Market Triumphalism at the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities, South Africa

Abstract

This article is a critique of neo-liberal inspired policies such as Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), privatisation of services and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) with specific reference to the Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipalities in the Eastern Cape. The two selected municipalities were chosen because both of them are categorized as metropolitan. This will enable the research to make a comparison of the implementation of PPP, outsourcing of services and BBBEE at these metropoles. The article provides an analysis of both municipalities’ records such as policy documents. The central argument of this article is that the neo-liberal inspired policies of PPP and BBBEE that are being applied through Local Economic Development(LED) are not in the interests of the majority of people living in the Eastern Cape. The researchers argue that the local business and political elites through the BBBEE, PPPs and outsourcing of services are using their strong networks (associated political, social and capital resources) in their efforts for personal accumulation, rather than promoting development for the majority.