tide.