This study aims to look at South Africa and Brazil's political economy of development as democracies in the Global South by placing emphasis on inequality as experienced in the contested democratic citizenship of both countries. South Africa and Brazil have gone through tumultuous historical trajectories that have led to the production and reproduction of inequalities. This study will compare South Africa and Brazil's political economy of development in the Thabo Mbeki and Lula Inacio da Silva governments, cognisant of how both countries have dealt with challenges of durable poverty, inequalities and social exclusion as democracies aspiring for democratic citizenship and inclusivity. Both leaders emerged at a time when tide towards global reforms had been heightened developing a new consensus to fight poverty, inequality and social exclusion under the hegemonic dominance of neo-liberal reforms as the prevailing paradigm.