i. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) National Governing Council (NGC) of the Republic of South Africa hereby acknowledges the active role played by representatives of government, civil society, and all participants in the national and provincial consultative workshops. We wish to acknowledge, in particular, the following institutions: a) South African Council of Churches b) South African NGO Coalition c) South African Civics Organization d) NEPAD Business Foundation e) Academia and Professionals f) Congress of South African Trade Unions g) Business Unity South Africa h) Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa i) Women’s National Coalition J) National Children’s Rights Committee k) South African Youth Council l) Disabled People of South Africa m) Heritage, Indigenous Knowledge, Arts and Culture Institutions Many of the civil society organizations listed above are affiliated to the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) South African Chapter. We also wish to acknowledge and thank the various authors who wrote different sections of the report as well as the convenor of the writing team and editor of the entire report. The NGC further acknowledges the role played by the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Business sector in the activities of the APRM in general and their contributions during the preparation of this report. Special thanks also go to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) and the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa for consistently making sure that policy issues relating to the fight against racism and xenophobia are confronted and addressed. Racism and xenophobia are the two cross-cutting issues South Africa was tasked to isolate for more examination during the third APRM progress reporting period in 2013. Based on the work of the SAHRC and Parliament of the Republic of South Africa (as well as provincial legislatures) we are able to report progress as well as the remaining challenges on these issues. 3