Race & Identity - Who are we?

White and black 'victims' are in denial

The Cape Times in collaboration with the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation publishes the Race & Identity series

'White and black 'victims' are in denial' writes Helen Zille in her article on the 06 February 2012 emphasising the importance of 'real opportunities and access to resources directed towards equalising opportunities'.

'The Healing power of the rainbow' by Antje Krog published on the 23 December 2011 elaborates on South Africa as a 'Rainbow nation'. 'The rainbow is not something like Father Christmas or the tooth fairy. It is a scientific fact. It enables us to see ourselves as a constitutional nation, as real as the land we walk in. At the same time, if one sees a rainbow – whether sitting in the traffic, or walking in the veld – it always has, with its uncontaminated splendour, something other-worldly. The rainbow therefore opens up the possibility of trying to attain another, better world.'

Dennis Davis discusses the topic of  'Being Jewish in the New South Africa' on 09 November 2011.

 In ‘We can’t break the cursed circle of colour,’ Bryan Rostron writes: “The one thing you’d think we would have learned from our fraught past is not to hector people about who they are; or who we think they should be. Even so, stubbornly, many still do”. Rostron’s article is the fifth article in the Race and Identity series and was published on 28^th of July 2011.

'The era of white domination is over' writes Joseph Edozien on 13th of June 2011. He elaborates on the richness of the African continent in all its aspects and elaborates on the challenges that the continent still faces in order to be and become the 'mother continent'.

On 29th of May 2011, Oliver Meth writes about the experience of young South Africans in the debate of race and identity in his article 'Still blinded by the colour barriers'.

Prof. Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela article with the title 'We need to learn how it is for others' was published on the 18th of April 2011.

"The series over the next coming weeks will allow voices from different perspectives to explore the continuing impact of race on identity formation, politics and social transformation in our country - and hopefully spur us on to work more concertedly to align what we do and think, with what we say we believe," writes Dr. Fanie du Toit in the opening article to the series.

Race is skin deep, humanity is not writes Neville Alexander as the first author sharing his opinion.

A reader's response to Dr Neville Alexander's article 'Race is skin deep, humanity is not', published in the Cape Times on April 18

New forms of debate are needed

Farm attacks

Debating farm attacks in South Africa

Reconciliation Barometer 2011 data released

South Africans want a united nation

On the 07 December 2011, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation released its annual Reconciliation Barometer data.
Several media houses reported:

IOL: Now income dividing us not race - 08/12/2011 Yazeed Kamaldien

SABC News: Survey finds local government is not delivering - 08/12/2011 Christel Orderson

Soweatn: Survey shows discord - 08/12/2011 Moses Mackay

Politicsweb: South Africans want united nation - 08/12/2011 Kate Lefko-Everett

Eyewitness News: Most South Africans want unity - 07/12/2011 Malungelo Booi

Eyewitness News: Public needs to participate in info bill 08/12/2011 Chantall Presence and Malungelo Booi

Moneyweb: Economic freedom retards reconciliation - 08/12/2011 Sasha Planting

I am an apartheid beneficiary

I am not proud of it

"I am an apartheid beneficiary. I am not proud of it. I am ashamed of the fact that gross human-rights violations were perpetrated in the name of my volk..." Click here to read the full article

An Ongoing Search for Kenya's Panacea

A Project of the Open Society Justice Initiative

"The adoption of the Rome Statute and the advent of the International Criminal Court (ICC) have significantly influenced democratic transitions and the rule of law in a number of African countries, but the specific intervention in Kenya by the ICC is only one tool for achieving long-term change in Kenya". Click here to read the full article

Looking beyond institutions:

The social fabric of corruption

Lucía Tiscornia writes on the need to safeguard the integrity of state institutions undermined by corrupt practices that threaten the growth and development of South Africa. Click here to read full article

Book review

Hope, Pain and Patience

"The worn-out journalism adage, if it bleeds it leads comes to mind when you first see the cover of this book. The stories cover the traumas facing women in South Sudan (as well as other war-torn African counties) and raises ethical questions". 
Read full article here

Gobodo-Madikizela Talks Trauma

Paradox of Remorse

Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Professor of Psychology at Cape Town University, South Africa spoke at St. Mary’s Hall for her lecture “Engaging the Other: Trauma, Witnessing, and the Paradox of Remorse.” click here to read full article

Zuma reignites separation of powers debate

Politics

Yesterday, President Jacob Zuma used the joint sitting of parliament convened to bid farewell to former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobe and welcome newly appointed Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. Click here for full article

Gaddafi's torture bodes ill for Libyan harmony

Disturbing visuals of Muammar Gaddafi's last moments raise important questions about the nature of conflict settlements and how they affect the potential for sustainable post-conflict peace

"Disturbing visuals of Muammar Gaddafi’s last moments raise important questions about the nature of conflict settlements and how they affect the potential for sustainable post-conflict peace". Click here to read full article.

NPC is what South Africa needs

An overview of the NPC

Kate Lefko-Everett writes on the National Planning Commission's (NPC) task for developing a long-term vision and strategic plan for South Africa which will focus on strategies on how to minimise the impact of South Africa’s key challenges. Click here to read full article.

Policy Communication

Commentary on the delay of the Dalai Lama visa to South Africa

The state must learn how to negotiate and communicate tough moral decisions in an increasingly complex world writes Jan Hofmeyr in the Business Day. Click here to read full article.

The National Question

Identity does not depend on race

WHO are we? is the question posed in a timely series presented by the Cape Times and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation. Really, it’s incredible. If “I am because we are” and we are not the “we” we thought we were – then who am I? If “a person is a person through other people”, and we’re not getting through to each other – then what am I? writes Helen Douglas

A Moral Imperative to Speak:

What does civic responsibility mean in our troubled times?

Tutu and others talk justice and reconciliation

Not surprisingly, the national media gravitated in their reports to the more headline-grabbing of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu’s remarks at A Moral Imperative to Speak, a panel discussion hosted at UCT on 24 August by teh Living Reconciliation Forum, a collaborative project bewteen UCT’s Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela and Professor Jaco Barnard Naudé and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

Download podcasts of the symposium

Tutu takes issue with wealth tax criticism 25th August 2011
Tutu was speaking at the Institute Justice Reconciliation's talk, "A moral imperative to speak: What does civic responsibility mean in our troubled times?", in Cape Town.

Time for real change was not just words 30th August 2011 Cape Argus. "Everybody who attended the latest Living Reconciliation Forum hosted by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation at UCT last week would agree that, far from being lost or misled, young South Africans are inspired and inspiring". Dr Lutz van Dijk is the co-director of the Hokisa Children’s Home in Masiphumelele.

OM TE OFFER WAT JY VRA, SUID-AFRIKA? 

(Hierdie artikel het Saterdag 27 Augustus 2011 in DIE BURGER verskyn)

"Tutu het gepraat by die bekendstelling van ‘n boek "The Humanist Imperative" deur bekende teoloog John De Gruchy. Die tema van die boek, die herstel van menslikheid en menswaardigheid in Suid-Afrika, was uiteraard die konteks vir Tutu se omstrede herhaling van ‘n WVK voorstel: ‘n eenmalige welvaartsbelasting as versoeningsgebaar van wit Suid-Afrikaners teenoor swart Suid-Afrikaners."

Dr Fanie du Toit  is Uitvoerende Direkteur van die Instituut vir Geregtigheid en Versoening. Vir meer inligting, kontak www.ijr.org.za.

Tutu takes issue with wealth tax criticism

Wealth Tax

Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu says criticism against the call for a wealth tax to be imposed on all white South Africans was missing an opportunity to heal the past. Tutu's call for a wealth tax earlier this month unleashed a huge debate, with some saying it was unconstitutional and unfair to impose a tax on white people, while others supported his call. 

Tutu was speaking at the Institute Justice Reconciliation's talk, "A moral imperative to speak: What does civic responsibility mean in our troubled times?", in Cape Town last night.       

He says he was hoping that the response would be not one of responsibility of people who feel guilty, but a response of people saying it was a gesture of generosity. But he says by recognising the past, the idea will begin to make a difference. He says: “In fact, it turned out to be a profound statement because the reaction is like of those people carrying guilt.” 

The Archbishop reminded hundreds of University of Cape Town students gathered at the campus to hear him speak, that we mislead ourselves by thinking that apartheid did not damage us all.

REPORT: From Sensitive to Sensible History Veles, Republic of Macedonia, 22-26 June 2011 (Planning and Coordination Meeting & Regional Authors and Experts Work Session)

Exploring the use of oral history as a tool for reconciliation in South Africa.

Service delivery seen as key measure of parties' performance

Local Government Election 2011

Political Analysts say service delivery will remain a key measure of how parties will perform in their respective municipalities for a long time to come. Kate Lefko-Everett says that African National Congress has been performing poorly in the Western Cape.

Bridges with Africa

Evidence of war crimes stack up against Gaddafi

You will hear three news clips with Dr. Tim Murithi, IJR's Head of Africa Programme, on Radio Netherlands Worldwide in the news-round up report on Bridges With Africa

Tafelsig protests highlight that democracy is more than just voting

This week's running battles between police and backyard dwellers in Tafelsig highlights the extent to which democratic legitimacy in South Africa remains inextricably tied to individual perceptions of economic security.

click here to read full article

Rwanda genocide: former army head Augustin Bizimungu jailed

Bizimungu, who prepared lists of Tutsis to be 'exterminated' in 1994 mass slaughter, sentenced to 30 years in prison

click here to read full article

Confidence low in local government

More than half of all South Africans lack confidence in local government, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation has found...

click here to read full article

Alliance receives a fillip

4th annual forum of the UNAOC

Regardless of the immediate agenda of civil society organisations (CSOs) around the world, the common thread of helping others is gaining momentum and helping put the concept of alliance of civilisations higher on the global agenda, participants said on the second day of pre-forum for the United Nations Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) yesterday. Read more here...

Dr. Fanie du Toit interview, Doha pre forum 2011

Any relation between CSOs and UNAOC should be based on accountability

Dr Fanie du Toit, executive Director of the IJR and representative of the South Africa-based Education for Reconciliation project said any relation between CSOs and UNAOC should be based on accountability. “Relationships that are not accountable will not last. They are simply promiscuous. For that reason, accountability between UNAOC and CSOs is fundamental," du Toit said.

Filth, squalor reality for far too many

Basic services are needed for 500 000 people

Speak out for women

The evil of sexism lurks beneath the surface and is not supported by the same social disapproval as racism

Implicit barriers to entry are the hardest to overcome

Nonracialism

Inferior and unequal education stops here

New generation determined to bring about change

Between polls and promises, come the reality

Clashes over service delivery will continue unless the government is able to make good its promises

Has SA missed the moment for unity?

The meaning of Reconciliation

SA not yet predatory state - audit report

SOUTH Africa is not yet a predator state where an elite in charge kills and maims people who disagree with them.

External issues 'impede SA's long-term planning'

"Political planning in SA is more complex compared with a few years ago," said Fanie du Toit, director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR).

Govt urged to act against wasteful expenditure

The South African government must place more emphasis on fighting wasteful expenditure in government departments. That is according to the findings of the sixth Transformation Audit conducted by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

Political parties warned against using race card

Institute for Justice and Reconciliation has cautioned political parties against using the race card in their election campaigns.

IJR Pre-election commentary

SA should isolate dictators - Pandor

SCIENCE and Technology Minister NalediPandor says the government should consider cutting off relations with world leaders who cling to power for decades.

The Re-education of South Africa

Non-racialism in SA

Dr. Tim Murithi elaborates on the topic of inter-race-relations and the notion of 'non-racialism' in South Africa

South Africa: The Re-education of the Nation

We all need to be re-educated

The statement by Afrikaner author, Anneli Botes, that one group that she still does not like are "black people", reveals a deeper malaise that continues to permeate the post-apartheid psyche among certain sectors of South African society,' writes Tim Murithi.

Tutu's a 'mensch'

Letter of support to Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu

Alex Boraine, Mary Burton, John de Gruchy, Fanie du Toit, Matt Esau, Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, Lionel Louw, Essa Moosa, Dumisa Ntsebeza, Peter-John Pearson, Courtney Sampson, Charles Villa-Vicencio, Michael Weeder, Spiwo Xapile sign letter of support for D. Tutu

Rural Children just need a chance to be world beaters'

World Innovation Summit for Education

Trying to build a nation on second languages will destroy developmental goals and South Africa should move with greater urgency to make mother tongues the mediums of instruction in all primary and secondary schools.
So argued Fanie du Toit, executive director of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, who spoke to the Mail & Guardian during the second World Innovation Summit for Education (Wise) in Doha,Qatar in December 2010.

read more

Many South Africans believe employment prospects have worsened

2010 Reconciliation Barometer

Racial division lives on in South Africa, survey shows

2010 Reconciliation Barometer

Reconciliation Day is a time to contemplate how we put the past to rest

2010 Reconciliation Barometer

THE STAR SPEAKERS

WISE conference Doha

Dr. Fanie du Toit speaks at the international WISE conference in Doha >> read more

THE INSTITUTE FOR AFRICAN TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE

"Where Law Meets Reality"

The inaugural Institute for African Transitional Justice (IATJ), an initiative of the Refugee Law Project (RLP), the African Transitional Justice Research Network (ATJRN), and the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) was successful launched in the form of a week-long residential course held in Kampala, Uganda, from 22-26 November 2010. >>read more

Pact Sudan: Three Areas Stakeholder Networking Event 2010

24th -26th November 2010, Damazine, Blue Nile State, Sudan.

Between 24th - 26th November, 2010 Pact Sudan’s Three Areas Peace Fund Project (TAPF), with support from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Humanity United, held its second Three Areas Stakeholder Networking Event, themed along Transitional Justice and Peacebuilding in Sudan. >> read more

Living Reconciliation

Thought Leader

Associate Professor Jaco Barnard-Naude reflects on Professor Pumla-Gobodo's inauguration speech at UCT

Presidential pardon list sparks outrage

Department of Justice published presidential pardon list

Past traumas are a present problem

Facing memories: Prof Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela tackled trauma, the heart of transformation, in her inaugural lecture.

Working through trauma by facing the past is at the heart of transformation, said Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, in her much anticipated inaugural lecture, titled 'The Face of the Other’:Human dialogue at Solms Delta and the meaning of moral imagination, delivered at UCT on 11November.

'Ekonomiese bevryding is nodig vir afname in misdaad'

Jan Hofmeyr speaks in Pretoria

Zuma urged not to pardon 'serial killers'

A COALITION of seven human rights organisations has slammed President Jacob Zuma's bid to set "serial killers" free.

On Monday, the government published the names of 149 people set to get political pardons. Their victims' families have just 30 days to tell government whether they object to the pardons or not.

The South African Coalition for Transitional Justice urges further efforts to engage victims of pardon applicants.

Presidential Pardons

The Department of Justice yesterday published the names of149 convicted persons who have been recommended for a presidential pardon in terms of the Special Dispensation created by former President Mbeki in 2007.  The crimes for which the offenders sought pardon were also disclosed. It was a requirement of the Special Dispensation for the applicants to demonstrate a political motive.  In the notice issued yesterday, the government invites victims to make written representations on whether or not a pardon ought to be granted to a particular applicant.  >>read more

Challenges faced by south Sudan more than anecdotal as referendum looms

South Sudan

Friederike Bubenzer writes about the upcoming Sudan referendum in January 2011 and the realities on the ground >> read more

Challenges faced by South Sudan more than anecdotal as referendum looms By Frederike Bubenzer Published in

Southern Sudan Referendum

Bemiddelingsproses 'is nie 'n politieke spel'

Houtbaai

>> read full article

Hangberg housing debacle needs concrete solutions - IJR

The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation has said the Hangberg housing debacle will only be resolved if all parties work together.

>>read full article

Residents lament plan to evict them

Hangberg notices served

>> read full article

City ask Cosatu to stay out of Hangberg issue

IJR calls upon the different levels of government to get involved in the solution.

>> read full article

Cosatu wants govt. to weigh in on 'Hangberg debacle'

Cosatu has called on the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation to act as facilitator to unite affected role-players.

>> read full article

Pupils ask the hard questions on schools

Kriel Memorial Lecture

Learners from 5 different provinces asked the Deputy-Director General in the Education Department, Palesa Tyobeka, questions about their challenges in education during the 7th Ashley Kriel Memorial Lecture at UWC on Sunday 03 October 2010. >> read more

Don't fix what ain't broke

Poor publis already benefit from quality education at former whites-only schools

'Each learner learns to get along with those who are "not like me and grow up to appreciate  and respect diversity.' - the principal of Wynberg Girls' High School and the chairperson of the SGB speak out.

Jan Hofmeyr, IJR, quoted on SARB data.

Voetspore van die Cradockvier

Dit is 25 jaar sedert die apartheidsvegters Matthew Goniwe, Fort Calata, Sparrow Mkhonto en Sicelo Mhlauli die hoogste prys denkbaar vir hul ideaal van ’n gelyke samelewing betaal het

Cradock se mondelinge geskiedenis in spesiale bronnegids

Cradockgaanvan24 tot 28Oktober die 25ste herdenking van die Cradock-4 vier.

’n Bronnegids vir geskiedenisonderwysers is deur 35 leerders en hul onderwysers
van vier Cradock-hoërskole opgestel. By die bekendstelling Donderdagaand was van links me. Yolisa Nciza, provinsiale koördineerder van geskiedenis by die Oos-Kaapse departement van geskiedenis, Sesethu Matsila en Andiswa Mangesana van die Hoërskool Matthew Goniwe en mnr. Cecyl Esau van die Instituut vir Geregtigheid en Versoening (IJR). (read full article below)

The battle of Hangberg

Views of Cape Town mayor Dan Plato & Cosatu provincial secretary Tony Ehrenreich

Residents of Hout Bay's Hangberg community clashed with police this week in protests over the city's demolition of shacks built on the firebreak on the slopes of the Sentinel. Protesters claimed they were compelled to meet their own housing needs because the authorities had failed to deliver on promises to accommodate them...<click to read full article>

Ehrenreich "There was a process facilitated by the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation two years ago that identified land and opportunities for the needs of people living in Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg. The city participated in this, yet has disregarded the findings, which represent the solutions that are supported."

New constitution gives Kenya new hope

Home-grown solution

Dr. Tim Murithi, Head of the Transitional Justice in Africa Programme at the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation in Cape Town, elaborates on Kenya's newly launched constitution. read more

Book of the week

In the balance: South Africans debate reconciliation

Click to read article about the Book of the week 'In the balance: South Africans debate reconciliation' edited by Fanie du Toit and Erik Doxtader, Jacana, reviewed by Sunday Times on 05 September 2010

A Party Adrift /Society at a crossroads?

As the elite push for initiatives that seek to undermine the constitution, ordinary citizens are struggling to overcome South Africa's past, writes Raenette Taljaard.

IJR's SA Reconciliation Barometer mentioned by Raenette Taljaard in the context of party politics in South Africa. For further information on the SA Reconciliation Barometer go to: http://sabarometerblog.wordpress.com/

Boeke: Toekoms nog onseker, veral vir die vasgevang in donker gister

In the Balance: South Africans debate reconciliation onder redaksie van Fanie du Toit en Eric Doxtader.

Click: In the Balance: South Africans debate reconciliation onder redaksie van Fanie du Toit en Eric Doxtader. Jacana Press en die Instituut vir Geregtigheid en Versoening.

Joubert is Rapport se politieke redakteur.

Leading authors launch anti-tribunal petition

We oppose threat of gag on the wordprocessor, says authors

It's lekker to be appreciated, Sachs says on getting award

IJR Reconciliation Award

Albie Sach received the IJR Reconciliation Award on the night of the 11th of August 2010, handed over by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. >> read more

The soft vengeance of Albie Sachs

Justice and Reconciliation

The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation writes about this year's Reconciliation Award Winner former Judge Albie Sachs >> read more

We can make poverty history

But that is only if we stop refusing mediocrity, learn from others, and use the World Cup achievements as platform

Vusi Gumede, associate professor in Development Studies at the University of Johannesburg, writes about the current state of justice and reconciliation in South Africa after the World Cup and 16years into democracy. >> read more

Gebreke in debat oor versoening blyk

Book In the Balance

Apartheid victims and survivors challenge McBride ruling

Surviving relatives of apartheid victims have filed an application to intervene in the Constitutional Court case of The Citizen v. McBride as amici curiae

Surviving relatives of apartheid victims have filed an application to intervene in the Constitutional Court case of The Citizen v. McBride as amici curiae (friend of the court) in a bid to challenge the ruling that calling people who received amnesty murderers would constitute defamation. >> read more

Ms. Mbizana and Mr. Mxenge’ are supported by an alliance of South African civil society organizations comprised of Khulumani Support Group; International Center for Transitional Justice; Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation; South African History Archives; Human Rights Media Centre; and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation.

IJR in The Economist

Special focus on South Africa

The price of freedom

Since embracing full democracy 16 years ago, South Africa has made huge strides. But, says Diana Geddes (interviewed here), not everything has changed for the better   - (go to The Economist on the web)

Several of IJR's staff were interviewed in April 2010 by Diana Geddes from The Economist – the edition with a special focus on SA has been released in June 2010, and several IJR publications have been cited. Please find below the headings of the various articles 

• The price of freedom
• The monolithic ANC
• Colour me South African
• Jobless growth
• A new kind of inequality
• Corruption in South Africa
• South Africa's great scourges
• Last in class
• Don't get ill
• Still everything to play for
• Sources and acknowledgments
• Offer to readers

Also read comments on our SARBblog

We still have need of Reconciliation and Justice

'We need to keep talking more, instead of keeping the divisions of the past alive'

We still have need of Reconciliation and Justice

'We need to keep talking more, instead of keeping the divisions of the past alive'

South Africa shuts door on Lubowski murder probe

Family to 'pressurise' Namibia