Life chances and class: Estimating inequality of opportunity for children and adolescents in South Africa: Asmus Zoch

According to Du Toit & Kotze´ (2011:77), ‘formal equality in South Africa was achieved

by constitutional ruling, but actual socioeconomic quality, however, was not’. This

simple statement points to one of the core problems in South African society after the

political transition, namely the lack of substantive economic inclusion following

political liberalisation.2 Almost two decades since the end of apartheid, poverty has

retained its strong racial dimensions. This remains the state of affairs despite the

elimination of formal discriminatory rules and legislation.