The Anti-Racism and the Gender Justice and Reconciliation Projects were in Calitzdorp, Western Cape from the 25th of October to the 3rd of November 2021. The underlying mandate of the projects was to conduct engaging and fruitful conversations and workshops with the community members of Calitzdorp on issues that relate to anti-racism and gender-justice.
To quote the late Dr Alex Boraine, ‘Reconciliation, as a process for seeking an often-elusive peace, must be understood through the lens of transitional justice. It is better understood if victims believe that their grievances are being heard and addressed, that the silence is being broken. Reconciliation can begin when perpetrators are held accountable when the truth is sought openly and fearlessly, when institutional reform commences and when the need for reparation is acknowledged and acted upon.'
Through the year, the Inclusive Economies project has busied itself with a study of how human development might lead to transformed and peaceful African societies. Often, where pockets of instability emerge or persist there have been human development deficits that are typically underpinned by weak government capacity. The first such study focused on Kenya, considering trends at a national level before investigating these links in three localised pockets of instability. The research was disseminated in the media and two webinars, one hosted by the IJR and the other hosted by the Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IPPIA) based in Kenya.
The South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB), the IJR’s nationally representative public opinion survey on issues of social cohesion and governance, has featured prominently in a new report and policy brief published by the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME) entitled Trust in Government: Evidence Synthesis and International Benchmarking Study.
Unquestionably, the Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on all facets of human life. From an overwhelmed healthcare employment, from fractured social relations to civil unrest and instability, no part of the human experience in South Africa and globally has been left unaffected by the virus. However, Covid-19 did not affect all segments of the population equally and those classed within marginalized social and economic groups were particularly vulnerable to the detrimental effects of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions. In case the vast inequalities in South Africa were not sufficiently obvious, the Covid-19 pandemic laid bare the unjust and inequitable structures that failed those not safely situated in the upper-middle class.
Covid-19 has exacerbated South Africa’s most pressing socioeconomic inequities. Worsening inequality, a rising cost of living, systemic corruption, high unemployment, and government austerity paints a picture of a country under severe strain. These dire socioeconomic realities continue to affect the poor and most vulnerable in our communities. While Covid-19 continues to be a challenge for all, research shows that poor black and coloured people remain disproportionately affected by the crisis, which is indicative of the legacies of our apartheid history
From 13-17 September 2021, the IJR and ITI held a learning visit for the new appointees of the Truth, Justice, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission (Commission Vérité, Justice, Réparations et Réconciliation, CVJRR) from the Central African Republic (CAR). The high-level delegation attended a workshop in Pretoria, which focused on sharing South Africa’s practical experiences on transitional justice, as well as lessons and insights applicable to the CAR Commission.
Perceptions of pervasive corruption in South Africa have dominated public discourse for much of the last decade. In its many forms, corruption undermines the effectiveness of the state, worsens the quality of public services, and ultimately erodes public trust. In South Africa, former President Jacob Zuma and some of his allies stand accused of state capture – the use of the state for personal interests that has crippled various compromised institutions.
The African Union’s Agenda 2063 refers to pursuing “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the international arena.” The devastating and wide-range effects of the Covid-19 pandemic has instigated a crisis that represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Africa to strive to realise its full potential in terms of consolidating peace and development, through the cultivating culture of Pan-African solidarity and self-determination. The disease does not discriminate against its victims on the basis of race, nationality, ethnicity, gender, culture religion or financial affluence, and it has fueled global pandemonium.
The 2021 Mo Ibrahim Foundation Forum Report titled “COVID-19 in Africa - One Year On: Impact and Prospects” indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic has plunged democracy, freedom and human rights on the continent further into crisis.