critical
perspectives
on
Southern
Africa


EDITORS:
Bill Freund, Gerhard Marts, Mike Morris (University of Natal),
John Daniel, Vishnu Padayachee (University o f Durban-Westville)
CORRESPONDING EDITORS:
CoKn Bundy (University of the Western-Cape), Stephen GeDb, Shireen Hassim (Univer-
sity of Durban-Westville), Peter Hudson, Debbie Posel (University of the Wit-
watersrand), David Kaplan, Dave Lewis, Mary Simons (University of Cape Town),
Francie Lund, Nic Amin (University of Natal), Mala Singh (CSD).
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE EDITORS:
Henry Bernstein (SOAS,University of London), Gillian Hart (University of Califor-
nia, Berkeley), Mahmood Mamdani (Centre of Basic Research, Kampala), Martin
Murray (SUNY Binghamton), Dan O'Meara (University de Quebec a Montreal),
Terence Ranger (University of Oxford), John Saul (York University), Elling N
Tj0nneland (Christian Michelsen Institute, Norway), Gavin Williams (University of
Oxford).
LAYOUT BY: Rob Evans
PUBLICATION GUIDELINES:
We ask contributors to submit two (2) typed copies, following the format (on such
issues as references and notes) of articles in this issue of TRANSFORMATION.
Whilst the journal will cater for work at any level of abstraction, or detail, a number of
criteria will guide the editors in selection of material for inclusion. Articles should aim
for academic rigour but also clarify the political implications of the issues discussed. We
are concerned not to compete with other South African journals that may cover related
ground but in different ways - this will govern our selection principles. All articles will
be assessed anonymously by the referees. Contributions should preferably not exceed
the following lengths:
Analytical articles: 7 000 words
Debates and review articles: 3 000 words
The views expressed in TRANSFORMATION do not necessarily reflect those of
the editors.
     EDITORIAL AND CONTRD3UTIONS ADDRESS:
     TRANSFOIUviATION,
     c/o Economic History Department
     University of Natal
     Private Bag X10, Dalbridge
     4014 Durban South Africa
     Email: transfor@rntb.und.ac.za
    SUBSCRIPTIONS RATES AND ADDRESS AT THE BACK OF THIS ISSUE.
                                     ISSN: 0258 - 7696


                                                                  31 1996
TRANS                                                                 < >
FORM
ATION
CONTENTS
Articles
POLICY CHALLENGES FOR EDUCATION IN THE NEW
SOUTH AFRICA: THE CASE FOR SCHOOL FEEDING IN
THE CONTEXT OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC
RECONSTRUCTION
     A call for a return to the 'essentially social-democratic agenda of the
     anti-apartheid struggle' is contained in this article by PETER
     KALLAWAY, that examines the local and international history of
     school-feeding schemes.
GAMBLING ON INVESTMENT: COMPETING ECONOMIC
STRATEGIES IN SOUTH AFRICA                                                   25
     NICOLINATTRASS critically reviews 'economic policy documents'
     put forward by labour, capital and the South African government
     during 1996.
Debate
IMPROVING MANUFACTURING PERFORMANCE
IN SOUTH AFRICA: A REJOINDER                                                 43
     TREVOR BELL argues that Kaplan and Lewis have missed the point
     of his earlier argument and have misinterpreted it. He clarifies his
     critique of the ISP Report before turning to the issue of industrial
     restructuring. In contrast to the ISP's 'technology-driven' view of
     South African development, Bell contends that industrial strategy needs
     to be articulated within a context in which the balance of payments is
     recognised as the main constraint on faster growth.


PRODUCTIVITY, TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT:
A CONTRIBUTION TO THE BELL-ISP DEBATE                                     57
     There is little theoretical or empirical evidence, IMRAAN VALODIA
     demonstrates, to support the ISP view that exports will lead to
     productivity improvements in South African manufacturing.
     Furthermore, the ISP has failed to recognise that its proposals to
     improve productivity, however important, could lead to a substantial
     increase in unemployment in the short and medium term.
Commentary
FROM THE RDP TO GEAR: THE GRADUAL EMBRACING
OF NEW-LIBERALISM IN ECONOMIC POLICY                                      66
     The GNU's macroeconomic strategy and accompanying policy
    proposals (GEAR) are analytically flawed, empirically unsupportable
     and historically unsuitable for South African conditions. GEAR,
    ASGHAR ADELZADEH argues, cannot transform South Africa's
     inherited pattern of inequality.
Reviews
                                                                          96
     RW Johnson and Lawrence Schlemmer's edited book Launching
     Democracy in South Africa: the first open election, April 1994, is
     reviewed by CHARLES CROTHERS.
     DAVID JOHNSON reviews Leon de Kock's, Civilising Barbarians:
     Missionary Narrative and African Textural Response in
     Nineteenth-Century South Africa.
     Shirley Walters and Linzi Manicom's Gender in Popular Education:
     Methods for Empowerment, is reviewed by ROBERT MORRELL.