“The report, while also tracking trends and longitudinal results over time, focuses on South African youth and their attitudes
towards reconciliation – a demographic that until recently has been quite difficult to capture in survey research. This year, South African ‘born frees’ turned 18, and the
Reconciliation Barometer is increasingly able to test the attitudes and views of the country’s first post-apartheid generation. First, professor of rhetoric Erik Doxtader writes on the power of discourse and its importance to the South African reconciliation project, in a tribute to the late Neville Alexander. Also focusing on reconciliation in practice, Carolin Gomulia and Zyaan Davids profile Olga Macingwane, the recent winner of the Institute’s Reconciliation Award and leader of the Worcester Hope and Reconciliation Process in the wake of the 1996 Christmas Eve bombings. Young voices also fill the pages of this issue. Kudakwashe Matongo, suggests that South Africa needs to adopt a new policy approach that emphasises education and job creation for a more secure and stable economic future. Eleanor Swartz explores the new social and economic challenges faced by South Africa’s post-apartheid, ‘born free’ generation. Mabine Seabe, writes on the importance of commemorating the National Day of Reconciliation. Finally, Malan Jacobs considers the contributions that individuals, and not just groups or communities, can make to reconciliation.”
