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Reconstruction and Development Programme
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<p> Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) was a South African socio-economic policy framework implemented by the <a href="/facts/African_National_Congress/0WHYmTgy">African National Congress</a> (ANC) government of <a href="/facts/Nelson_Mandela/FeD1aGFC">Nelson Mandela</a> in 1994 after months of discussions, consultations and negotiations between the ANC, its <a href="/facts/Tripartite_alliance/K9qRmVoL">Alliance</a> partners the <a href="/facts/Congress_of_South_African_Trade_Unions/pLPWYaXC">Congress of South African Trade Unions</a> and the <a href="/facts/South_African_Communist_Party/TSTPvwEx">South African Communist Party</a>, and "mass organisations in the wider civil society". </p><p>The ANC's chief aim in developing and implementing the Reconstruction and Development Programme, was to address the immense socioeconomic problems brought about by <a href="/facts/Apartheid/8x87W8ex">apartheid</a>. Specifically, it set its sights on alleviating poverty and addressing the massive shortfalls in <a href="/facts/Social_services/18zC4vKy">social services</a> across the country—something that the document acknowledged would rely upon a stronger macroeconomic environment. </p><p>Achieving <a href="/facts/Poverty_reduction/qTXfx5c1">poverty alleviation</a> and a stronger economy were thus seen as deeply interrelated and mutually supporting objectives—development without growth would be financially unsustainable, while growth without development would fail to bring about the necessary structural transformation within South Africa's deeply <a href="/facts/Economic_inequality/2Kb0kBH5">inequitable</a> and largely impoverished population. </p><p>Hence, the RDP attempted to combine measures to boost the economy such as <a href="/facts/Fiscal_conservatism/YyGNlcRd">contained fiscal spending</a>, sustained or lowered taxes, reduction of <a href="/facts/Government_debt/DerGEK3v">government debt</a> and <a href="/facts/Trade_liberalisation/Mg9NLrdw">trade liberalisation</a> with socially minded <a href="/facts/Social_service/18zC4vKy">social service</a> provisions and <a href="/facts/Infrastructure/QJvbsSpl">infrastructural projects</a>. In this way, the policy took on both socialist and <a href="/facts/Neo-liberal/UfqKadhe">neo-liberal</a> elements—but could not be easily categorised wholly in either camp. </p>