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This fact sheet, produced by the Institute for Economic Justice and SECTION27, analyzes budget trends in South Africa's basic education sector. It argues that austerity measures have led to a real-terms decline in per-learner funding, resulting in critical infrastructure failures, particularly regarding school sanitation and support for learners with disabilities, despite the constitutional right to basic education.

This monograph by the Institute for Security Studies examines the complexities of crime in South Africa, highlighting the limitations of official statistics and the regional variations in criminality. It argues that crime is a multifaceted problem requiring localized strategies and announces a comprehensive research project by the Institute for Defence Policy to address critical gaps in policy data and emerging security concerns.

This monograph examines crime and policing in rural South Africa, finding that rural populations experience victimisation rates similar to urban areas but face greater severity due to a lack of social services. Based on a survey of 756 inhabitants across six provinces, the report highlights a lack of confidence in police capabilities and argues that safety interventions should prioritise improving basic policing and reactive services over complex social crime prevention programmes.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the 'rural protection plan' implemented in South Africa in 1997 to combat violent attacks on farms and smallholdings. Based on statistics from 1997 to 1999 and fieldwork in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and KwaZulu-Natal, the report analyzes the motives behind these crimes, the effectiveness of security structures like the commando system, and the impact of socio-economic factors such as land hunger and poor labour relations.

This report provides a detailed exploration of restorative justice (RJ) projects across several South African provinces, including the Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, and Western Cape. It examines the implementation of Victim-Offender Conferences (VOCs) and Family Group Conferences (FGCs) across government departments, civil society organizations, and traditional authorities.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) investigates the theft of gold and platinum group metals (PGM) from South African mines and refineries between 1999 and 2004. It examines the role of organised crime syndicates, the effectiveness of security measures, and the relationship between the mining industry and the South African Police Service (SAPS). The study highlights significant discrepancies in crime reporting and suggests that the scale of theft is far greater than official recovery statistics indicate, driven by international smuggling networks.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies evaluates anti-corruption efforts within the South African Department of Social Development (DSD), specifically focusing on the delivery of social grants. It examines the transition from a fragmented apartheid-era system to a centralized model involving the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), while highlighting systemic challenges such as poverty, maladministration, and inter-agency tensions.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the economic reinsertion of demobilised military personnel in South Africa, focusing on the challenges faced by former soldiers from both statutory and non-statutory forces. It analyzes the mismatch between the skills of demobilised personnel—who are predominantly unskilled or semiskilled—and the demands of a South African labour market that increasingly favors skilled workers. The document provides a profile of demobilised soldiers, evaluates the effectiveness of the SANDF's reintegration efforts, and offers recommendations for improving employment outcomes through targeted reskilling and public-private partnerships.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) provides an overview of the 2007 National Crime and Victimisation Survey (NCVS) in South Africa. It compares data from 2007 with previous surveys from 1998 and 2003 to track trends in victimisation, reporting rates, public perceptions of safety, and the performance of the criminal justice system.

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 guide, published by Natural Justice, provides a comprehensive toolkit for Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in Southern Africa to navigate Access and Benefit-sharing (ABS) processes. It focuses on protecting Traditional Knowledge and natural resources, specifically highlighting the case of Aloe ferox, while explaining the legal frameworks, negotiation strategies, and conservation tools available to ensure fair and equitable benefits from the commercial or scientific use of biological resources.

This community guide, produced by Natural Justice in June 2025, provides instructions for Interested and Affected parties to appeal a May 2025 environmental authorisation granted to Tetra4 (Pty) Ltd. This authorisation allows Tetra4 to expand its gas production activities in the Free State by integrating Exploration Rights 32 and 94 into its existing Production Right.

A community guide published by Natural Justice in January 2026 regarding Motuoane Energy (Pty) Ltd's application to convert a portion of its existing Exploration Right (ER315) into a Production Right (PR) for helium and methane gas extraction in the Free State province of South Africa.

This report documents the proceedings of a conference titled 'Civil Society – Defeating State Capture and Rebuilding the State', held on 23 October 2019 in Johannesburg. Hosted by the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), the event brought together civil society representatives and academics to analyze the effects of state capture in South Africa and propose reforms to insulate the public service from political interference. The report details discussions on the findings of various commissions of inquiry, strategies for state reform, the role of 'lawfare', parliamentary oversight, and public advocacy, culminating in a 'Civil Society Charter' that outlines a collective commitment to rebuilding democratic institutions.

A fact sheet describing COMPACT, a co-funded European Union programme implemented by PARI, SALGA, and Integrity Action to improve local government planning, accountability, and public participation in South Africa.

This briefing summarizes a South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) roundtable held on 29 March 2010 regarding Lesotho's experience with the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The discussion, featuring former APRM Focal Point Ambassador HM Leteka, Professor Roger Southall, and Tšoeu Petlane, examines the milestones of Lesotho's review process, the findings of the Country Review Report, and the socio-economic challenges facing the country.

This fact sheet describes the Northern Drakensberg Collaborative (NDC), a multistakeholder partnership formalised in May 2023 to improve the stewardship of water and natural resources in the Northern Drakensberg Strategic Water Source Area. The NDC focuses on addressing water insecurity, unequal water access, food security, and climate change resilience in a region critical for water supply to multiple South African provinces.

The Youth Climate Champions Training Materials is a guide produced by WWF South Africa to empower young people to become active citizens and agents of activism in response to the climate crisis. The toolkit consists of six interactive sessions designed to provide youth with tools for community engagement, communication, policy design, and professional integration into climate solutions.