Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs provides an overview of the socio-economic and political state of South Africa's agricultural sector between 1994 and 2004. It details the transition from apartheid-era protections to a deregulated, liberalised market, the persistent dualism between commercial and smallholder farming, and a strategic shift in trade from bulk commodities toward value-added horticultural exports.

This case study examines the legal dispute between Anglo Operations Ltd and Sandhurst Estates (Pty) Ltd regarding the rights of mineral rights holders versus surface owners in South Africa. The court focused on the 'doctrine of lateral support' and whether the right to conduct open-cast mining is implied in the granting of mineral rights. The court ultimately dismissed Anglo Operations' application, ruling that the renunciation of lateral support must be expressly or tacitly agreed upon and cannot be implied by law.

This research paper by Mark Halle examines the failures of the current multilateral trading system and proposes how it could be restructured to support a 'Great Transition' toward sustainable development. The author argues that while the fundamental principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO) are sound, the system has become a 'one size fits all' model that primarily benefits rich nations and ignores social and environmental goals. The paper explores three future archetypes—Agoria, Ecodemia, and Arcadia—demonstrating that a rules-based trading system can be adapted to serve any of these diverse socio-economic models if trade is treated as a tool for sustainable development rather than an end in itself.

A fact sheet from the Institute for Security Studies detailing the number of military observers, troops, and police contributed by 32 African countries to UN peacekeeping missions as of the end of April 2006.

This 2006 report by the Institute for Security Studies and the Restorative Justice Centre documents the state of restorative justice (RJ) practice in South Africa. It maps over sixty projects across various sectors—including probation services, correctional services, civil society, and traditional leadership—to evaluate the scope and quality of services provided to victims and offenders. The authors argue that RJ should be viewed as a philosophy and approach rather than a specific programme, and they advocate for its 'mainstreaming' within the criminal justice system through a partnership where civil society leads direct service delivery while the state acts as an enabler, resourcer, and guarantor of quality.

This report analyzes the potential for the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) to increase goods exports to the United States by transitioning from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to a formal Free Trade Agreement (FTA). It concludes that while an FTA could provide legal certainty and extend duty-free access to specific products, the most significant benefits would likely come from relaxing rules of origin and limiting the use of US trade remedies, such as anti-dumping duties.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the experiences of South African firms operating in Egypt. It analyzes Egypt's macroeconomic stability, its shift toward a liberalized market economy, and the specific challenges faced by South African investors, including cultural barriers, bureaucratic red tape, and corruption. The document provides policy recommendations for both the Egyptian and South African governments to enhance bilateral trade and investment.

This research paper, published by the South African Institute of International Affairs in 2006, analyzes South Africa's position as a regional hub and its role in global structural policy. It examines the country's economic integration, socio-economic challenges, environmental policies, and its evolving approach to global governance and trade, specifically focusing on its relations with Germany and other developing nations.

The research paper argues that the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are insufficient for developing Africa because they focus on the symptoms of poverty rather than the underlying causes of economic stagnation. The author contends that by prioritizing measurable social targets over growth and productivity, the MDGs create an opportunity cost that diverts resources from essential commercial infrastructure, technical skills, and governance reforms. To address these gaps, the document proposes a set of 'African Millennium Growth Goals' focused on infrastructure, rural economies, skills, financial systems, and the rule of law.

This research paper critiques the Red Door initiative in South Africa's Western Cape province, arguing that political pressure to claim success has led to the funding of a superficial training programme that prioritizes quantity of participants over actual job creation and business viability.

This research paper evaluates the impact of the Criminal Law Amendment Act of 1997, which introduced mandatory minimum sentences for serious crimes in South Africa. The authors argue that the legislation has failed to reduce serious and violent crime or achieve sentencing consistency, while significantly contributing to prison overcrowding.

This research paper critiques the reliability of non-police crime statistics in South Africa, specifically those from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS). The author demonstrates how urban sampling biases and flawed statistical assumptions led to an overestimation of murder rates in rural areas (such as Limpopo) and inaccurate conclusions regarding the vulnerability of the 'Coloured' community. The paper concludes that while police data has limitations, the alternative datasets used in these cases were stretched beyond their limits, and SAPS figures should be preferred unless proven erroneous.

The research paper analyzes South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the period April 2004 to March 2005. The author argues that while police statistics are subject to under-reporting and under-recording, the overall trend shows a broad decline in serious crime, particularly in well-recorded categories like murder and car theft, alongside an exponential increase in arrests.

This research paper examines the potential for European Union (EU) Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) to disrupt regional economic integration in Southern Africa, specifically within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Southern African Customs Union (SACU). The authors argue that the requirement for 'reciprocity'—where ACP states remove tariffs on EU imports—risks fracturing regional blocs because member states often have incompatible lists of sensitive products they wish to protect. The paper specifically analyzes the tension between the existing Trade, Development and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) between the EU and South Africa and the needs of the BLNS countries (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, and Swaziland), suggesting that SACU expansion could be a strategic alternative to mitigate these stresses.

This inaugural address by the National Director of the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) argues that Africa's development depends on internal accountability, leadership, and a shift away from aid-dependency. The author highlights the rise of China and India as shifting global power dynamics and urges African states to implement industrial strategies to avoid a new 'scramble' for raw materials. The speech emphasizes the role of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the need for a vibrant civil society to hold governments accountable.

This report assesses the rural safety capacity lost by the phasing out of the South African National Defence Force’s (SANDF) Territorial Reserve, known as the Commandos, and evaluates the South African Police Service's (SAPS) ability to replace these functions. Through fieldwork in the Free State, Eastern Cape, and Gauteng, the author argues that while Commandos primarily protected the interests of the rural middle class and could be socially destructive if deployed inappropriately, they provided a critical force-multiplication capacity for policing agricultural crimes. The report concludes that the transition to SAPS is likely to result in a deterioration of rural policing because SAPS organizational incentives and national performance targets prioritize urban 'contact crimes' over rural property crimes.

This research paper examines the 450km international border between Lesotho and South Africa's Free State province. It analyzes the impact of South African National Defence Force (SANDF) patrols on local relationships, the dynamics of Basotho participation in the South African labour market—particularly in seasonal agriculture—and the economic role of cross-border traders.

This report chapter provides a military history of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA), tracing its evolution from the liberation movements of the 1960s through the Angolan Civil War to its status as a peacetime national institution. It details the integration of three primary military wings—FAPLA, ELNA, and FALA—and the significant role of foreign intervention from the Soviet Union, Cuba, the United States, Zaire, and South Africa in shaping the conflict and the eventual formation of the FAA.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Security Studies lists the categories of crime used for reporting RSA Totals for the 2004/2005 period.

This research paper assesses the potential of South Africa's Departments of Education, Health, and Social Development to prevent crime among children and youth up to age 18 through social service delivery. It argues that while these departments have mandates and policies that could reduce offending and victimisation, their effectiveness is severely limited by funding shortages, poor service quality, and a lack of standardised early childhood development.