IRR's right of reply on quotas

UNAPOLOGETIC: INSTITUTE OF RACE RELATIONS' STATEMENT ON SPRINGBOK SELECTION

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he Institute of Race Relations (IRR) will not apologise for telling the truth about what South Africans believe.

Our latest polling on the state of race relations in South Africa, to be released in full on 26 November, shows that 92% of South Africans support merit-based national team selections and reject race-based quotas.

This is not the view of a “right-wing” grouping or think-tank. It is the view of the overwhelming majority of the country.

In the social media posts sharing this finding, we have described the Springbok players as heroes, champions - exemplars of exactly the merit that 92% of black South Africans, 92% of coloured South Africans, 86% of Indian South Africans, and 93% of white South Africans want in our sports teams.

The IRR's clear point, inexplicably missed by The Citizen, is the exact opposite of what the publication somewhat absurdly alleges: the Springboks succeed exactly because they represent merit, unity, and excellence, and not because of racial quotas imposed by the SA government across workplaces, institutions, and, yes, sport.

To show sporting heroes as the very merit-based representation South Africans want to see across the whole of society, the opposite of the long-outdated yet still applied government position that racial boxes need to be ticked, is to celebrate the merit that produces growth and success.