IRR welcomes GNU commitment to non-racism

The Institute of Race Relations is encouraged by recent statements from figures within the Government of National Unity, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, reaffirming support for non-racism.

The President stated in the debate on his Opening of Parliament Address: “Non-racialism is not a concession. It is not an act of charity.”

Here he is entirely correct. Non-racism is a foundational value of the Constitution; it is a requirement for the functioning of the state. To be regarded as a specific and unique human being, irrespective of one’s racial or ethnic identity, is an entitlement of every South African citizen.

Too often, however, political discourse has turned to crude race-coded rhetoric and appeals to destructive group solidarity, which have at their core the notion that citizenship is contingent on ascriptive group identity. This has been a seductive course for many interests, political, ideological and pecuniary.

This has been on display during the debate. The President’s further remarks were thus to be welcomed: “We must not allow our work to be derailed by sowers of disunity. The name-calling, race-baiting and ethnic chauvinism we have seen in the course of this debate has been regrettable.”

The IRR cautions that South Africa’s tragic history and the sinister legitimacy that race-baiting has acquired over decades poses a threat to the cooperation across borders of race, ethnicity and political affiliation that is essential for the country’s future success.

All parties to the GNU – and all South Africans of goodwill – need to take responsibility for elevating our politics and resisting the easy temptation to use racial animosity and solidarity as weapons.

Fortunately, most South Africans take a moderate view on these matters. Last year, the IRR polling showed that around 67% South Africans supported the proposition that “the different races need each other for progress and there should be full opportunity for all”.

Experience of cross-racial interaction was fairly positive, with 58% saying they had experienced no racism in the past three years, as opposed to 41% who had.

Other polling has shown an even more optimistic picture. Stats SA’s Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey: 2018/19, published in August 2019, found that just under 7% of respondents reported having experienced discrimination based on race in the previous two years. The proportion of those who had experienced discrimination across all fields – race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation et al – stood at 13%.

In addition, 25% reported having received an act of kindness from someone of a different race in the past twelve months, while 30% performed one.

All of this is promising, but it points to ongoing challenges. No one should deny the existence of racism, for example. But these challenges are, however, manageable and can benefit from calm and respectful dialogue and action. The challenge is to fortify non-racism in opposing racism. Denigrating non-racism and advocating racial esteem teams is a pathway to ruin.

Meanwhile, a wealth of polling exists showing that South Africans want institutions that work – the race of those staffing them being a distinctly second-order priority – and opportunities that will improve their material circumstances. Foremost here is employment, and the economic growth that will make it possible.

The Institute of Race Relations has drawn up growth proposals, entitled The IRR’s Blueprint for Growth: Arming SA's Pro-Growth Forces, which could elevate growth to as much as 7% a year. Success of this nature would fortify constitutional governance and call the bluff on those seeking to stoke conflict and division.

Media contact: Sara Gon, IRR Head of Strategic Engagement Tel: 083 555 7952  Email: sara@irr.org.za

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