Deputy President Mashatile to deliver keynote address at the launch of the 2024 Social Cohesion Index Research

Deputy President Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile will on Wednesday, 05 February 2025, as part of his delegated responsibility of promoting social cohesion and nation-building initiatives in the country, deliver a keynote address during the launch of the 2024 Social Cohesion Index (SASCI) Research, which will take place at the Villa Calatrava in Cape Town, Western Cape Province.
 
The SASCI research was conducted collaboratively by the Constructor University, Bremen, Germany and enabled by Telkom SA. It measures key indicators such as political, economic and social factors in order to offer a comprehensive overview of the nation’s cohesion as well as highlight areas of strength and identifying challenges that need to be addressed with regards to social cohesion.
 
The Index launch event, which is a partnership between Telkom and the Inclusive Society Institute, is expected to bring together key stakeholders, including Government officials, thought leaders, academics and media, to discuss the findings and explore actionable solutions for building a more unified and inclusive South Africa.
 
Key amongst the findings of the research is that, unlike patterns observed in other countries, South Africa's wealthier provinces show lower social-cohesion levels compared to rural areas, which demonstrate stronger cohesion than urban centres. Furthermore, the research reveals that racial and linguistic diversity contribute positively to social cohesion.
 
The research also points out that provincial variations remain significant, with the Limpopo Province leading in social cohesion by 56.5 points, whereas KwaZulu-Natal recorded the lowest score at 49.6 points. 

Notably, identification with pride of being a South African was the highest scoring dimension of 72.2 points.
 
As a champion of social cohesion and national building initiatives in South Africa, Deputy President Mashatile said "the research is appreciated as it highlights the fact that social cohesion is dependent on our society's ability to address the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality. Moreover, social cohesion is critical because it represents the level of social integration and inclusion within communities and society, as well as the extent to which individuals and groups demonstrate mutual solidarity, all of which must compel us to work more towards achieving our goal of a socially cohesive South Africa."
 
Details of the launch are as follows:

Date: Wednesday, 05 February 2025
Time: 16h30 (media to arrive at 16h00)
Venue: Villa Calatrava, 35 Canterbury Drive, Bishopscourt, Cape Town
 
Members of the media wishing to cover the event are requested to RSVP to Ms Carmenita Adonis-Dudley on adonisCN@telkom.co.za or 081 432 1811.

Media enquiries: Mr Keith Khoza, Acting Spokesperson to the Deputy President on 066 195 8840.

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria