Dear Friend of the IRR,

The government keeps insisting that inequality in South Africa can only be fixed with race-based, freedom-stifling policies. Are they right? And do South Africans actually want these policies?

Our latest polling data, which we released this past month, shows that most South Africans understand what the government should focus on to improve their everyday lives: jobs, not race.

In addition to releasing our polling findings, this past month we hosted an in-person discussion about South Africa's problems and how to fix them, launched an app, and released a Blueprint for Growth paper detailing how South Africa can attract investment.

Africans want jobs and education, not race-based policies

We've released our latest polling data, which revealed how South Africans really feel about important issues like race, the government, and the future of this country.

One of the things we found was that jobs, crime, and education are top priorities for South Africans. Racism and inequality are low on the list, and most people – 75% - believe the solution to racial inequality is better education and more jobs.

Click here to download the slides and watch Hermann Pretorius break down all the findings.

Water problems? Tell us about it!

We are proud to announce the launch of our #WhatSACanBe app, where you can report water infrastructure issues. When you report an issue on the app, it sends an email to the relevant person in your municipality. The app will also help us build up a dossier of how water infrastructure is collapsing across the country.

Here's how to use the app:

1. Click here.

2. If you're on your phone or tablet, you can add the app to your home screen by following the prompt on the screen. You can also use it directly in the browser on your phone, tablet, or computer.

3. Sign in and submit your issue.

Thank you for joining us

On 20 November, some of you joined Marius Roodt, our Head of Campaigns, and Makone Maja, our Campaign Manager, for a lively in-person discussion on What South Africa Can Be.

Thank you to those who came and voiced your concerns about this country. Through people like you and conversations like this, we contribute to making life better for all the people of South Africa.

We'd like to have more conversations with you, our supporters, in the future. Keep an eye on future newsletters for more information on events.

If you want to see or revisit what we discussed this time, click here for the presentation slides.

Escaping South Africa's investment malaise

Last week we released our latest Blueprint for Growth paper, titled Open(ing) for business: South Africa’s investment malaise and how to escape it.

In this paper, the IRR's Terence Corrigan shows how an array of choices and failings in governance have undermined South Africa’s attractiveness to investors, both foreign and domestic – and how this can be put right.

We publish new papers regularly - click here and sign up to be notified whenever we publish a new paper or keep an eye on our social media.

Policy submissions: Recognise taxpayers as the engine of the economy

This past month, we made three policy submissions to the National Treasury, calling for them to:

1. Reconsider NHI: NHI is a bad policy for many reasons. In our submission, we recommend that taxpayer-flight risks linked to the NHI be assessed, that value-for-money procurement be prioritised, and that the NHI Act be referred back to Parliament for reconsideration;

2. Limit social grants: We recommend keeping existing social grants, without introducing new ones. Instead of keeping the people of South Africa dependent on grants, the government should focus on creating a growing economy that will allow people to earn their own incomes.; and

3. Reject the new wealth tax: Increasing taxes for wealthy South Africans won't fix any of our problems; it will only make them worse by discouraging employment and investment.

Quote of the month

We hope you enjoyed this edition of our monthly newsletter. Click here to let us know what you think and share it with everyone you know who cares about the future of South Africa and all its people.

If you want to hear about our fight for freedom and prosperity more often, click on the social media icons at the bottom of this email. You can also receive our regular press releases and event invitations directly to your email inbox - click here to sign up.

Live Free. Prosper.