Essentially, even though there was ample evidence of dire poverty in African “reserves”, the South African government insisted that Africans were used to suffering such that it was their way of life and, therefore, there was no need to put in place measures to alleviate it.
Yes, African countries are largely poor because for centuries they continue to be exploited for low value raw materials. Yet, we can’t shy away from how this very arrangement has also created native billionaires.
When Thomas Sankara pushed for economic sovereignty in Burkina Faso, the response was quite different to when Norway made sovereign decisions about its oil wealth:
Norway was allowed to create Statoil and maintain state control over all oil revenues.
The myth of meritocracy allows the rich to see themselves as geniuses. At the same time, failure to attain higher education and wealth becomes signs of personal defect and laziness, providing a reason why those at the bottom of the social hierarchy deserve to stay there.