How is non-racialism understood by South Africans in 2012? More precisely how do members of South
Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress (ANC), understand and implement non-racialism? Non-racialism is a contested and frequently co-opted term, thus it is important to investigate what academics, activists and the ANC mean when they talk of ‘building non-racialism’. The South African Constitution decrees in its first chapter that the country is a sovereign, democratic state founded on the value of non-racialism. The ANC, as a party in government hold much responsibility for interpreting
and instrumentalising the principles underpinning the Constitution and in turn guiding the formation of a South African nation. Thus it is imperative to understand both the ANC’s stance and its members’ views of non-racialism.

Researchers from the Centre for the Study of Democracy (UJ/Rhodes) were commissioned by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation to conduct this research report. The lead researcher from CSD for this study is Fiona Anciano-White. Dr Anciano-White acknowledges the assistance of Johnny Alubu Selemani and Bridget Ndibongo. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the Board of Trustees of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

Funding for this research was made possible by the Svenska Postkod Lotteriet (the Swedish Postcode Lottery).