On 21 March 1960, 69 people died and 180 were wounded when police fired on a peaceful crowd that had gathered in Sharpeville to protest against the pass laws (stipulations that required black Africans to carry pass books [dompas] and produce them to law enforcement officials on request). This day became an iconic date in our country’s history that today we commemorate as Human Rights Day. It is a reminder of an affirmation by ordinary people, rising in unison to proclaim their rights. On Human Rights Day, South Africans are asked to reflect on their rights, to protect their rights and the rights of all people from violation irrespective of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, whether they are foreign nationals or not – human rights apply to everyone, equally. In terms of the Bill of Rights, everyone has a right to life, equality and human dignity.

In the same month, a campaign known as Anti-Racism Week will be taking place from 14 to 21 March 2017, culminating on Human Rights Day. Anti-Racism Week is hosted by the Anti-Racism Network of South Africa (ARNSA). This is an annual campaign, organised by the network in a bid to tackle racism and create awareness nationally. This year, ARNSA hopes to increase the impact of the campaign, which calls on all South Africans to heed the call on racism, under the slogan #TakeOnRacism, and encourages people to learn about racism, talk about racism, speak out against racism and act against racism.

In this month’s issue of Mbalo Brief, our educational article is based on earning and spending in South Africa from 2006 to 2011. The article outlines the income and expenditure patterns in South African households, and focuses on the manner in which households in South Africa earned and spent their income from 2006 to 2011.

Articles published in this issue are based on results of industry surveys conducted for the months ranging from November 2016 to January 2017.

Download: Mbalo Brief – March 2017

For more details on any of the surveys, visit our website at: www.statssa.gov.za