In recent months, several stories in the South African media have focused on racial issues in sectors ranging from education to sport. The filming of an anti-integration video on a university campus and the refusal of a sportsperson to represent his country as a “quota” player are examples of uneasy tensions simmering across the landscape. Against this backdrop, South Africa is confronted with a central political dilemma: how to advance redress to address the historical injustices of the past – while simultaneously building a single national cosmopolitan identity.
In Racial Redress and Citizenship in South Africa (HSRC Press) edited by Kristina Bentley and Adam Habib, a range of commentators focus on four domains to research the success of redress so far, and to explore whether alternative methods may have more beneficial consequences. In the public service, the economy, education and sport, researchers were encouraged to supply answers in a form that could be useful to both policy-makers and the academy.

The conclusions drawn by the editors and writers in this publication provide thought-provoking and practical material. Notably, an approach is suggested which goes against the grain of both the government and its critics. And yet, with its basis in rigorous research and analysis, it is advice which cannot be ignored.

There is a school of thought that opposes redress on the grounds that government should not be involved in initiatives that recognise racial differences, and assumes that post-1994 provides a level playing field. However, there is significant empirical evidence to the contrary. The discrimination suffered by black people in the past crucially influences their life choices in the present. As such, there is both a moral and pragmatic rationale for programmes such as affirmative action and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). The challenge is how best to implement this, while benefiting those most in need, and still promote a unified national citizenry.

Section 1 of Racial Redress and Citizenship in South Africa begins with an overview of racial redress, national identity and citizenship in post-apartheid South Africa by editors Bentley and Habib. This is followed by an analysis of national surveys by Steven Friedman and Zimitri Erasmus, in which they interrogate what surveys say (and do not say) about race and redress.

Section 2 presents case studies from the four sectors. In the public service arena, Mcebisi Ndletyana looks at the application of affirmative action, Vinothan Naidoo assesses racial redress, while Ivor Chipkin explores race and redress in the Department of Public Service and Administration.

In the economy section, Geoffrey Modisha writes on affirmative action and cosmopolitan citizenship, Andries Bezuidenhout tackles BEE in the South African mining industry, and Diana Sanchez looks at transformation in small, medium and micro enterprises.

In the education sphere, Linda Chisholm focuses on several schools in the Gauteng area to focus on race and redress in contemporary schooling, while Seán Morrow tackles the same subject in historically black universities.

Finally, Ashwin Desai and Dhevarsha Ramjettan look at the boundaries of sport and citizenship in “liberated” South Africa, and Desai continues the sporting theme by exploring the contemporary case of football in South Africa – and Africa – within a globalised sporting environment.

The editors provide a concluding chapter that draws on the information provided by the authors. Overwhelming evidence points to the fact that while redress is seen as necessary by the majority of South Africans, the existing modes of delivery are not necessarily benefiting those most in need. BEE and affirmative action based solely on race do not protect or uplift poor and marginalised citizens, and in fact sometimes hinder delivery to those same people. While redress based on class has been suggested as an alternative, it too has failings in that it may not necessarily deracialise the class hierarchy, and also implies that economic empowerment is the only affirmative element required for redress.

What the editors suggest is an initiative constructed on more nuanced terms, incorporating both race and class, which would be capable of addressing South Africa’s complex needs. A class-defined redress programme, supplemented by race-based initiatives, could affect redress to the benefit of South Africa’s poor, as well as encourage a cosmopolitan, non-racial nation.

With in-depth case studies and rigorous analysis Racial Redress and Citizenship in South Africa makes a bold case for a vision of South Africa that is not only in line with the Constitution, but which could serve as a beacon in the global struggle to build bridges of solidarity and a cohesive human community.

Racial Redress and Citizenship in South Africa is edited by Kristina Bentley and Adam Habib and is published by the HSRC Press. Habib was formerly Executive Director of the Democracy and Governance research programme at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and is currently Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg. Bentley is an independent researcher and previously Chief Research Specialist in Democracy and Governance at the HSRC.

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