IRR media briefing: The 10-Year Lockdown

Press Release 

Dr Anthea Jeffery, Head of Policy Research for the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), will present an online media briefing on Thursday on her latest report, The 10-Year Lockdown.

The report argues that the easing of South Africa’s stringent Covid-19 lockdown this week occurs against the background of an unacknowledged policy ‘lockdown’ for at least the last ten years, characterised by ‘radical economic transformation’ policies aimed at changing the ownership, control, and very structure of the economy.

The report warns that the ruling African National Congress “will use the economic devastation triggered by the lengthy lockdown to push for the rapid adoption of these measures as part of ‘reconstruction’ and the ‘radical economic transformation’ underpinning this process”.

Jeffery says: “Given the massive inefficiency and often rampant corruption in the public service and SOEs, the notion that increased state control will speed up economic recovery and ensure its success should be laughed out of court.”

Details of the briefing

Date: Thursday 4 June

Time: 10am

Platform: Microsoft Teams Go to https://bit.ly/3cqCRQl

Media contact: Hermann Pretorius, IRR Deputy Head of Policy Research – 079 875 4290; hermann@irr.org.za

Media enquiries: Michael Morris Tel: 066 302 1968 Email: michael@irr.org.za

Kelebogile Leepile Tel: 079 051 0073 Email: kelebogile@irr.org.za

Ends