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The National Research Conference Report details a two-day event held on 1-2 December 2025 in Johannesburg, focused on 'Reimagining Developmental Local Government'. The conference served as a platform to showcase findings from the COMPACT project—a European Union-funded initiative implemented by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), SALGA, and Integrity Action—which aimed to enhance accountability and public participation in 12 South African municipalities. The report covers discussions on citizen participation tools, gender and youth inclusion, innovative municipal practices, performance monitoring, and the implementation of Citizen-Based Monitoring (CBM).

This document is a collection of abstracts for the COMPACT National Research Conference 2025, titled "Reimagining Developmental Local Government: New Approaches to Legacy Challenges." The abstracts outline various research papers and provocations focused on enhancing citizen participation, gender and youth inclusivity, innovative urban practices, and performance monitoring within South African municipalities.

This report provides an overview of the South African electricity market, focusing on the energy services (ES) value chain, which comprises rooftop solar PV, energy storage, and energy efficiency. It details the drivers of market growth—including rolling blackouts and rising electricity costs—the roles of key industry players, and the regulatory framework governing the sector.

The 2023 Energy Services Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes the growth of South Africa's energy services market, driven by load shedding and rising electricity costs. Key opportunities include rooftop solar PV (projected 10 GWp by 2035), battery storage (projected R32.5 billion by 2035), and smart meters (projected R40 billion by 2035). While technology costs are falling and financing is becoming more accessible, the market faces barriers such as port inefficiencies and a shortage of technical skills.

Natural Justice submitted comments on the draft Climate Change Bill (B9-2022) to the South African Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on 27 May 2022. The organization argues that the Bill lacks the urgency required to address the climate crisis, fails to set ambitious emission reduction targets, and provides insufficient protections for constitutional rights and vulnerable communities.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the complex relationship between climate change and violent conflict in Africa. It argues that while climate change acts as a 'risk multiplier' that can exacerbate existing political, social, and economic tensions, the link to violence is indirect and highly contextual. The document emphasizes the need for conflict-sensitive climate adaptation strategies, particularly in fragile contexts, and calls for the Global North to fulfill climate finance commitments to support the Global South.

This report provides a management framework for South Africa's Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs), which produce over 50% of the region's mean annual runoff from 10% of the land. It details the economic importance of SWSAs, their role in supporting millions of people and the national economy, and provides specific implementation guidelines for the forestry, agriculture, and mining sectors to mitigate impacts on water quality and quantity. It advocates for the integration of SWSA maps into strategic spatial planning and the expansion of protected areas.

The South Africa Green Economy Barometer 2018 evaluates the country's transition toward a fair, green economy, awarding it a score of 5 out of 10. While South Africa possesses strong policy foundations, such as the National Development Plan and the 2011 Green Economy Accord, the report finds that the economy remains locked into carbon-intensive 'brown' systems, particularly in energy and mining, and fails to adequately include marginalized populations and the informal sector in its transition.

This research paper by Crispian Olver examines state capture and systemic corruption within the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality (NMBM), focusing on the Human Settlements Department and the Integrated Public Transport System (IPTS). The author, who served on a national intervention team, details how political factions and private syndicates captured municipal functions to extract rents, leading to administrative collapse, financial crisis, and the murder of a councillor. The paper analyzes the subsequent 2015 intervention led by Mayor Danny Jordaan and the broader political implications for the ANC in the 2016 local elections.

This document is a formal record of refusal issued by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) regarding an application for Environmental Authorisation (EA) for a project on ERF 252 Coega, Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. The DFFE refused the application based on several factors, including the lack of a comprehensive Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and failure to address specific environmental and legislative requirements.

This document contains the Applicant's Heads of Argument and Practice Note filed by the City of Cape Town in the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria). The City is seeking a declaratory order regarding the interpretation of section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act 4 of 2006 (ERA), arguing that a ministerial determination is not required for an independent power producer (IPP) to establish a new power plant and supply electricity to the City. The City contends that the current interpretation held by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and the Minister of Energy is either legally incorrect or unconstitutional as it infringes upon the autonomy of local government.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment of South Africa has refused an application for Environmental Authorisation submitted by Karpowership SA (Pty) Ltd for a 540MW Gas to Power Powership Project at the Port of Ngqura. The refusal is based on significant failures in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, including inadequate public consultation, missing critical specialist studies on underwater noise, and gaps in the provided environmental assessments.

This guide outlines the criteria and risk assessments for mining activities within high-importance biodiversity priority areas. It establishes a rigorous set of filters and a risk-averse approach to determine if mining is an optimal land use compared to the preservation of critical ecosystems and water resources.

This 2025 Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes investment opportunities in South Africa's large-scale renewable energy sector, focusing on private off-taker development and local component manufacturing. It details the shift from public procurement to private power purchase agreements (PPAs), the impact of electricity market liberalisation, and the systemic barriers posed by grid capacity constraints and policy uncertainty.

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.

This fact sheet from WWF South Africa describes the role, management, and challenges of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in South Africa. It details the legislative framework, the different types of protection zones, and the importance of these areas for biodiversity, climate resilience, and economic stability. The document also highlights specific major MPAs and South Africa's commitment to the global '30x30' biodiversity target.