What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to explore how the concept of skill has influenced social and economic policies during the Mbeki presidency in South Africa.

July 3, 2026Open Access

Introduction: the shifting understandings of skills in South Africa since industrialisation

Key Points

The aim is to explore how the concept of skill has influenced social and economic policies during the Mbeki presidency in South Africa.
Analysis of government policies and public discourse regarding skills
Examination of skill’s role in economic growth and poverty reduction
Discussion on the implications of skill for national development projects.
Skill emerged as a central theme in government strategies for economic improvement and social performance.
The focus on skill correlates with broader goals of enhancing international competitiveness.
Weaknesses in implementation were attributed to perceptions and definitions of skill in policy.

Abstract

During the Mbeki presidency, skill has come to be a central theme of government concerns with improving social and economic performance and explaining weaknesses in implementation. Whilst not quite reaching the "spinned" simplicity of Blair's "education, education, education" in Britain, skill has taken a key role in official accounts about international competitiveness, economic growth and poverty reduction. The authors are particularly interested in unpacking the notion of skill as ways of supporting the national project and suggesting how best to deal with the issue of skill in South Africa.

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Cite This Study

Human Sciences Research Council (Wed,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a4752ba5c29257aa25793b3 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.14749/32866934

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