Management Practices and Policy Frameworks for Effective Special Economic Zones: A Comparative Content Analysis of South Africa and China

Special Economic Zones are crucial for industrialization, job creation, and regional development, especially in emerging economies. However, macroeconomic strategy, detailed managerial practices, and coherence in policy frameworks often determine their performance. This paper compares case studies of SEZs in South Africa and China to examine the institutional, managerial, and policy factors that influence the effectiveness of SEZs. The paper examines how project management models, leadership accountability structures, inter-governmental coordination, investor facilitation, and policy clarity influence SEZ performance by utilizing best practices, government reports, SEZ regulatory frameworks, and independent evaluations. China is recognized for its highly coordinated, centralized, and investment-driven SEZ governance, while South Africa's approach is decentralized, socioeconomically driven, and flexible. This study draws on legislative and operational experiences from both contexts to provide evidence-based recommendations for enhancing Special Economic Zone governance, institutional alignment, and management competence in South Africa. It contributes to advancing policy dialogue on adaptive and context-sensitive SEZ implementation models in the Global South.