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This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the challenges facing South Africa's electricity sector, specifically the gap between energy planning and grid planning. Using the International Futures (IFs) forecasting model, the author develops three scenarios to 2050—Current Path, Efficient Grid, and Smarter Grid—to demonstrate how integrated planning, operational flexibility, and coherent policies for small-scale embedded generation (SSEG) can improve economic growth and reduce poverty and carbon emissions.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the nature, impact, and service delivery responses to violence against women in South Africa. Based on interviews with 1,000 survivors across nine provinces, the study analyzes economic, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, highlighting the normalization of domestic violence and the systemic failures of police, medical, and legal services in providing effective support and protection.

The report "The Enemy Within" examines the impact of HIV/AIDS on the armed forces of five Southern African nations—Botswana, Swaziland, Zambia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe—and evaluates their policy and medical responses over a 25-year period.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the establishment and operational design of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), focusing on the tensions between developed and developing nations regarding governance, the role of the World Bank, and the influence of the private sector in climate finance for Africa.

This monograph captures the proceedings of a seminar held in Pretoria on 18-19 April 2000, titled "Security in Africa: French and South African Perspectives." The document explores the intersection of national identity, human security, governance, and economic development, with a specific focus on the evolving roles of France and South Africa in African security. It analyzes various conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, and West Africa, while evaluating the effectiveness of regional and international intervention frameworks such as the UN, OAU, SADC, and ECOWAS.

This policy brief, published by the Institute for Security Studies in June 2011, examines the governance of climate change funds—specifically the Adaptation Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)—across several developing countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. It highlights systemic issues regarding accountability, stakeholder representation, and the risk of private sector interests overriding local needs.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the intersection of climate change, gender inequality, and human mobility in Africa. It argues that gender-neutral climate policies deepen existing inequalities and that women, despite being key agents of adaptation, face disproportionate risks and barriers to resources, finance, and decision-making.

The October 2023 Peace and Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the systemic weaknesses of the African Union (AU), the escalating conflict in Ethiopia's Amhara region, the challenges facing the AU Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), and the broader implications of withdrawing peacekeepers from African conflicts. It also discusses the AU's new membership in the G20.

The Peace and Security Council (PSC) Report Issue 79 analyzes several African security crises, including institutional instability in Guinea-Bissau, the military approach to al-Shabaab in Somalia, contested elections in Chad and the Republic of Congo, and the AU's diplomatic efforts in Burundi. It also features an interview with Ambassador Frederic Ngoga Gateretse on early warning systems and structural conflict prevention.

This briefing summarizes the results of the 2011 Annual Conference of the Think Tank Forum GIBSA, focusing on the shared interests and individual agendas of Germany, India, Brazil, and South Africa during their concurrent terms as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). The document highlights their collective push for UNSC reform to better reflect current global power dynamics and their efforts to establish a common agenda on issues such as climate change, non-proliferation, and the legitimacy of international security governance.

This research paper by Jakkie Potgieter for the Institute for Security Studies critically assesses the failure of disarmament components within United Nations peace support operations in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on UNAVEM II, UNAVEM III in Angola, and ONUMOZ in Mozambique. The author argues that ineffective disarmament and demobilisation have contributed to a regional proliferation of small arms, fueling crime and instability in countries including South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, and Malawi.

This fact sheet by Natural Justice outlines concerns regarding the proposed reform of the Land Law in Mozambique, specifically focusing on 'Draft 1' of the legislation. The document argues that the proposed law moves toward the privatisation of land, removes access to 'unavailable land', and fails to provide legal guarantees for local communities or protection against forced displacement.

This fact sheet by Natural Justice critiques the Upstream Petroleum Resources Development Bill, arguing that its goal to accelerate petroleum exploitation in South Africa contradicts the country's climate commitments, threatens biodiversity, and lacks sufficient public consultation.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) provides a formal submission of public comments on the 'National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service' published in December 2020. While PARI supports the framework's goal of insulating the public service from inappropriate political interference, it argues that the document is too aspirational and focuses excessively on inputs (such as training and exams) rather than outputs, performance management, and consequence management.

This report by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the failure of South Africa to provide equitable and affordable access to sufficient water, despite constitutional guarantees. It argues that the state has substituted a comprehensive human-rights definition of access with a narrow focus on physical infrastructure, while ignoring affordability and water quality. The report highlights the inadequacy of the Free Basic Water (FBW) policy and the systemic contradiction between municipal financial sustainability and the human right to water.

This report examines land-use management in the Lephalale Local Municipality, focusing on the challenges of a municipality that owns almost no land within its urban edge. It details the municipality's strategies for land acquisition, the provision of integrated human settlements, and the incremental introduction of land-use schemes in rural areas under traditional authorities, specifically the Seleka Traditional Authority. The document highlights the influence of major mining and energy companies, the impact of the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA), and the complexities of intergovernmental relations.

This report by the Public Affairs Research Institute analyzes the financial and operational crisis facing South African municipal electricity distribution and proposes integrating existing rooftop solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as a pathway to reduce bulk costs and improve reliability.

This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and PG&E examines the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of zero net energy (ZNE) buildings and distributed energy resources (DERs). It argues that traditional utility business models and volumetric rate structures are poorly adapted to a bidirectional power system, potentially leading to economic inefficiencies and equity issues. The authors propose a framework for solutions based on rigorous impact measurement, the use of price signals to align incentives, and the evolution of utility business models toward either incentive-based regulation or a network utility model.

This report outlines the risks and needs of low-income (LI) and fixed-income (FI) electricity customers during the transition to a distributed energy resource (DER) and renewable electricity system. It identifies financial and social concerns, maps existing and unmet needs, and examines case studies to determine how these segments can be equitably integrated into a high-DER future.

The report 'HOW NOT TO PARACHUTE MORE CATS' by Hunter and Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues that global resource crises—including energy, water, and climate change—can be solved by understanding interconnections and prioritizing resource efficiency over the expansion of supply. The authors advocate for a 'least-cost' approach, demonstrating that energy efficiency and renewable technologies are often cheaper and more effective than fossil fuels or nuclear power. They suggest that these technical solutions can simultaneously improve economic health, reduce nuclear proliferation, and enhance global security by reducing dependence on volatile resources like Mideast oil.