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HSRC Annual Report 2016/17
Perennial topics explore
Data on these topics have been and continue to be used by
politicians, policymakers, academics, and the public
Views on restitution
Trust in government
Race relations
Xenophobia
Protest action
Some high level reports using SASAS data were launched during this period. These include the Public Understanding
of Biotechnology Report, which was launched by the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement
(SAASTA) and the DST in November and also presented at Science Forum South Africa 2016. In addition, a report entitled
“Progressive Prudes” was released based on a module commissioned by The Other Foundation on attitudes towards
homosexuality in SASAS. These results have been widely circulated, cited and reported on.
Election Satisfaction Survey
On 3 August 2016, the fifth local government election in South Africa took place and the DGSD Programme was
commissioned by the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) to conduct an Election Satisfaction Survey. The survey
aimed to assess the opinions and perceptions of voters and election observers on election day to determine whether
the 2016 local government elections were free and fair. The survey further aimed to assess the operational efficiency
of the commission. The project was successfully undertaken, with results available 48 hours after the election and in
time to be included as part of the official announcement declaring the 2016 elections free and fair. Post-election, the
results are being used to inform operational decision-making in preparing for the 2019 national and provincial elections.
Presidency-EU Programme to Support Pro-Poor Development (PSPPD) – Family Study
The PSPPD Family Study was a joint project, co-ordinated by the HSRC (DGSD) and the University of Pretoria on behalf
of the PSPPD. Through the analysis of the 2012 family data collected as part of the South African Social Attitudes Survey
(SASAS), various scholars from the HSRC, together with others with expertise in the areas of family studies, examined
different attitudinal and behavioural themes included in the survey to provide new insight into the state of family
cohesion and family values, and made policy recommendations directed at strengthening families.
International Social Surveys Programme (ISSP) on Inequality
During the 2016 ISSP plenary meeting, SASAS was elected as the lead convenor of the 2019 International Social Inequality
Survey. Six countries were elected to drive the process, namely South Africa, Great Britain, Philippines, Sweden, Venezuela
and France. As the lead convenor, South Africa will be responsible for determining the content of the ISSP world-wide
social inequality survey, providing an opportunity to set an agenda that is suitable to South Africa’s (and by extension
Africa’s) unique social inequality challenges.