Globalising Patterns of Professionalisation and New Groups in South Africa

Transformations at the level of societies, cultures and economies affect professions in different parts of the world in different ways.  In some senses these transformations reflect the interactions between the macro (global developments) and the micro (country developments).  Key to the transformations witnessed in the South African economy and society is the post-apartheid project of racial and to a lesser extent gendered transformation.  A primary purpose of this paper is to consider how this transformation project is affecting South African professionals and the organisations that employ South African professionals.  Thus the paper will examine recent developments in professions in South Africa.  Four key developments have been identified.  Firstly, the state led project of the professionalisation of the public sector as a strategy to raise standards of service delivery.  Secondly, the fall in unionisation levels of traditional manufacturing sector workers and the subsequent rise in unionisation levels of teachers and other professionals.  Thirdly the emergence of professionalisation of new groups (for example security guards) as a strategy for organising workers.  And, fourthly the strategies developed by the state, professional bodies and educational/training institutions to effect racial transformation in the composition of traditional professions.