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Home » Race Relations in SA Are Good, Says Race Institute in Positive Report

Race Relations in SA Are Good, Says Race Institute in Positive Report

Race relations in South Africa are good, and the “acrimonious” debate that has raged in social media recently is not a reflection of what most South Africans feel, according to the Institute for Race Relations. In a statement on Monday accompanying a newly released study, IRR Policy Fellow Sara Gon said, “The results should fill all […]

By SAPeople Staff Writer
29-02-16 15:47
in Fab South African Stuff
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Race relations in South Africa are good, and the “acrimonious” debate that has raged in social media recently is not a reflection of what most South Africans feel, according to the Institute for Race Relations.

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In a statement on Monday accompanying a newly released study, IRR Policy Fellow Sara Gon said, “The results should fill all South Africans with hope. The acrimonious race debate that has raged in newspapers and on social media this year is not a reflection of what the silent majority of South Africans feel.”

More than 75 percent of respondents told the IRR they felt that race relations have stayed the same or improved since 1994. A staggering 85.4 percent agree that different race groups need each other. And only small minorities of both black and white people hold hostile views of the other group.

“The great majority of South Africa’s people respect each other and want to continue getting on well with each other,” said Gon. “This is remarkable considering the poverty and unemployment levels that still confront our society. It is testimony to the commitment of the majority of South Africans to see our democracy succeed.
“That relations remain sound is not a reason for complacency, however, and sound future relations will depend on continuing real improvements in the living standards of all South Africans”.
Other findings by the IRR:
– 90.8 percent of South Africans would support their children being taught by someone of a different race.
– White South Africans support the need for redress.
– Black South Africans do not believe that whites should be treated as second-class citizens.
– Differences in opinion between race groups are seldom much more significant than opinions within race groups. For example, within the white population there may be a level of disagreement about quotas in sports teams comparable to the level of disagreement that exists between black people and white people.
– Black and white South Africans agree that improved living standards and better economic prospects will secure sound future race relations.