Search Climate Insights Directory

This working paper by Joel Pearson surveys South African literature on the role of traditional authorities in land governance, analyzing the institution through the lenses of democracy, bureaucracy, and capitalism. It argues against a monolithic view of the chieftaincy, highlighting the diversity of local practices and the ongoing tensions between traditional leaders, rural residents, and the state in the post-apartheid era.

This research paper applies Michel Foucault's 'micro-physics' of power to analyze the internal workings of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa during a period of intense political conflict between 2014 and 2015. The author examines how an ousted mayor, Tlhalefi Mashamaite, used regimes of visibility, exclusion, and truth to discipline municipal bureaucrats and consolidate power following a violent return to office.

This case study by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the institutional collapse of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa. It argues that the municipality has entered a state of 'perpetual instability' driven by cyclical factionalism within the African National Congress (ANC) at local, regional, and provincial levels. The report details how political battles over the appointment of the Municipal Manager (MM) led to administrative rupture, the use of 'lawfare' to target rivals, and a total shutdown of services in 2014, illustrating a broader trend of institutional fragility within the South African state.

This industry brief by GreenCape highlights replicable water stewardship projects in South Africa, specifically in the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It showcases the effectiveness of nature-based solutions, such as invasive alien plant clearing by the Greater Cape Town Water Fund, and infrastructure improvements like leak repairs in schools funded by an FMCG company. The document advocates for public-private partnerships to enhance water security and resilience.

This research paper examines the potential for establishing a Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) hybrid Centre of Specialisation (CoS) to support South Africa's Green Hydrogen Economy (GHE). It analyzes systemic failures in the current vocational skills development system—including declining enrolments, poor throughput rates, and a disconnect between curricula and industry needs—and evaluates the existing CoS model and pilot programs (Bambili and NBI) to provide recommendations for a demand-led, flexible skills strategy for the green transition.