South Africans’ life expectancy improves, youth are an economic asset – IRR report
2 February 2016 – A report released by the IRR has found that the HIV/AIDS policies adopted by the government after 2007 have had a very positive effect on demographic trends in the country.
Sugar tax is a revenue grab that will have zero health benefit to SA and may worsen socio-economic circumstances
14 September 2016 - A report released by the IRR this morning shows that the proposed sugar tax will do almost nothing to improve the health of South Africans. It is rather an attempt to raise more money by a desperate government that is running short of revenue. The tax will place more financial pressure on already stressed households and worsen their socio-economic position.
Press Statement: Drug-related crime increase due to police action - 2nd December 2009
The number of active private security officers has increased by 167% in the period 1997-2007, while the number of sworn police officials has increased by only 18%, according to data released by the South African Institute of Race Relations this week. There were 192 012 more private security officers in 2007 than in 1997. Over the same period there were only 19 687 more police officials.
Press Statement: More whites wanted in defence but fewer in the police - 7th December 2009
Two departments of the security cluster aim to implement employment equity targets that have contradictory objectives. One wants to increase the proportion of white people in its ranks while the other intends to do the exact opposite.
Sustainability of South Africa's social services net in doubt
4 June 2015 – The proportion of the national budget spent on social services has increased from 45% in 1994/95 to 60% in 2014/15.
Media Release: Statement by the South African Institute of Race Relations on the arrest of Sunday Times journalist Mzilikazi wa Afrika- 5th August 2010
This morning the South African Institute of Race Relations released a statement on the arrest of Mzilikazi wa Afrika.
The best and the worst
Seven of the top ten performing municipalities, based on service delivery indicators, are in the Western Cape. Eight of the ten worst performing municipalities are in the Eastern Cape.
The draft mining charter goes way beyond the generic BEE codes
17 August - The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) says that the draft mining charter it put forward in April this year is needed to align BEE obligations in mining with the generic codes. However, the draft charter often goes way beyond what the generic codes require, notes the IRR in a new issue of its @Liberty policy bulletin published yesterday.
The Eastern Cape is the most homophobic province - IRR report
5 December 2017 - Violence against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community is most common in the Eastern Cape Province. This is one of the findings in the IRR’s November 2017 Fast Facts report.
The EFF’s Internal Revolution
8 February 2018 - ‘The EFF’s Internal Revolution’, the latest report from the IRR, documents the extraordinary turnover rate of MPs inside the party’s national caucus, and examines its organizational culture.
The IRR is deeply saddened by the passing of Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada
28 March 2017 – The IRR is deeply saddened by the passing of Ahmed Mohamed Kathrada this morning. Mr Kathrada made great sacrifices to defeat apartheid, and will be remembered for his warmth, courage and determination.
The IRR looks to President Zuma to rectify the failings on the Expropriation Bill
27 May 2016 – The IRR (Institute of Race Relations) has today petitioned President Jacob Zuma not to give his assent to the Expropriation Bill of 2015 (the Bill), but rather to refer it back to the National Assembly for reconsideration.
The IRR's 10-point plan for jobs
24 June 2015 – Job security for some has been achieved at the price of unemployment for others who might have benefited from a more adaptable and flexible regulatory environment.
The IRR's Better Expropriation Bill
22 April 2015 – The Expropriation Bill of 2015, recently put forward by public works minister Thulas Nxesi, (the Nxesi Bill) will make it much harder to build prosperity and overcome past disadvantage by undermining property rights, deterring investment, and choking off growth and jobs, warns the IRR (Institute of Race Relations).
The new Expropriation Bill – Unconstitutional and Economically Disastrous
4 March 2015 – The Expropriation Bill of 2015 again gives the State the power to take ownership and possession of property of virtually any kind by notice to the owner – and without a prior court order confirming the validity of the expropriation.
The NHI Proposal Risking Lives For No Good Reason
10 December 2016 – The proposed National Health Insurance (NHI) system will fail to provide free and quality health services to all South Africans, says the IRR in a report published today.
The Patent Rights Grab
29 October 2014 - The State is seeking wide powers to take or bypass patent rights. Patents are important because they help to quicken the growth rate, generate jobs, and counter poverty.
The road less travelled – swift action needed to prevent SA’s slide towards ‘rocky road’ economy
14 August 2015 – Dr Frans Cronje, Scenario Planner and CEO of SA Institute of Race Relations (IRR), recently spoke at the second annual Sanlam Investments and Glacier by Sanlam i3 Summit in Johannesburg. He spoke of the high and low road scenarios for South Africa and what South Africa urgently needs to address to change our economic outlook. Please find the press release published by Sanlam Investments here.
The status of women in South Africa: A mixed bag of success and failure
08 August 2017 - Today, the South African Institute of Race Relations released its August Fast Facts Wathint’ Abafazi, wathint’ Imbokodo. The data reveals a mixed bag of success and failure.
There's a hole in the job bucket
23 December 2015 – "The report found that young black people bear most of the brunt of unemployment and that only policy reform could break South Africa’s unemployment challenge."
