Development and disparities among provinces in South Africa: a comparative analysis

M.A.Many studies of regional disparity in South Africa have focused on rural and urban developmental inequality. This research essay sets out to create an exploratory understanding based on an in-depth analysis of South African provincial inequality. The analysis was done by examining the theories related to economic development and then by analysing current economic development. The purpose of this research is to determine the cause of the widening developmental gap among different provinces in South Africa. Case studies were used to examine the widening poverty gap in countries such as Indonesia, Canada and China within the context of their experiences of provincial developmental disparities. Budget allocation and programmes such as IDP and IDZ are discussed within the context of examining whether the SA provincial disparity is diverging or converging