Economic Justice:The State’s Proposed Social Contract and a Civil Society Economic Agenda

South Africa is perhaps the most economically-unjust society on earth. Can a social contract be forged in a South Africa with an economy currently mired in recession, at a time deep fissures cut across the state, business and civil society? Will hope be inspired by President Cyril Ramaphosa’seconomic stimulus package, jobs summit and investment summit, and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni’smedium-term budget? Or are these ‘too little, too late’ –or worse, continuations of profound trends towards austerity and ever more prolific social implosions?