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The report examines the systemic failure of police accountability in South Africa, arguing that the existence of the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) has inadvertently allowed the South African Police Service (SAPS) to neglect its own internal duty to monitor and report on the use of force. It highlights a 'vicious cycle' where high levels of police violence overwhelm the external oversight body, while internal accountability remains minimal due to outdated policies and legal protections like the right to silence. The author recommends that SAPS leadership be held directly accountable by Parliament, that the service implement a comprehensive Use of Force Policy developed by the Civilian Secretariat for Police Service, and that internal reporting systems be strengthened to record all firearm discharges, not just those resulting in death or complaints.

The Life After Coal campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), groundWork, and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 29 January 2020 to Eskom's applications for alternative emission limits at the Medupi and Matimba power stations. The campaign argues that the applications are procedurally and substantively unlawful, violate the South African Constitution and environmental laws, and rely on a flawed air quality modelling approach in a priority area already suffering from poor air quality.

The document examines the failure of community trusts to deliver broad-based empowerment in South Africa's mining sector, highlighting how historical land tenure and the power of traditional chieftaincies often lead to rent-seeking and conflict. It specifically critiques Mining Charter III for mandating a new, ill-defined state agency to manage community shares without addressing the underlying governance failures seen in cases like the Bapo Ba Mogale and Bakwena Ba Mogopa.

The monograph analyzes the systemic and leadership failures within the South African Police Service (SAPS) that led to the killing of 34 striking miners at the Lonmin Marikana mine. It identifies two critical shifts in the police response: the nationalization of the operation on 13 August and the decision on 15 August to launch a tactical intervention. The author argues that the operation was characterized by a blurring of command lines, the marginalization of Public Order Police (POP) expertise, and a reckless disregard for the risk of bloodshed. The document highlights how political pressure from the Minister of Police and elite interests influenced senior leaders who lacked operational experience, leading to a rudimentary tactical plan that violated the 'McCann principle' of minimizing lethal force.

A coalition of civil society organisations condemns the South African Minister of Mineral Resources for prioritising corporate interests over the rights and health of mining-affected communities. The statement highlights widespread protests across multiple provinces due to pollution, socio-economic hardship, and the exclusion of communities from the legislative process regarding the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). The coalition warns that rushing the Amendment Bill without genuine consultation will lead to further instability and constitutional challenges, while also noting the impact of illicit financial flows by multinational mining companies.

The policy brief contends that South Africa is failing to secure land tenure for those affected by apartheid-era dispossession. Instead of democratic reform, the authors argue that the state is implementing a separate legal regime for former 'homelands' that empowers chiefs and marginalizes rural communities, particularly regarding the distribution of wealth from platinum mining in the North West and Limpopo provinces.

The document analyzes the decline of South Africa's mining sector, linking it to labour market inefficiency and a dysfunctional institutional framework. It argues that the current legal and political environment encourages a 'prisoners' dilemma' between mining houses and unions, where mutual defection (wildcat strikes) becomes the dominant strategy. The author suggests that democratizing labour relations through balloting and introducing credible third-party penalties for violence could transform this into an 'assurance game' that promotes long-term industry sustainability.

The author contends that South Africa functions as a 'limited access order' where political and economic power is concentrated within a ruling coalition that uses patronage and exclusion to maintain control. In the mining sector, this manifests as violent conflict between the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), as both compete for the 'rents' associated with official union recognition. The document suggests that transitioning to an 'open access order' requires elites to commit to the rule of law, depersonalize government institutions by ending cadre deployment, and ensure the state maintains legitimate, non-factional control over the police and military.

The report documents a pervasive 'environment of fear' in South Africa's mining communities, where activists face physical attacks, death threats, and state-led harassment. It details how local municipalities impose extra-legal restrictions on protests, police use excessive force and arbitrary arrests, and mining companies employ SLAPP suits and social media campaigns to silence opposition. The document argues that these actions violate South African constitutional and international human rights obligations regarding freedom of expression, assembly, and the right to a healthy environment.

The report documents a systemic 'environment of fear' in South Africa's mining regions, where activists facing environmental and social harms from mining are targeted with physical violence, death threats, and legal harassment. It highlights the failure of the South African government to protect these defenders and the role of municipalities in imposing extra-legal restrictions on peaceful assembly. The document also details the use of SLAPP suits and social media attacks by mining companies to silence opposition, while noting the severe environmental and health costs of mining, including water pollution and respiratory diseases.

The briefing examines the tensions between the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and splinter unions such as the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (Amcu) and the National Transport Allied Workers Union (Natawu). It argues that the emergence of these splinter groups is driven by workers' dissatisfaction with Cosatu leaders, who are accused of being too close to political and business elites and engaging in corrupt deals. The document highlights that the blurring of lines between government, unions, and private companies undermines the ability of large unions to represent workers' interests, potentially leading to increased conflict and a threat to South Africa's democratic space.

The report examines the South African mining industry's decline, highlighted by the Marikana shootings, and argues that structural issues—including regulatory uncertainty, failing social and labour plans, and 'narrow' BEE policies—undermine investor confidence and social stability. It proposes adopting the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, replacing Social and Labour Plans with Community Development Agreements, and reforming BEE to benefit workers and communities rather than a small elite. The author warns that the ANC's proposed 'strategic nationalisation' of minerals like platinum and coal, as suggested in the SIMS report, could further jeopardise economic growth and exacerbate social conflict.