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This report analyzes firearm penetration and community attitudes in three South African case studies: Kwa Mashu, Tsolo-Qumbo, and Lekoa-Vaal. It finds that firearm prevalence is increasing due to high accessibility and rising crime, with youth and gang members being primary drivers. While Kwa Mashu shows the highest levels of firearm-related crime and penetration, ownership is highest in Tsolo-Qumbo and formal Lekoa-Vaal areas. There is general community support for reducing firearms, though the preferred mechanisms for control differ between urban areas (police/defence force) and rural areas (traditional authority). The report suggests that while legislative change is desired, community-based initiatives and leveraging existing social structures like churches and sports clubs are viable paths for local action.

This monograph examines urban terrorism in the greater Cape Town area between 1994 and 2000, focusing on the activities of the vigilante group People Against Gangsterism and Drugs (Pagad) and the South African state's operational and legislative responses.

This monograph examines the evolution, legislative framework, and operational challenges of municipal policing in post-apartheid South Africa. It details the transition from apartheid-era township policing and traditional traffic departments to the establishment of modern Municipal Police Services (MPS) under the South African Police Service Amendment Act No 83 of 1998, focusing on the experiences of major cities like Durban, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Cape Town.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and its efforts to stabilize the country following a decade of civil war. It details the mission's transition from an initial period of failure and hostage-taking in May 2000 to a more successful phase of deployment and disarmament starting in May 2001. The document examines the military, political, and civilian challenges of the peace process, including the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) of combatants, the restoration of government authority, the role of British military support, and the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms like the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This report details a study of nearly 3,000 arrestees in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban to examine the relationship between drug use and crime in South Africa. Using interviews and urinalysis, the research identifies strong ethnic and regional segmentation in drug markets, noting high prevalence of cannabis and Mandrax among certain groups and a growing crack cocaine market linked to sex work and Nigerian syndicates. The authors argue for nuanced, locally-based interventions rather than broad national strategies.

This report presents the results of a socio-economic survey conducted in August 2001 to map the nature and extent of firearm proliferation in Tanzania. The survey, a partnership between the Tanzanian government and NGOs including the Institute for Security Studies, involved 2,892 residents across 12 provinces. It examines the linkages between firearm penetration and social, economic, and security indicators to inform the design of community-based firearm control initiatives.

This report analyzes the restructuring of the South African Police Service (SAPS) detective service, which involved redeploying 503 specialized units to station-level operations to improve crime investigation capacity. The author identifies several systemic failures, including unmanageable caseloads, a rigid bureaucratic hierarchy, and poor conviction rates. The report highlights critical overlaps and rivalries between the SAPS and the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), as well as the precarious financial and operational state of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD). Recommendations include increasing the number of detectives, reducing bureaucratic controls, and clarifying the mandates of new specialized units to avoid repeating past failures.

This monograph, published by the Institute for Security Studies and funded by the Norwegian Government, examines the intersection of terrorism, organized crime, and human rights in Africa. It analyzes the impact of the September 11 attacks on the continent, the legal frameworks provided by the OAU (now African Union) and the United Nations, and the specific operational and legislative responses of South Africa and Algeria.

This report evaluates the Integrated Justice System (IJS) Court Centre Project in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, a collaborative initiative between the government and the private sector (Business Against Crime) designed to address systemic bottlenecks in the criminal justice process. The project integrates various services—including pre-trial services, awaiting trial prisoner reviews, and a prison-based periodical court—to reduce case cycle times, lower prison overcrowding, and improve conviction rates. The report highlights the success of the Port Elizabeth model as a blueprint for national rollout, emphasizing the importance of project management skills and inter-departmental cooperation.

This research paper evaluates the effectiveness of court specialisation in South Africa, focusing on the Specialised Commercial Crime Court (SCCC) in Pretoria. The author argues that the court's success is not derived from its specialised status, but from the deep integration of investigators from the SAPS Commercial Branch and prosecutors from the Specialised Commercial Crime Unit (SCCU). The document distinguishes between 'court specialisation' (statutory parallel courts) and 'court dedication' (reserving resources within existing courts), suggesting the latter is more practical and less risky. While the SCCC shows high conviction rates and efficiency, the author cautions that these results are influenced by high-quality personnel, private sector support from Business Against Crime, and the co-location of staff, making the model difficult to replicate universally.

This report evaluates the transition from peacekeeping to peace-building in Sierra Leone following the May 2002 national elections. It details the success of the disarmament and demobilisation (DD) process, the challenges of reintegrating over 70,000 ex-combatants, and the restructuring of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP). The document also examines the role of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) in providing security and public information, the efforts to extend state authority to the interior, the management of the diamond industry, and the implementation of transitional justice through the Special Court and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

This monograph by Afua Twum-Danso examines the phenomenon of child soldiering in Africa, challenging the notion that it is a product of African culture. Instead, the author argues that the recruitment and deployment of children are driven by socio-economic instability, political agendas, and pragmatic military strategies. The report provides a comprehensive overview of recruitment methods, the roles children play in conflicts, and the long-term physical and psychological consequences of their participation, with a specific focus on the often-overlooked experiences of girl soldiers.

This report assesses security at South African air and sea ports of entry to identify vulnerabilities in the prevention of firearms trafficking. It evaluates the implementation of international standards (ICAO, IMO, IATA, FAA) and national legislation. Key findings highlight systemic weaknesses such as staffing shortages, lack of professional training, and critical gaps in information sharing between airports (e.g., Lanseria). The report recommends enhanced risk profiling, integrated databases, and integrity testing for security personnel.

This report examines the recruitment, demobilisation, and reintegration experiences of female ex-combatants in Ethiopia, specifically those who joined the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as children. Using semi-structured interviews and repertory grid analysis, the study explores how military socialisation shaped these women's identities and their subsequent conflict with traditional gender roles in civilian society.

This report analyzes the abduction and reintegration of child soldiers in Northern Uganda, specifically those forced into the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). It details the extreme violence and sexual exploitation faced by children, the role of psychosocial centres in Gulu, and the use of traditional Acholi cleansing rituals to facilitate reconciliation. The authors argue that the focus on child soldiers often masks deeper political and economic marginalization of the Acholi people by the Ugandan government.

The document is a situation report from the Institute for Security Studies regarding the security and political environment in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on the role of MONUC, the transition to elections, and ongoing conflict in the east.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the context and significance of the local government elections in Mozambique scheduled for 19 November 2003. It examines the country's political transition from a one-party socialist state to a multi-party democracy, the tensions between the ruling Frelimo party and the opposition Renamo, and the socio-economic factors—including poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic—that influence electoral dynamics.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the role of customary law within the criminal justice systems of Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and Zambia. It argues that while customary justice is often more accessible and culturally relevant to local populations than formal systems based on English common law, it frequently conflicts with human rights, particularly regarding the status of women.

This policy brief examines the expansion of marine fisheries eco-labelling in Southern and Eastern Africa, focusing on the roles of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Friends of the Sea (FOS). It analyzes the environmental and commercial incentives for certification, the challenges of including small-scale fisheries, and the necessity of state support and independent impact studies to ensure sustainable fisheries management.

This policy brief, produced by the Institute for Security Studies as part of the African Futures Project, uses the International Futures (IFs) model to analyze the impact of improving water and sanitation access across Africa. It argues that an aggressive annual improvement rate of just under 2 percentage points could significantly reduce child malnutrition and infant mortality, increase GDP, and lower the probability of state failure by 2050.