Aspects of the impact of apartheid on commerce and industry in the Western Cape, 1960 to 1990
The thesis considers the economic performance of South Africa, from the substantial and sustained growth from 1960 to 1974, followed by a period when the South African economy weakened. The Western Cape economy was not reliant on mining, but had a more stable economy relying on agriculture, property and financial services, and later in the period developed high-tech service industries. Business in South Africa suffered punitive rates of tax to pay for the country's apartheid policies. The establishment of the Bantustans as a homeland for the black ethnic groups was a cornerstone of the National Party policy and the cost burden was enormous with the provision of all the trappings of full nationhood. The job reservation policies, which reserved skilled occupations created a skill shortage in the country and towards the end of the period by necessity the policy 'frayed at the edges'. Western Cape business also suffered the impact of the coloured labour preference policy, which was designed to prevent the movement of blacks to the Western Cape.
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