South Africans disappointed by growing inequality
The vast majority of South Africans have become fed up with growing inequality in their country, but they’re convinced any action they take at the polls won’t make much of a difference.
Wednesday marked the first elections since the death of Nelson Mandela. Many voters have been disappointed by current President Jacob Zuma amidst allegations of government corruption.
“It’s almost as if South Africa has two economies,” says the BBC’s Matt Davies, reporting from Johannesburg. “The insider economy, if you’re in there, is great–you’ve got a job, you’ve got a house, life is great. If you’re outside of the economy, you’re most likely unemployed.”
Although this year marks the 20th anniversary of the end of apartheid in South Africa, Davies says that a lot of people have missed out on what he calls the “economics of freedom.”
“A lot of people have actually been left behind, and their lives haven’t been enriched in the last 20 years,” he said. “There is an argument that says that back in 1994, political apartheid came to an end–yes, there was freedom and democracy–but economic apartheid still exists.”
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