Executive Summary Roelf Meyer | Director, In Transformation Initiative

ROELF MEYER | DIRECTOR, IN TRANSFORMATION INITIATIVE

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Inclusive Society Institute held two roundtable discussions on the role of the Afrikaans-speaking community in South Africa. The first was held on the 11th of February 2020 in Cape Town and the second on the 18th of February 2020 in Pretoria. Invited guests ranged from academics to community activists, private sector business leaders, members of the clergy, entrepreneurs, economists, members of the judiciary, government representatives, members of the media and film sector, civil society organisation representatives and educators.

The aim of the discussions was to achieve a better understanding of how the Afrikaans-speaking community views its place and role within the country, as well as their experiences in the promotion of social cohesion and national unity.

Additionally, the engagements also served as an opportunity to bring the concerns of citizens to the attention of national leadership and policymakers, and develop policy recommendations that will allow the Afrikaans-speaking community to fully contribute to the development of an inclusive society and economy in South Africa.

The roundtable discussions revealed areas of alignment, disagreement and lack of clarity pertaining to the definition of a South African’s national identity and how this is informed by the individual’s ethnic, linguistic, racial and cultural histories.

Overall, participants expressed their commitment and hope that the issues plaguing South Africa can be resolved, despite echoes of frustration and scepticism regarding the political will from national leadership to consider the concerns and issues expressed.

All participants agreed that there is a need for pragmatic solutions in the country which can be achieved through collaborative efforts by government, the private sector and civil society. The Afrikaans-speaking community expressed a keen desire to be involved in these processes and believe they can also be providers of critical solutions to issues of

KEY TAKEOUTS

• The Inclusive Society Institute held two roundtable discussions on the role of the Afrikaans-speaking community in

South Africa. • Keynote speakers for the events were Ruben Richards of the

Ruben Richards Foundation (Cape Town) and Theo Vorster, an economic commentator and CEO of Galileo Capital (Pretoria). • The primary focus of the Inclusive Society Institute is to promote a more inclusive society by creating a platform where discourse around often divisive topics can be conducted through engaging with diverse and representative groups. • The majority of participants continue to feel a sense of hope and optimism for the future of the country, despite many frustrations and challenges. • Several participants reiterated that the Afrikaans-speaking community is not one of homogeneity nor one without its contradictions and complexities and should, therefore, also not be approached with the stereotypes that have been historically associated with this community. • It is important that minorities are included in these types of discussions towards contributing to the narrative regarding national unity, national policy and the effectiveness and implementation of principles set out in the constitution. • The current state of the economy is adversely affecting social cohesion and inclusive growth in South Africa. • The Inclusive Society Institute is committed to conducting future dialogue discussions of this nature, towards engaging with more participants in a structured manner and influencing different role players in the country. • The Institute can provide valuable insights into areas of alignment or division through facilitating robust discussions and providing analysis and research into public policies and issues of national interest.

unemployment, service delivery, training and skills transfer and economic growth.

However, most participants had the perception that there was a lack of political will to implement recommendations and to address the issues expressed through dialogue initiatives. This perception, be it real or not, continues to deepen the apathy among citizens. Consequently, this makes the mobilisation and motivation of citizens to contribute to the development of the country, that much more difficult.

It was generally expressed that members of the Afrikaans-speaking community, including both White and Coloured people, need to be involved and give their input in shaping the narrative around social cohesion, legislation, political participation and economic empowerment. Afrikaans-speaking community is not one of homogeneity, nor one without its contradictions and complexities and should, therefore, also not be approached with the stereotypes that have historically been associated with this community.

Additional key issues that were expressed during both discussion sessions included the lack of clear and consistent leadership required to inspire citizens to reclaim their agency in contributing to national unity, nation building and social cohesion. The continued discrimination against minority groups as a result of divisive political messaging and exclusionary national polices was also a cause for concern.

Moreover, there are high levels of concern regarding the current economic climate. Given the uncertainty created by prolonged economic stagnation, urgent intervention and guidance from leadership will be necessary for any improvement in the current economic growth trajectory. The adverse effect of BBBEE and affirmative action was also emphasised by many of the participants. Some argued that the legislation surrounding these policies does not benefit the intended recipients and contributes to a lack of business growth, as well as the loss of critical skills from the country.

Additionally, clarification is required around some of the key issues such as the definition of the South African identity, the narrative of national unity, property rights, land redistribution and the current status of constitutional principles, among others. Guidance from national leadership on these issues is needed in order to remove uncertainty and provide a degree of clarity to industry stakeholders, investors and society in general.