Page 155 - Risk Report 2024

IRMSA
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RISK REPORT 2024

11.1 Social Culture

Human emotions do not support fact-based, objective risk assessment, yet humans
cannot survive or function without emotions. Emotions are what sets humans apart from
machines and rather than trying to remove the human factor from risk management, it
must be understood, and its benefits must be incorporated. Understanding how emotional
human reactions to threats and opportunities contribute to national resilience, will be
the differentiating factor in improving SA’s risk profile, if deliberately incorporated into
the way all organisations in the country are led.

Social culture in SA profoundly influences society’s ability to manage risks, intertwining historical, economic,
and social factors that shape collective responses to risks. A significant aspect of South African social culture
is its diversity, which brings about unique perspectives on risk and resilience. This diversity, which is a key
strength, includes the following elements:
• 30 Years of democracy resulted in most South Africans respecting each other across race, class, history,
and politics.
• The average South African is predominantly moderate, centrist and has a pragmatic public opinion.
• Most citizens share the same values of democracy, middle class standards, and the right to freedom of
expression.
• Most South Africans share the same expectations of jobs to earn a living, good schools for their children,
safe living spaces, and opportunities to accumulate wealth.
• Almost all citizens are willing to exchange ideas and practices that promote innovative solutions to social
problems.
• South Africans often overcome communication barriers or cultural misunderstandings to act cohesively in
crises.
• Citizens share a common desire to build a successful country, based on a just transition to a more equitable
distribution of resources and the benefits of democracy.
• There is a strong reliance on communal support networks that disseminate information, provide mutual
aid, and organise collective responses to crises.

Some of the negative social culture elements that hamper SA’s resilience and ability to prosper include the
following:
• Complacency about how ‘resilient’ we are could lead to a lack of accountability and consequence
management.
• Emotional, mental, and intellectual responses to historical experiences that do not always reflect present
realities.
• Perceptions about who leaders are and should be – many South Africans do not see themselves as leaders
who can bring about change.
• Social cohesion and community networks are sometimes compromised by opportunistic agendas and
crime, which erode trust and collaboration.
• Insufficient understanding of social rights and responsibilities and too much reliance on social media
prevent positive social participation on how to better serve the country.
• Not always embracing traditional beliefs and practices that influence risk perceptions and behaviours and
could respond to risk effectively.