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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 chapter details the historical development and implementation of restorative justice (RJ) in South Africa, tracing its evolution from early victim-offender mediation projects in the 1990s to the integration of community-based justice and government policy initiatives.

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 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 evaluates the effectiveness of South African border control mechanisms in preventing the illegal smuggling of firearms. Through case studies in KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape, and surveys of 52 land border posts, the research identifies systemic failures including severe understaffing, lack of basic infrastructure, and corruption. While the South African Police Service (SAPS) and South African National Defence Force (SANDF) are the primary actors, the report finds that the permeability of the borders remains excessive, with illegal firearms and other contraband moving across the borderline frequently outside of official ports of entry.

This report analyzes the restructuring of the South African Police Service (SAPS) detective service, which involved redeploying 503 specialized units to station-level operations to improve crime investigation capacity. The author identifies several systemic failures, including unmanageable caseloads, a rigid bureaucratic hierarchy, and poor conviction rates. The report highlights critical overlaps and rivalries between the SAPS and the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), as well as the precarious financial and operational state of the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD). Recommendations include increasing the number of detectives, reducing bureaucratic controls, and clarifying the mandates of new specialized units to avoid repeating past failures.

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, produced by Natural Justice, provides information to the public regarding a proposed oil and gas exploration project in Block 3B/4B off the west coast of South Africa. It outlines the project's scope, the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process, potential ecological and social risks, and instructions for public participation.

This guide, published by Natural Justice in January 2024, provides information to the public regarding the proposed oil and gas exploration activities by Africa Oil South Africa Corp (AOSAC) and its joint venture partners in Block 3B/4B off the west coast of South Africa. It outlines the exploration process, potential environmental and social impacts, and the procedure for public participation and commenting on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

This policy brief argues that secure land tenure is a prerequisite for the just engagement of indigenous communities in South Africa's energy transition. Focusing on the Boegoebaai green hydrogen hub in the Northern Cape, the document highlights how the Richtersveld community's unresolved land restitution claims and historical dispossessions risk further marginalization. It calls for the conclusion of land claims, the adoption of inclusive partnership models (similar to those in Canada), and the institutionalization of free, prior, and informed consent to prevent land alienation and ensure indigenous people benefit as owners or partners rather than mere beneficiaries.

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 case study examines the Walvis Bay Corridor Group (WBCG), a hybrid public-private partnership established in 2000 to facilitate trade and infrastructure development in Namibia and neighboring SADC countries. The WBCG coordinates a network of roads and rail—including the Trans-Kalahari, Trans-Caprivi, Trans-Cunene, and Trans-Oranje corridors—to connect the Port of Walvis Bay and the Port of Lüderitz to landlocked markets.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) proposes a strategic framework to transition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) skills toward a green hydrogen economy in South Africa by 2050. Using foresight tools like the Three Horizons framework and scenario planning, the document identifies systemic failures in the current TVET system and outlines a vision for a 'just and inclusive' ecosystem that prioritizes economic wellbeing and ecological resilience over a narrow focus on job placement.