The Government - or at least one part of it - appears once again to be trying to get control of independent organisations in civil society.
Latest from the IRR
IRR chief economist Mr Ian Cruickshanks says that the mediocre Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate of just 0.7% in the third quarter of 2013 is a result of operating inefficiencies in the South African economy.
John Kane-Berman, the CEO of the IRR, argues that the DA's reversal of support for aspects of the Employment Equity Bill are to its credit. He warns, however, that the ANC should not gloat about this as it will soon have to follow suit.
IRR chief economist, Ian Cruickshanks, has said that the Governor of the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), Ms Gill Marcus, may still prove to be overly optimistic in her GDP growth forecast for 2013. This is despite the forecast having been revised down from over 3% a year ago to 1.9% in the SARB’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) statement today.
The IRR has appointed Mr Ian Cruickshanks as its chief economist.
John Kane-Berman argues that the Democratic Alliance's policies are moving closer to that of the tripartite alliance's.
Anthea Jeffery says the opposition needs to revisit its support for damaging B-BBEE legislation, not just the EE Amendment Bill
In his fortnightly column in Business Day, the Institute's CEO, John Kane-Berman, argues that the government should stop wasting money on land reform because it will not fix the wrongs of the land acts.
John Kane-Berman explains why bargaining councils are bad for South Africa.
Frans Cronje writes about the policy battle between the 'verkramptes' and 'verligtes' in the ANC and increasing evidence that the 'verligtes' could win.
The spirit of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill of 2013 (the mining bill) seems to have permeated through to agriculture.
Frans Cronje has been appointed as the new chief executive officer of the South African Institute of Race Relations.
A report released this morning by the South African Institute of Race Relations tracks the performance of black people in the economy and broader society over several decades, with a special emphasis on the post-1994 period. It suggests that the widely held notion that racial transformation in South Africa has failed is not true - although much still needs to be done to create opportunities for black people.
Anthea Jeffery, the Institute's Head of Special Research, argues that the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill will impose a raft of unrealistic expectations on an already embattled mining industry in South Africa.
John Kane-Berman, the CEO of the Institute, says that Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) is the "ultimate trickle-down fantasy".
John Kane-Berman, the Institute's CEO, says that Jacob Zuma is a successful leader, contrary to popular belief.
John Kane-Berman says that the reaffirmation and reiteration of Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) and Affirmative Action in the National Development Plan is nothing short of madness.
In his fortnightly column in Business Day, John Kane-Berman, the Institute's CEO, says that while the National Development Plan is fatally flawed, the ANC has done a remarkable job of getting widespread endorsement for the Plan.
“The National Development Plan (NDP) is fatally flawed and will fail to achieve its social and economic aims,” says the South African Institute of Race Relations in a report released today.
"Reckless and populist ministers armed with confusing legislation and increasing arbitrary powers to enforce daft demands backed by draconian penalties are as big a threat to mining as everything else put together", says the Institute's CEO, John Kane-Berman.
John Kane-Berman, the Institute's CEO, says that, "Despite its own warning, the NDP favours minimum benefits over and above what the constitution requires. At the same time, the ANC is busy reducing job prospects for unemployed youngsters."
John Kane-Berman says that the likely capitulation of the ANC to Cosatu over labour law amendments this week confirms that the battle of ideas to liberalise the country's economy will continue for some time. It will, however, be won in the end.
Only four provinces had an increase in their share of the country’s population over a period of just more than a decade. The remaining five provinces saw a decrease in the share of their populations as a proportion of the country’s total.
In his fortnightly column in Business Day, John Kane-Berman, the Institute's CEO, writes that the Democratic Alliance (DA) should use the moral authority of the party's history and fight against the racial practices of the ruling tripartite alliance.
In his monthly column in Rapport newspaper, the Institute's Deputy CEO, Frans Cronje, says that 500 000 individuals, or approximately 1.5% of the population, paid 50% of the income tax received by the State.
The 1994 transition liberated black South Africans from oppression, but also liberated whites, writes Frans Cronje.
In his fortnightly column in Business Day newspaper, John Kane-Berman does not believe that 'Guptagate' will change the ANC's corrupt ways.
In his fortnightly column in Business Day, the Institute's CEO, John Kane-Berman, says that the Licensing of Business Bill of 2013 is another step closer to bringing about a 'national democratic society' through the National Democratic Revolution. The ANC recommitted itself to this objective at the national conference in Mangaung in December last year.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has unveiled plans to restrict hawking which go far beyond anything the National Party government did in its efforts to control black business, says the South African Institute of Race Relations in a submission made to the DTI last week.
The Licensing of Businesses Bill of 2013 (the Bill), recently gazetted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), will need an army of bureaucrats to implement, says the South African Institute of Race Relations in a submission made to the DTI last week.