13. Sustainable Development in South Africa in the Anthropocene in the Post-Covid-19 Era

South Africa’s development strategy aligns with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) signed by leaders of 189 countries, which focuses on fighting poverty, promoting education, protecting the environment, and fighting hunger. The MDGs were superseded by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Agenda. Unfortunately, the global call to transition from coal dependency to renewable energy, climate change-induced disasters and the outbreak of Covid-19 have increased uncertainties about achieving the SDGs domestically and internationally. This article investigates both South Africa’s challenges and its opportunities with regard to overcoming the developmental and economic setbacks ensuing from the global health crisis and the anthropogenic effects of climate change. Designed as a case study, relying on a literary research method and an interpretive paradigm, the findings indicate that South Africa has the potential to achieve sustainable development. However, the path to reach this requires: (1) reinvigorating the health infrastructure to withstand Covid-19’s global challenges, (2) setting forth robust strategies and policies that uplift its citizens’ wellbeing to prevent violent riots that destroy the economy, (3) revitalising its struggling economy and creating jobs, (4) transitioning from coal-dependent industry, economy and trade to an eco-friendly economy that grows from cleaner and renewable energy resources, (5) dealing with brain drain push factors, (6) pursuing the Policy Coherence for Development Framework that is supported by political buy-in so as to align the National Development Plan’s (NDP) priorities with the 2030 SDGs Agenda.