Ordinary South Africans do not care about the skin colour of political leaders – only that they are competent to do the job.
So says the Institute of Race Relations (IRR), citing the results of annual opinion surveys it has commissioned over the years.
‘This contrasts with recent fearmongering by among others Andile Mngxitama that a white South African could be chosen as head of state by a national coalition after the 2024 election,’ the IRR said in a statement. ‘Having individuals from racial minority groups participate in governance should not be – and in South Africa, is not – a concern in a mature constitutional democracy.’
The IRR says in a statement that its latest survey, conducted in 2022, shows that 73% of black, 86% of coloured, 83% of Indian, and 89% of white South Africans ‘agree that South Africans of different races need one another for progress and that there should be full opportunity for people of all skin colours’.
‘Additionally, 61% of black, 63% of coloured, 80% of Indian, and 76% of white South Africans agree that politicians’ constant talk of racism and colonialism amounts to nothing more than diverting attention from their (the politicians’) own failures in office.’
The statement says: ‘Fearmongering about the possibility of South Africa ever again having a white president does not find purchase among ordinary South Africans.’
Says IRR Deputy Head of Policy Research, Martin van Staden: ‘The struggle against apartheid was a struggle against injustice, a lack of freedom, and racial oppression – a struggle of substance rather than appearances.
‘South Africans care about competence, not colour,’ Van Staden adds.
‘Experience around the world and across Africa has shown that competence and incompetence come in all colours: what matters is the merits of the particular individual concerned, their value system, their integrity, and their leadership qualities. This is what South Africans care about.’
The IRR says it has been conducting opinion polling for over a decade, ‘confirming year upon year that relations between South Africans of different races are on the whole friendly and honourable. This despite the best efforts of opportunistic commentators to create the impression of widespread racial hostility.’
IRR survey samples are demographically representative in terms of race, socioeconomic status, language, age, and geographic location. The 2022 survey was conducted in September and October 2022 among 607 participants and has a 5% margin of error.
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