| Summary: | Bibliography: leaves 82-86. === South Africa has embarked upon a major transformation process and this implies fundamental alterations in the social structure. Of course, the transformation process in South Africa cannot be described as a mechanical change intended to introduce inconsequential cosmetic changes because it entails fundamental alterations of the interaction between the state and its citizens. Beyond this, the transformation process in South Africa is not confined to the alteration of the various institutions of the state, it implies as well, fundamental alterations in culture, the manner in which different groups perceive and interact with each other and a complete eradication of supremacy mentality of one racial group over others. The magnitude with which these changes take place is bound to produce tensions and social problems in any country engaged in the democratisation agenda of its society. However, the moral precision of these social changes needs to be questioned and investigated on a continuous basis. It would be naive and dangerous for social engineers to assume that all changes brought by the transformation process are morally unobjectionable. This study explores, therefore, South Africa's past discrimination and investigates the arguments for and against affirmative action within the libertarian and contractarian frameworks. Through literature survey, the study investigates whether the application of these philosophical models can be appropriate for the South African situation. Moreover, although this study has established that both the libertarian and contractarian models offer a room for the justification of affirmative action in a situation such as South Africa's it is concluded that the scope within which these models justify affirmative action is too narrow to undo the harm created by South Africa's past injustices. Beyond this, the study explores a link between the transformation process and the restructuring of the Public Service and argues that the two should not be viewed in isolation from each other given their interdependent relationship. Equally important, the need and rationale behind instituting new management styles in the Public Service and the possible impact this would have on the overall transformation project is investigated. The entrance of South Africa into the global economic market entails serious implications on the formulation and implementation of its local programmes and other transformation initiatives and thus, the study explores this area to establish South Africa's response to global demands and expectations. Finally, it is recommended in this study that South Africa should continue with the transformation process and application of affirmative action not only because of its history but largely because of its moral correctness.
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