Abstract
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.