South Africa can learn from China's development models, University of Johannesburg discussion concludes
A recent discussion at the University of Johannesburg鈥檚 Business School concluded that South Africa could learn from China regarding long-term planning and implementing development models. The meeting, attended by academics, state officials, and students, highlighted the difference between China's disciplined execution and South Africa's challenges in implementing development models. China's model has propelled it to become the world's second-largest economy, while South Africa's National Development Plan NDP 2030 struggles to translate into measurable progress. President Xi Jinping's ethos, "Blueprint drafting accounts for only one part of the work, implementation makes up nine parts," was cited as a key to China's success. Deputy Minister of Public Service and Administration Pinky Kekana acknowledged South Africa's struggles, emphasizing that true development requires institutions capable of converting vision into progress, not just producing documents. China鈥檚 consul-general in Johannesburg, Pan Qingjiang, noted that China has completed 14 successive development cycles since 1953, with projects and resources disciplined to follow the plan. Professor Zama Mthombeni, University of Johannesburg associate professor of anthropology and development studies, pointed out South Africa's dual challenge of addressing apartheid-era inequalities and meeting contemporary economic demands.