All briefings

Briefings: LEKOTA, ZILLE, ZUMA (Johannesburg Country Club, from 2009-02-25 07:00 to 2009-02-25 09:30) — by Frans Cronje

The Institute will host the leaders of COPE, the DA, and the ANC at a series of business breakfasts during February and March 2009.

Briefing: Rising Tide - how freedom with responsibility uplifts everyone - 12th February 2009 (Women's Jail, Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, from 2009-02-12 06:15 to 2009-02-12 08:00) — by Frans Cronje

The South African Institute of Race Relations in conjunction with Constitution Hill invite you to the launch of “Rising Tide: How freedom with responsibility uplifts everyone”. This collection of essays by Jack Bloom, leader of the official opposition in Gauteng, sheds light on his personal experience as an opposition politician in a rapidly changing society where new freedoms and responsibilities share an uneasy co-existence.

Briefing: Affirmative Action - is it working - 26th February 2009 (Constitution Hill, Johannesburg, from 2009-02-26 18:15 to 2009-02-26 20:00) — by Frans Cronje

The South African Institute of Race Relations in conjunction with Constitution Hill invite you to a discussion with: Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Dr. Dirk Hermann, Mr. Jimmy Manyi, and Mr. David Bullard on whether affirmative action in South Africa is working.

Breakfast briefing: The state of South Africa's judiciary (Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park, from 2008-10-14 07:30 to 2008-10-14 09:30) — by Frans Cronje

On 14th October 2008 the Institute will host Judge Carole Lewis of the Supreme Court of Appeal to discuss the role and place of South Africa's judiciary 15 years into our democracy. The judiciary has been under increasing pressure over recent months. This briefing promises to provide an rare insight into how senior judges in South Africa perceive their environment.

South African Democracy in a Zuma era: A fading footnote in history? (68 de Korte St Braamfontein Johannesburg, from 2008-09-29 17:45 to 2008-09-29 20:00) — by Frans Cronje

On 12th September 2008 the Pietermartizburg High Court found that the prosecution of Jacob Zuma was invalid. Join the Institute and the head of politics at WITS, Dr Sheila Meintjes, for a roundtable briefing on what Jacob Zuma means for democracy in South Africa.

The world and South Africa in the 2010s: The latest scenarios - with Clem Sunter (Johannesburg Country Club in Auckland Park, from 2008-09-04 07:30 to 2008-09-04 09:30) — by Frans Cronje

The Institute will host South Africa's scenario guru, Clem Sunter, at a business briefing to discuss his latest scenarios for South Africa.

The future of South Africa: How the intellectuals have failed Africa (South African Institute of Race Relations 68 de Korte St Braamfontein Johannesburg with parking accross the road in Jorissen Place, from 2008-07-16 17:30 to 2008-07-16 19:00) — by Frans Cronje

Dr James Myburgh, editor of www.politcsweb.co.za, will talk about the future of South Africa in light of the 2009 elections. Roundtable briefings are open to members of the public and we particualrly encourage non-members and students to attend these briefings.

Roundtable Briefing: Xenophobia on the rise - 5 June 2008 (South African Institute of Race Relations 68 de Korte St Braamfontein Johannesburg with parking accross the road in Jorissen Place, from 2008-06-05 17:45 to 2008-06-05 20:00) — by Frans Cronje

The Institute will host Bishop Paul Verryn to give his thoughts on what was responsible for the violence that rocked Johannesburg since May 11 2008. Bishop Verryn has sheltered foreign immigrants at the Johannesburg Central Methodist Church for several years and has been an outspoken activist for their rights. Earlier this year his church was controversially raided by the South African Police Service. His views have been widely quoted in the local and international media. Members and non-members alike are welcome to attend this briefing.

Media briefing: Expropriation Bill of 2008 - 15th May 2008 (South African Institute of Race Relations 68 de Korte St Braamfontein Johannesburg with parking accross the road in Jorissen Place, from 2008-05-15 16:30 to 2008-05-15 17:30) — by Frans Cronje

The Institute is launching a report and analysis of the Expropriation Bill of 2008 on 15th May 2008. This report will be published in the May edition of Fast Facts. Much controversy has already surrounded this piece of legislation with certain analysts seeing it as contributing to further economic and political uncertainty. Dr Anthea Jeffery, Head of Special Research at the Institute, will explain the terms of the bill and explore some of its ramifications which extend well beyond land reform. Members of the media, and others with an interest in the bill, are invited to attend the briefing.

SA: The Good News (South African Institute of Race Relations 68 de Korte St Braamfontein Johannesburg with parking accross the road in Jorissen Place, from 2008-05-13 18:00 to 2008-05-13 20:00) — by Frans Cronje

Steuart Pennington, CEO of SA The Good News, will present his thoughts on the future of South Africa. This briefing will take place as a roundtable briefing at the Institute's offices on the evening of 13 May 2008. All are welcome to attend.

Challenges faced by tertiary students in South Africa: 9th April (South African Institute of Race Relations 68 de Korte St Braamfontein Johannesburg with parking accross the road in Jorissen Place, from 2008-04-09 17:30 to 2008-04-09 19:30) — by Fcronje@sairr.org.za

Tertiary students face a number of challenges ranging from limited financial assistance, to poor preparation by the school system, and racism as was demonstrated recently on the campus of the University of the Free State. The Institute will host the head of the South African Students Congress in South Africa to discuss these issues.

South African Mirror 2008 - Johannesburg 3rd April 2008 (FNB Conference and Learning Centre, 114 Grayston Drive, Sandown, Sandton, from 2008-04-03 17:30 to 2008-04-03 21:30) — by Chris

South African Mirror 2008 - Post Polokwane by John Kane-Berman

South African Mirror 2008 - Cape Town 31st March 2008 (Centre for the Book, 62 Queen Victoria Street, Cape Town, from 2008-03-31 17:30 to 2008-03-31 21:30) — by Chris

South African Mirror 2008 - Post Polokwane by John Kane-Berman

Excellence in the public school system: 13th March 2008 (68 de Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg, from 2008-03-13 17:30 to 2008-03-13 19:00) — by Chris

The Institute invites you to attend a roundtable briefing by Gillian Godsell and Anthea Cereseto

Solving the national power crisis: 19th February 2008 (Johannesburg Country Club, from 2008-02-19 07:15 to 2008-02-19 09:00) — by Alex

Government has gone on record saying that load shedding and electricity shortages will not affect economic growth targets. A number of banks and financial institutions have, however, already revised their growth forecasts for South Africa downwards. Come and hear the truth about the electricity crisis and what your business and South Africa should do to minimise its harm.

Questions and answers with Jacob Zuma: 13th June 2007 (Johannesburg Country Club, from 2008-03-03 16:45 to 2008-03-03 16:45) — by Chris

On 13th June 2007 the Institute hosted a breakfast where the deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), Jacob Zuma, was the guest speaker. There has been much speculation in the media that Mr Zuma may become the next president of both the ANC and South Africa. Following his formal speech, Mr Zuma answered questions on a variety of topics from Institute members and their gests in the audience.

The Judiciary, the Courts, and the Constitution: Why so much Controversy? 25th April 2006 (, from 2006-04-25 16:50 to 2006-04-25 16:50) — by Chris

This is the text of an address to the South African Institute of Race Relations on 25th April 2006 by Mr Justice R.W. Nugent of the Supreme Court of Appeal.

Getting over the BRIC wall: 15th September 2005 (, from 2005-09-15 16:55 to 2005-09-15 16:55) — by Chris

Dramatic changes confront South African producers as they come under increased pressure from the massive expansion of the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, and China ' the BRIC countries. The GDP of western countries currently stands at $25 trillion and that of Asian countries at $10 trillion. In thirty years time western GDP, despite doubling to $55 trillion, will be overtaken by Asian GDP. If they act in partnership, business and government in South Africa can respond effectively to this looming economic challenge. This was the message from Dr Cees Bruggemans, chief economist at First National Bank, who addressed the Institute on 15 September 2005. Frans Cronje and Marco Macfarlane summarise his address.

Do or die: 14th June 2005 (, from 2008-03-03 16:57 to 2008-03-03 16:57) — by Chris

Various procurement obligations attached to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) policy will cause a 'trickle down' effect that will eventually permeate all tiers of South African business and not only those companies that compete directly for government contracts. This 'trickle down' effect will force all levels of business to adopt empowerment strategies in order to survive. Any initial denial from companies that empowerment would affect them has largely been overcome through the promulgation of sector charters and legislation setting out conditions that companies will have to meet. This was the message from Mr Vuyo Jack, CEO of the ratings agency Empowerdex, who spoke to the Institute on 14 June 2005. Frans Cronje summarises his address.

Big at home, but a minnow in the global pond: 9th September 2004 (, from 2004-09-09 17:00 to 2004-09-09 17:00) — by Chris

Multinational companies which make motor vehicles in South Africa have remained here in the hope of exploiting the black and the sub-Saharan markets. But the latter has failed to emerge and, although the black motor vehicle market in South Africa has increased in size, it has merely replaced that of whites who have emigrated. Despite rapid export growth the industry remains globally insignificant and vulnerable to the decisions of boards of parent companies in other countries. Threats to the industry exist in the form of labour action, empowerment demands, and an investigation by the competition commission into alleged price fixing. Should it weather these storms the industry has the potential to exploit South Africa's comparative advantage as an industrial 'batch producer' and grow to become a more significant global player. This was the message from Mr Tony Twine, a director of Econometrix, at an Institute briefing on 9th September 2004. Frans Cronje summarises his address.

Don't do it.... 12th August 2004 (, from 2004-08-12 17:05 to 2004-08-12 17:05) — by Chris

Thriving enterprise is critical for economic growth, jobs, social development, and reducing poverty. Whether we are shareholders, employees, or simply citizens, we all have an interest in how efficiently and honestly businesses are managed. Most of South Africa's public companies adhere to high standards of governance set out in guidelines they have voluntarily adopted. There are signs that the government is planning to turn the guidelines into law. Their author, Mr Mervyn King, thinks this will be harmful. It would also be yet another twist of the interventionist screw that has become so important a component of government policy. On Thursday 12th August, Mr Mervyn King SC, chairman of the King committee on corporate governance, addressed an Institute breakfast briefing in Johannesburg on 'Should corporate governance guidelines be legislated'?. Anthea Jeffery summarises key points from his address.

Competition law aims to put consumers first, and black monopolies are as bad as any others: 29th July 2004 (, from 2008-03-03 17:07 to 2008-03-03 17:07) — by Chris

The main objective of South Africa's competition law is to maximise consumer welfare. The five-year-old Competition Commission examines major mergers for possible anti-competitive effect. It also scrutinises restrictive business practices, particularly attempts to fix prices via cartels. It believes there is too much market domination by a few players within the economy and would like to create a situation where there are no dominant firms. Unlike similar bodies in other countries, the commission's mandate is also to help advance the previously disadvantaged. But it would not allow an empowerment company to become a monopoly to the detriment of consumers, because a black monopoly is no better than any other. This was the message from Advocate Menzi Simelane, Commissioner of the Competition Commission, at an Institute briefing in Johannesburg on 29th July. Anthea Jeffery summarises his address.