Institute Opinion
Up one levelBad-faith Expropriation Bill not grounded in South Africa’s land realities - 17th April 2008
John Kane-Berman says that giving the government greater expropriation powers will not remedy the problems of large-scale failure in land reform. This column appeared in Business Day on 17th April 2008.
Fight against crime is a race against race hatred
John Kane-Berman says racially-motivated crime appears to be only a small proportion of all crime in South Africa but that it can nevertheless poison race relations. This column appeared in Business Day on 20th March 2008.
Strange silence over McBride defamation ruling
John Kane-Berman discusses various aspects of the recent judgement against The Citizen newspaper. This column appeared in Business Day on 6th March 2008.
ANC in revolt is not a real opposition
John Kane-Berman says the recent battle over the ANC leadership was mainly a power struggle, and had less to do with policy differences, except in the macro-economic sphere. This column appeared in Business Day on 21st February 2008.
Institute rebuts Owen and Altman
The Institute shows how Ken Owen and Miriam Altman launched an ill-informed attack on its poverty data.
Looking for the light after Phosa’s gloomy claim
John Kane-Berman says the ANC’s deployment policy is a threat to democracy. This column appeared in Business Day on 7th February 2008.
Ominous noises from this ‘democracy in action’
John Kane-Berman says the new leadership of the African National Congress plans to impose a Soviet-style government model on South Africa. This column appeared in Business Day on 24th January 2008.
Dark continent can light up of its own accord
John Kane-Berman reports on a recent conference in Berlin where it was argued that Africa could do much more to help itself instead of being dependent on yet another ‘Marshall Plan’. This column appeared in Business Day on 6th December 2007.
Analysing the poverty of the president’s attack
John Kane-Berman replies to an attack on the Institute by President Thabo Mbeki. This column appeared in Business Day on 22nd November 2007.
Recognising the breadth of Helen Suzman’s vision
John Kane-Berman pays a 90th birthday tribute to Helen Suzman, who began her career at the Institute and is now one of its vice-presidents. This article appeared in Business Day on 25th October 2007.
Save private health care from state intervention
John Kane-Berman says promises (or threats) by the health minister to fix private health care are likely to do more harm than good. This column appeared in Business Day on 11th October 2007.
Employment Equity Act keeps the focus on white achievement
John Kane-Berman says white women should never have been made beneficiaries of affirmative action policies. He also says that such policies are more concerned with white than with black achievement. This article appeared in Business Day on 27th September 2007.
The enduring legacy of Stephen Bantu Biko
Professor Sipho Seepe describes some of the key components of the black consciousness philosophy articulated by Steve Biko, who was beaten to death by the security police 30 years ago this month. This article appeared in the Sunday Times on 16th September 2007.
South African Press told the full story about apartheid
John Kane-Berman refutes a suggestion that the previous government had a stranglehold on the Press. This column appeared in Business Day on 13th September 2007.
The Truth Commission’s chickens come home to roost
John Kane-Berman says the Truth Commission’s one-sided composition and its flawed procedures help to explain why various people refused to apply to it for amnesty. This article appeared in Business Day on 16th August 2007.
Taking concerns seriously a big first step for police
The police have published a detailed analysis of crime trends, writes John Kane-Berman. They themselves should also be investigated, since their own figures show that they cannot make South Africa safe. This column appeared in Business Day on 2nd August 2007.
Racial reasoning is seductive but dangerous
Professor Sipho Seepe takes issue with people who suggest all blacks should think alike and that black critics of the government are racists and enemies of black people. This column appeared in Business Day on 8th August 2007.
Signs that South Africa’s affirmative action debate is growing up
Professor Sipho Seepe discusses criticism of current affirmative action policies that has come from blacks as well as whites. This article appeared in Business Day on 25th July 2007.
Protecting a brave history
Professor Sipho Seepe, newly-elected president of the South African Institute of Race Relations, discussed some of the responses to his election. Professor Seepe is head of the Graduate Institute of Management & Technology. This article appeared in Business Day on 11th July 2007.
Adding up sad figures of education after liberation
Thirteen years after the advent of democracy in South Africa, there has been scant improvement in black education. This column by John Kane-Berman appeared in Business Day on 21st June 2007.
Rich irony in unions’ calls for ‘pro-poor’ president
The poor in South Africa would not necessarily be better off if trade union demands for ‘pro-poor’ policies were met, says John Kane-Berman. Reprinted from Business Day of 7th June 2007.
The mathematics of an ‘urban myth’
Frans Cronje challenges the statement by the Employment Equity Commission that South Africa’s skills shortage is an ‘urban myth’. This article appeared in Business Day on 28th May 2007. It is based on data published in the South Africa Survey.
Liberal praise for a man happy to be an adversary
John Kane-Berman reports on accolades for liberals at a dinner to thank the outgoing Leader of the Opposition, Tony Leon, for his contribution to democracy. This column appeared in Business Day on 10th May 2007.
South Africa on a roll or in the doldrums: It depends on where you sit
John Kane-Berman gives an overview of some of the country's current successes and failures. This article, which appeared in the Sunday Tribune on 27th May 2007, is based on his annual South African Mirror report to Institute members, presented in Johanenbsurg, Pretoria, and Cape Town.
Inching forward despite stones in the road
In this article, which appeared in Business Day on 24th May 2007, John Kane-Berman says it is remarkable that the South African economy is growing as fast as it now is. The article is based on the Institute's annual South African Mirror presentation to Institute members in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town.
Accountability is the key to democracy
John Kane-Berman argues against direct presidential election on the grounds that it would weaken Parliament. This article appeared in Business Day on 26th April 2007.
Ruling party need not be life and soul of democracy
In this article, which appeared in Business Day on 12th April 2007, John Kane-Berman says that the executive branch of government is constitutionally accountable to Parliament, not to the ruling party.
Quiet diplomacy and the perpetual right to rule
John Kane-Berman suggests that the reason why the South African government and the African National Congress do not criticise President Robert Mugabe’s behaviour in Zimbabwe is that they in practice endorse his determination to hold on to power. This column appeared in Business Day on 29th March 2007.
Are quotas the targets police should be aiming at?
John Kane-Berman reports on plans to introduce racial and gender quotas at every level of the South African police. This article appeared in Business Day on 1st March 2007.
Money is not the real problem
Commenting on the national budget for 2007/2008, John Kane-Berman argues that money alone will not solve the major problems confronting South Africa in several critical fields. This column appeared in Business Day on 22nd February 2007.
The more things change on the racial front, the more they stay the same
John Kane-Berman suggests that current racial policy will eventually lead to the reintroduction of legislated race classification into South Africa. This column appeared in Business Day on 7th December 2006.
The ‘second economy’ is here to stay
John Kane-Berman says the ‘second economy’ plays a vital role in providing jobs and that the government should not tamper with it. This article appeared in Business Day on 23rd November 2006.