White income eight times higher than African

White per capita personal income is nearly eight times higher than that of Africans, says the South African Institute of Race Relations.

According to the latest South Africa Survey published by the Institute in Johannesburg, white per capita personal income in 2008 was 7.7 times higher than that of Africans, 4.5 times higher than that of coloured people, and 1.5 times higher than that of Indians.

The ratio of white income to African has fallen from a peak of 15 to 1 in 1970. In 1917, white income was 11 times higher than African income.

The data, from the Institute for Futures Research at the University of Stellenbosch, reveals that the ratio of white income to coloured income is the same as it was in 1917.

In 1917 the per capita income of Indians was the same as for coloured people, but since then Indian income has grown at a higher rate than that of any other race group.

Ms Lucy Holborn of the research department at the Institute said, ‘These trends are confirmed by data we have from other sources in the Survey. Average incomes for white people are still significantly higher than those of other race groups.'

At constant 2000 prices, between 1993 and 2008 white per capita income rose from R46 486 to R75 297, compared with R19 537 to R51 457 for Indians, R12 911 to R16 567 for coloured people, and R5 073 to R9 790 for Africans.

‘While average incomes still reflect the disparities between race groups that existed during apartheid and before, we are beginning to see a narrowing of these differences,' Ms Holborn said.

Statement issued by the South African Institute of Race Relations, February 1 2011

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