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The Centre for Environmental Rights is seeking clarification from Minister Susan Shabangu on why a mining right application from Duiker Mining (Pty) Ltd was accepted for the Chrissiesmeer Biodiversity Site, despite previous ministerial assurances that mining in this ecologically sensitive area was prohibited. The Centre notes that while the Minister claimed the process was complete, no formal declaration under section 49(1) of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) has been published in the Government Gazette. They urge the Minister to formally prohibit prospecting and mining in the site for at least 20 years to ensure ecological sustainability and provide certainty to stakeholders.

The document evaluates the National Development Plan 2030, arguing that its core economic growth target of 5.4 per cent average GDP is very ambitious and requires significant structural changes and leadership to achieve. It notes that while some sectoral targets in education and infrastructure are attainable with lower growth, the current capital-intensive economic model is insufficient for job creation and addressing structural inequality.

The 2013 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration outlines youth-led priorities for the global development agenda following the Millennium Development Goals. It calls for the reduction of structural inequalities, the protection of refugees and displaced persons, and the implementation of sustainable environmental practices. Key recommendations include the creation of 'Green Jobs' in Africa, the adoption of renewable energy systems in South African housing, and the establishment of a global disaster relief network. The declaration emphasizes the need for youth participation in governance and the alignment of national policies with the Sustainable Development Goals and South Africa's National Development Plan for 2030.

The briefing details how President Jacob Zuma used cabinet reshuffles and the appointment of National Police Commissioner Mangwashi Phiyega to ensure political loyalty ahead of the ANC national conference in Mangaung. It highlights growing opposition from figures such as Julius Malema, Kgalema Mothlante, and Tokyo Sexwale, as well as increasing public unrest evidenced by frequent service delivery protests.

The document analyzes the first free presidential election in Egypt following the ousting of Hosni Mubarak. It identifies three front-running candidates—Amr Moussa, Mohammed Mursi, and Abdelmumein Al Futuh—and discusses the tension between continuity and change. The briefing highlights critical challenges for the incoming president, including high unemployment, the absence of a finalized constitution, and the influential role of the military in both politics and the economy. It also notes the interests of international actors, specifically the United States, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, in the election's outcome.

The report examines South Africa's entry into the BRICS, contrasting it with the IBSA forum. It highlights that while membership offers symbolic recognition and a platform to advance African priorities, economic benefits are not automatic due to market barriers in other BRICS nations and competition for African markets. The text notes that BRICS is an informal dialogue forum rather than a formal alliance, with varying degrees of congruence on issues like climate change and global trade.

Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), delivered opening remarks on April 13, 2010, for the launch of the ISS's expanded Nairobi office. The speech details the ISS's evolution from a South African organization founded in 1991 to a pan-African think tank focused on "sustainable human security." Cilliers highlights the institute's regional presence in Pretoria, Cape Town, Addis Ababa, and Nairobi, and its collaborations with various African Union and regional bodies. The remarks also introduce new initiatives, including the African Conflict Prevention System (ACPS) and the proposed ISS Peace Academy in Addis Ababa, which aims to provide training on non-traditional security issues such as climate change.

The proceedings of the Critical Thinking Forum examine the debate over whether South Africa should manage its exchange rate to boost industrial competitiveness or maintain a flexible system. Key discussions highlight that nominal currency devaluation may be unsustainable due to limited foreign exchange reserves and could exacerbate inflation. Experts argue that long-term competitiveness depends more on microeconomic reforms, reducing domestic costs, and increasing national savings than on currency manipulation. The forum also addresses the tension between trade liberalization and protectionist industrial policies, such as the National Industrial Policy Framework (NIPF), with some participants warning that raising tariffs could harm the poor and discourage export diversification.

The report details a seminar on Sudan's political transition under the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). Discussions focused on the challenges of upcoming elections, the resolution of the Abyei border dispute via the Permanent Court of Arbitration, and the ongoing instability in Darfur. Speakers highlighted the CPA's limitations, including its lack of representativeness and unresolved issues regarding oil revenue sharing and the separation of religion and state.

The report details a seminar featuring Doug Brooks, President of the Association of the Stability Operations Industry (IPOA), who argued that private security contractors provide cost-effective, specialized capabilities that reduce military footprints and logistical burdens in peacekeeping. The seminar also included a response from Lawrence Juma, who questioned the distinction between these companies and mercenaries, the appropriateness of their role in internal conflicts in fragile states, and the adequacy of existing regulatory frameworks like the Montreux Document.

The report details a seminar on climate risk in Southern Africa, highlighting the vulnerability of agriculture, water, and health sectors. It emphasizes that while the region is least responsible for emissions, it is highly susceptible to climate-induced instability due to weak governance and reliance on rain-fed agriculture. Proposed solutions include multi-sectoral adaptation strategies, improved urban management, and strengthening governance capacities across the SADC region and the broader African continent.

The document details a seminar on the restitution of cultural heritage, contrasting Austria's evolving legal framework for returning Nazi-looted art with the ongoing difficulties in recovering African artifacts and human remains from former colonial powers. It highlights the role of external pressure and legal action in achieving restitution and examines the complexities of identifying beneficiaries and culprits in colonial contexts.

The 3rd GIBSA Partners' Meeting, held in April 2009 in Tshwane, South Africa, brought together representatives from Germany, India, Brazil, and South Africa to discuss the emerging global political and economic order. Key discussions focused on the transition of power from West to East, the role of 'smart power' in international relations, and the challenges facing African states in exerting influence globally. The meeting also analyzed the rise of 'club governance' (such as the G20 and Heiligendamm Process) as a flexible alternative to traditional multilateral institutions like the IMF and World Bank, while emphasizing that Africa remains more of a 'field of action' than a proactive actor in international relations.

The document summarizes a seminar featuring Colonel Nzekani Zena, head of the national DDR programme in the DRC (PNDDR). It details the atypical nature of the DDR process due to the country's size and the involvement of ten rebel forces and the government army. The programs, which began in 2004, are divided into two phases: the first from November 2004 to June 2008, and the second from July 2008 to December 2009. The seminar highlighted the necessity of conducting DDR and SSR simultaneously and discussed the challenges and progress in the Eastern region of Kivu.

The conference summary outlines discussions on the drivers of the Somali crisis, the role of international and regional actors, and the necessity of Somali-driven peace processes. It highlights the failure of externally imposed state-building templates and the importance of incorporating Islamist forces into peace agreements. The document contrasts the instability of the central government with the relative success of Somaliland, which achieved peace through locally managed, multi-clan conferences addressing land rights and constitutional issues.

The document details a seminar featuring Dr. David Zounmenou and Mr. Sandile Zeka, who analyzed the 2008 Ghana elections. Dr. Zounmenou argued that Ghana's peaceful process was due to strong institutional mechanisms, such as a respected code of ethics and a credible Electoral Commission, contrasting this with violence in Kenya and Zimbabwe. Mr. Zeka applied 'mental model' theory to argue that shared internal images of injustice from military rule and common social needs drove Ghana's democratic stability and voting patterns. Both speakers emphasized the need for independent electoral commissions and voter education to prevent electoral violence in Africa.

The report details a seminar featuring representatives from the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) regarding security plans for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Key discussions focused on the Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (JOINTS), funding for police equipment and personnel, the demarcation of stadium security zones, and the coordination between state and FIFA authorities.

The document reports on a seminar featuring U.S. Ambassador Eric M. Bost, who cautioned against overly high expectations for a paradigm shift in U.S.-Africa relations under President-elect Barack Obama. Ambassador Bost argued that domestic U.S. challenges, including high unemployment and foreclosures, would likely take priority over international issues. He further noted that the Bush administration had already provided significant aid and trade benefits to Africa, including $1.5 billion to South Africa via PEPFAR and $9 billion in goods through AGOA, suggesting that a Democratic administration might not necessarily increase this support or be as disposed to free trade as Republicans.

The seminar featured speakers including Gwede Mantashe, who dismissed the Lekota/Shilowa breakaway group as being driven by power rather than ideology. Panelists discussed whether the Polokwane conference represented an ideological shift, the clash between different political cultures (exile vs. internal struggle), and the emergence of a new class system and youth identity crisis in post-independent South Africa.

The Institute for Security Studies announced the launch of a web portal for the African Conference of Commandants (ACoC), which serves as a representative platform for military command and staff colleges across Africa. The ACoC aims to improve harmonization and cooperation among these colleges to support the African Standby Force (ASF) and Peace and Support Operations (PSOs). Key objectives include transforming military education and training through benchmarking, curriculum best practices, and the potential development of an annual Combined Joint African Exercise (CJAX). The ISS Security Sector Governance programme currently acts as the ACoC Secretariat and maintains the website.