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SAIRR Press Statement: South African gun laws achieved little - 3rd July 2009 — by Sonia Ludeke — last modified 2009-07-03 09:01

The South African Institute of Race Relations has said that there was very little evidence to suggest that the Firearms Control Act of 2000 had achieved a reduction in levels of violent crime.

SAIRR Today: Going off at half cock – a better model for the management of guns in our society - 3rd July 2009 — by Frans Cronje — last modified 2009-07-03 09:05

Last week the Pretoria High Court issued a ruling effectively suspending several provisions of the Firearms Control Act of 2000. This piece of legislation had long been dogged by controversy. Firearms owners and their representative bodies will now go to court to argue the constitutional and administrative failings of the Act. The mess that the government’s handling of the Act is fast becoming does not revolve around the question of whether people should have guns. It is rather a question that raises important constitutional, governance, and crime prevention matters – not least of which is the law of unintended consequences. The Institute this week suggests a more workable framework for the management of firearms in our society.

SAIRR Press Statement: Does wealth influence crime rates - 2nd July 2009 — by Sonia Ludeke — last modified 2009-07-02 15:17

The most recent provincial review from the South African Institute of Race Relations has found that despite having the worst ratio of police officials per population, Limpopo was the safest province on a number of crime indicators.

Making the news: Zuma defends ANC’s influence - The Times, 26th June 2009 — by Frans Cronje — last modified 2009-06-26 09:39

The Times reported this morning that, "In a piece published on the institute’s website, deputy chief executive Frans Cronje argues that Cosatu has become an embarrassment for Zuma’s government and that the alliance is 'becoming an obstacle' to the ANC delivering on its election promises."

Making the news: Zuma 'is not a stooge' - President his own boss, says ANC - Sowetan, 26th June 2009 — by Frans Cronje — last modified 2009-06-26 09:52

The Sowetan reported this morning that, "The African National Congress and President Jacob Zuma have rejected suggestions that he is a “stooge” of the ruling party and its alliance partners – Cosatu and the South African Communist Party. A report by Frans Cronje, deputy chief executive of the South African Institute of Race Relations, set the ball rolling this week when he suggested the ANC should cut ties with the two organisations."

Making the news: ANC releases press statement on the Institute - 25th June 2009 — by Frans Cronje — last modified 2009-06-26 09:23

The African National Congress has released a statement accusing the Institute of being opposed to a "democratic culture" and trying to "drive a wedge between the organisation and its alliance partners". The statement follows a paper published by the Institute drawing attention to the tense state of the ruling alliance.

Making the news: Alliance unity is a charade, says race relations - Business Day, 25th June 2009 — by Frans Cronje — last modified 2009-06-25 09:48

Business Day reported this morning that, "The African National Congress (ANC) was in a strong position to dump its alliance partners, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), the South African Institute of Race Relations said yesterday. In an article written by deputy CEO Frans Cronje, it argues that trade union membership amounted to only a small portion of the ANC’s voter support base and that the party stood to lose very little support in dropping its alliance partners."

SAIRR Press Statement: Institute makes case for ANC to dump alliance partners - 24th June 2009 — by Sonia Ludeke — last modified 2009-07-03 08:42

The South African Institute of Race Relations has said that the ANC was in a strong position to dump Cosatu and the SACP as alliance partners.

SAIRR Today: Why the ANC can drop its alliance partners - 24th June 2009 — by Frans Cronje — last modified 2009-06-24 14:27

In the early 2000s a number of analysts predicted a split in the ruling ANC/SACP/Cosatu alliance. This scenario was along the lines that Cosatu and/or the SACP would split to form a new political movement. At Polokwane in December 2007, something very different happened when, instead of splitting from the alliance, the ANC’s partners appeared to capture it. But events since the April 2009 election suggest that theirs was a pyrrhic victory and that the split may yet happen.

SAIRR Today: Pricing poor black South Africans out of the Confed Cup - 19th June 2009 — by Frans Cronje — last modified 2009-06-24 12:31

The sight of half-empty stadiums playing host to Confederations Cup soccer matches in South Africa embarrassed both Fifa as well as local soccer authorities. Reports of poor attendance have been published in newspapers around the world and many foreign correspondents have raised questions about the pricing of tickets for the tournament. Their concerns are validated by a simple review of ticket prices as a proportion of average household incomes.