South Africa, a protest and violence intensive society

The Global Pluralism Monitor identifies claims-making and contestation as an indicator of how pluralistic a society is to its diverse groups. The Global Pluralism Monitor: South Africa report examines the ability of the diverse groups of race, indigeneity, ethnicity and nationality, to make claims and protest against their government. Interestingly, this assessment also highlighted the connection of this indicator to the presence and rise of violence in South Africa.

All forms of violence are on the rise in South Africa. Although the right to peacefully protest is ingrained in South Africa’s constitution, violent social unrest is increasingly common due to political, ethnic and racial mobilization. According to the 2019 South African Reconciliation Barometer, safety and violence pose continued challenges to South Africa with the country often ranking among the highest in the world for crime. In a time where the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbates socio-economic exclusion, ethnic, gender and class inequalities add fuel to the fire.

Feelings of safety are related to socio-economic power dynamics in society, impacting both reconciliation and social cohesion. For fear of deportation and violence, many African migrants are deterred from participating in protests and legal marches, particularly those that protest against xenophobia. Together, violence directly results from systemic discrimination based on ethnicity, race and economic inequalities that continue to impact post-apartheid South Africa.

To read more about the issues that diverse groups face in South Africa, visit the Global Pluralism Monitor: South Africa country page.