Johannesburg – The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) has launched a bold challenge against South African universities, accusing them of enforcing controversial racial classification policies tied to the government’s new Employment Equity Sectoral Numerical Targets.
The IRR claims that universities are under increasing pressure to implement rigid race-based quotas, allegedly in compliance with the Department of Labour’s revised employment equity guidelines. These targets, designed to enforce demographic representativity across sectors, are now raising constitutional and ethical red flags—especially within institutions of higher learning.
“South African universities are meant to be places of open inquiry and intellectual freedom, not centres of state-mandated racial engineering,” said IRR spokesperson Gabriel Crouse. “We are calling on them to reject race classification systems that reduce individuals to categories defined by apartheid logic.”
The IRR argues that the new policies force universities to classify students and staff according to race—often using outdated apartheid-era labels—to meet compliance standards. This, they argue, undermines merit-based selection, academic excellence, and personal dignity.
Under the amended Employment Equity Act, specific targets have been set for different sectors—including education—placing universities under pressure to align hiring and admissions with national demographic profiles. The IRR warns that this approach risks deepening divisions and politicizing campuses.
In a statement, the IRR confirmed that it has written to several top universities, urging them to publicly clarify their stance on racial classification and commit to non-racial principles in staffing and admissions.
Campus Reactions Mixed
While some academics and student groups have voiced support for the IRR’s position, others argue that the targets are a necessary part of redressing historical injustices in higher education.
The debate has reignited broader national discussions on transformation, equality, and the role of race in post-apartheid South Africa.
What’s Next?
The IRR has hinted at possible legal action if universities fail to reconsider their compliance with the racial classification policies. As pressure mounts, the question remains: can transformation be achieved without compromising individual rights?
