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This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies proposes a framework for scaling up evidence-based violence prevention programmes in South Africa. It argues that while the country has extensive research on the causes and nature of violence, there is a significant 'implementation gap' between policy and practice. The authors advocate for the use of implementation research and the establishment of an 'implementation hub' to coordinate government, NGOs, and academics in ensuring that interventions are effective, sustainable, and responsive to real-world community contexts.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the economic development of the Western Cape, focusing on its struggle with the 'middle-income trap.' Using the International Futures (IFs) forecasting model, the document compares a Base Case scenario with three alternative policy paths—Inclusive Economy, Vibrant Economy, and Enterprising Cape—to determine how the province can achieve high-income status and reduce social inequality by 2040.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the Implementation of the Geneva Conventions Act, 2012 (Act 8 of 2012) in South Africa. The author examines how the Act domesticates the Geneva Conventions and their Protocols, introduces the doctrine of command responsibility, and creates a legal pathway to prosecute war crimes committed prior to 2002, including those during the apartheid era.

This policy brief analyzes the impact of April 2013 US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) indictments against high-ranking Guinea-Bissau officials, arguing that while the move challenges a long-standing culture of impunity, it risks triggering further instability if not accompanied by a comprehensive strategy to strengthen the national criminal justice system.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyses South Africa's post-conflict development and peacebuilding engagements in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It aims to identify lessons to inform the development of the South African Development Partnership Agency (SADPA), concluding that South Africa's interventions have often been short-term, uncoordinated, and lacking in sustainable impact due to poor strategic planning and insufficient resources.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyses the escalating political tensions between the Mozambican government (Frelimo) and the Mozambican National Resistance Movement (Renamo) following the 2013 attacks on Renamo's base. It evaluates Renamo's capacity to return to civil war, the internal divisions within the party, and the geopolitical implications for the SADC region, while offering recommendations for a political resolution ahead of the 2014 general elections.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for a shift in how organised crime is perceived and combated in Southern Africa. It advocates for moving away from rigid, narrow definitions toward a business-centric, network-based approach that recognizes the symbiotic relationships between criminal networks, state officials, and legitimate businesses. The author recommends the adoption of a regional protocol to harmonise legal procedures and the use of social network analysis to better disrupt transnational criminal markets.

This policy brief examines the relationship between urban design and organised crime in Cape Town, arguing that apartheid-era spatial planning created dysfunctional environments that facilitate criminal networks. It discusses how inadequate housing, poor infrastructure, and economic marginalisation allow gangs to act as parallel authorities, and recommends integrating crime prevention strategies into urban planning to reduce the influence of organised crime.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes voter participation and the outcomes of South Africa's May 2014 national and provincial elections. It highlights a steady decline in electoral participation since 1994, particularly among youth and rural populations, and examines the shifting political landscape as the African National Congress (ANC) faces reduced majorities in urban centers like Gauteng.

This policy brief argues that the internal reform of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) is a fundamental prerequisite for sustainable peace and nation-building in South Sudan. The author contends that the 2013 conflict was triggered by a breakdown of political order and the party's failure to transition from a militarised liberation movement to a democratic ruling party. The document recommends formally linking SPLM internal restructuring—including demilitarisation, the establishment of leadership succession processes, and the empowerment of grassroots structures—to the broader peace negotiations facilitated by the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the establishment of a dedicated, internal anti-corruption unit within the South African Police Service (SAPS). It examines the failure of previous anti-corruption efforts, the limitations of current external oversight, and provides specific recommendations for the structure, staffing, and operational independence of a new specialized unit to combat persistent police corruption.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes major demographic, economic, technological, urban, and socio-political transitions in Africa through 2035. Using the International Futures forecasting system, the authors highlight a general positive trend but warn that rapid population growth, fragile democratic foundations, and infrastructure gaps may compound poverty and instability if not addressed by strategic governance and investment.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues for the establishment of an IGAD Regional Maritime Council (RMC) to address underdeveloped maritime trade, high operational costs, and infrastructural deficits in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development region.

This policy brief by the Omega Research Foundation, published by the Institute for Security Studies in June 2016, examines the manufacture and trade of electric shock devices in South Africa. It argues that a lack of trade controls on these devices—including stun belts, shields, and batons—facilitates torture and ill-treatment, contradicting South Africa's constitutional and international human rights obligations. The document details the activities of South African companies exporting these devices globally and recommends a comprehensive ban on body-worn and hand-held direct contact electric shock equipment.

This policy brief examines South Africa's evolving role as a 'norm entrepreneur' in Africa, arguing that while the country initially led the continent in promoting democracy and human rights, its recent foreign policy has become more inward-looking and economically pragmatic.

This preface describes a collaborative publication by the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS) and the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) focused on the environmental dimensions and causes of conflicts in Africa, specifically regarding land tenure.

The SA Army Seminar 21, held in November 2006, served as a 'reality check' for the SA Army Vision 2020. Featuring international speakers from the USA, UK, Australia, and Africa, the seminar addressed global and internal security challenges and land operations. The event confirmed requirements for personnel, technology, and doctrine, and the SA Army plans to make the seminar a biennial event to foster collective security in Africa.

This preface describes a political seminar held in Brazzaville during South African Week, organized by the South African Embassy, IDASA, and the Institute for Security Studies. The seminar aimed to share lessons from South Africa's transition from apartheid to democracy (marked by the date 27 April 1994) with representatives from the Republic of Congo. The resulting electronic publication includes session papers and speeches from four key figures in the South African democratic transition.

This report analyzes the challenges of implementing crime prevention policies in South Africa, highlighting a significant gap between high-level policy and practical execution. It argues that the adoption of Western models has failed due to a lack of local accountability and the dominance of short-term policing goals over long-term social interventions. The text further examines the failure of multi-agency partnerships, which often prioritize the process of consultation over actual project delivery, and notes a critical lack of research and evaluation to determine which interventions effectively reduce crime in the South African context.

This report examines the implementation of city-level crime prevention strategies in South Africa, focusing on the transition from punitive law enforcement to problem-solving approaches. It analyzes the experiences of major cities—Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban—evaluating various models such as 'Safer Cities' and Section 21 companies, while highlighting the tension between situational prevention (like CCTV and visible policing) and long-term social interventions.