ABSTRACT
Since the conclusion of the social compact, the Green Economy Accord, between business, government and labour in 2010, South Africa has enacted a suite of supportive policies, regulations and incentives confirming the country’s commitment to transition to a sustainable development pathway.
Policy reform has been noted as one of the key tools to enable sustainability transitions. The analysis of both South Africa’s sustainable development policy vision, as well as three of the central policy processes in the country’s sustainability transition attest to the fact that, in South Africa, sustainable development is not yet sufficiently mainstreamed and integrated in economic policymaking.
While policy narratives for a just transition exist in South Africa, the radical shifts required to steer the country towards a just transition remain sub-optimal. Social dialogue, policy coherence and consistency, inclusive and reflexive transition planning, collaborative governance and prioritisation of the poor and vulnerable in policymaking is required if transformative change is to be achieved.
