As part of the build-up to Freedom Day, the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), an entity of the Department of Science and Technology, will launch the state-of-the-nation publication Poverty and Inequality � Diagnosis, Prognosis and Responses at the University of Pretoria on Wednesday, 24 April 2019.

The book comes ahead of the 25th commemoration of South Africa’s attainment of democracy, and address conceptual issues around poverty and inequality.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane and the CEO of the HSRC, Prof. Crain Soudien will launch the publication.

“This book aims to delve into the complexity of the phenomena of poverty of inequality with a view to contributing to the formulation of effective policies,” saidProf. Crain Soudien, ahead of next week’s launch.

In the foreword to Poverty and Inequality, Alec Erwin, the former Minister of Public Enterprises, describes the publication as “a rich and timely contribution to a national reflection on the establishment and quality of our democratic nation state.” Erwin continues: “[W]e either learn from our recent experiences and pursue a process of nation building around a more humane and egalitarian society, or we continue to stumble and perpetuate the division so redolent in our history.”

The launch of the publication coincides with the commemoration of the 50th and 90th anniversaries of the HSRC. In 1929, the HSRC was created to replace the Bureau for Educational and Social Research; and in 1969, the HSRC was officially established through an Act of Parliament.

Source: Department: Science and Technology