The Nexus of Black Tax and Social Justice: Impact on Contemporary Development in Post-Apartheid South Africa

This thesis set out to answer the research question “In what ways has the phenomenon of Black Tax intersected with social justice in post-apartheid South Africa and how does this dynamic inform the country’s contemporary development?” The resulting hypothesis posits that Black Tax in the form of remittances, combined with effective government policies, can facilitate development. Black Tax refers to the financial and material support that higher-earning black individuals provide to their (extended) family members. Although the chosen case study for this research is South Africa, the system carries global significance as diasporas are participating in similar patterns worldwide. The research method utilized is exploratory qualitative data, pursuing a process tracing approach, including academic literature, an informational interview, personal narratives, and policy reports. The resulting analytical framework examines the influence of different historical underpinnings on various...Show moreThis thesis set out to answer the research question “In what ways has the phenomenon of Black Tax intersected with social justice in post-apartheid South Africa and how does this dynamic inform the country’s contemporary development?” The resulting hypothesis posits that Black Tax in the form of remittances, combined with effective government policies, can facilitate development. Black Tax refers to the financial and material support that higher-earning black individuals provide to their (extended) family members. Although the chosen case study for this research is South Africa, the system carries global significance as diasporas are participating in similar patterns worldwide. The research method utilized is exploratory qualitative data, pursuing a process tracing approach, including academic literature, an informational interview, personal narratives, and policy reports. The resulting analytical framework examines the influence of different historical underpinnings on various development outcomes, as seen through a social justice lens. By applying this analytical framework to four causal processes it became clear that the hypothesis is partially true. While some aspects of Black Tax aid in driving development outcomes, others impede effective development efforts. The main conclusion drawn from this research argues that Black Tax needs to be seen as a two-edged sword since it can both constitute a poverty trap for the participants as well as offer a path toward development. Consequently, further research needs to be conducted to investigate the structural barriers that hinder the effectiveness of Black Tax and social justice efforts in promoting sustainable development.Show less

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The Nexus of Black Tax and Social Justice: Impact on Contemporary Development in Post-Apartheid South Africa