‘How South Africa Works – And Must Do Better’, authored by Greg Mills and Jeffrey Herbst hits European and North American bookshelves in February 2016. Published by Hurst/Oxford University Press, the book argues that South Africa has gone from a society divided by race and apartheid to, now, access to jobs. If the unemployment challenge, which falls mainly on African youths, is not addressed, it will be impossible to sustainably lift many millions of people out of poverty.

Based on several hundred interviews with politicians, business- and opinion-leaders, and analysts in South Africa, ‘How South Africa Works ‘digs into the challenges and opportunities across key productive sectors – including agriculture, manufacturing, services and mining. It scrutinises the social grant and education systems to understand if SA has established mechanisms where people can not only escape destitution but be ready to be employed. Despite the challenges of current day South Africa, Herbst and Mills find that some entrepreneurs have nonetheless be able to build world-class companies. Recognising the essential challenge to cultivate more employers to employ people and the deep talent that resides in the private sector, ‘How South Africa Works’ offers an agenda and actions for greater competitiveness for each of government, business and labour.