LOOKING BACK

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 50 YEARS AGO

The Government’s preoccupation with the Nationalist Party’s internal strife had led to administrative paralysis and the neglect of many issues vital to South Africans, the chairman of the United Party, Dr. G.F. Jacobs, said this week. At the root of the problem was the demonstrably weak leadership of the Prime Minister, Mr. Vorster. The verkrampte-verligte feud … was a “deadly” serious problem for the Nationalists. “The threat posed by the verkramptes has completely debilitated and paralysed the Government. The division in the party’s ranks and the inability of the Prime Minister to deal with it is becoming blatantly obvious to all South Africans.” — September 7 1969

FROM THE SUNDAY TIMES 25 YEARS AGO

An array of structural weaknesses continues to constrain the long-term potential of the economy, says the Reserve Bank in its annual report. Chief among these are skills shortages, high labour costs in relation to skills and training, labour unrest, stoppages, strikes and stayaways, and expectations of high inflation. Then there’s the high tax burden, the unsustainable deficit, low domestic saving, dissaving by the government and uncompetitive conditions. Three years ago general government spending stood at 34% of GDP. Now it has jumped to 41% and is rising. Finance’s Alec Erwin speaks keenly about fiscal discipline, but the market doesn’t believe him. — September 4 1994