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This research paper analyzes 2003 data from the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS) to examine homicide patterns in South Africa's major urban centers. It identifies homicide as the leading cause of injury-related deaths, highlighting the significant roles of firearms and alcohol, and noting a disproportionate impact on males aged 15 to 44.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the purported link between the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the resulting increase in orphaned children, and rising crime rates in Africa, particularly southern Africa. The author argues that while the epidemic creates environments conducive to crime through poverty and demographic shifts, there is little empirical evidence to suggest that AIDS orphans are disproportionately more likely to commit crimes than other poor children.

This research paper analyzes the impact of United Nations (UN) Panel of Experts missions in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) between 1999 and 2002. The author argues that these panels serve as critical peace-building tools by providing credible, independent investigations into sanctions violations and the illegal exploitation of natural resources, which in turn reduces the military capacity of spoilers and criminalizes the activities of those fueling conflict.

This conference report, prepared by Masiiwa Rusare of the Trade & Development Studies Centre (TRADES Centre), documents a regional meeting held in September 2005 in Harare, Zimbabwe. The event focused on the experiences of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) in negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union (EU). The report details the institutional structures of the negotiations, areas of convergence and divergence between the two regional blocs and the EU, the specific interests of South Africa, and the challenges of integrating non-state actors and the poor into the trade process.

This research paper analyzes the challenges facing the SADC-EPA group in negotiating Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union, focusing on the complexities of multiple membership in regional trade blocs and the impact of the Trade and Development Cooperation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Community.

This research paper examines how social stigma and cultural taboos act as primary barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment in Botswana and South Africa, arguing that financial resources alone are insufficient to combat the pandemic if fear of discrimination prevents people from seeking testing and care.

This report, prepared for the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation by the International Institute for Sustainable Development, assesses the status of the Doha Round of multilateral trade negotiations as of August 2005. It highlights the central role of agricultural liberalization and the significant deadlock between the US, EU, and developing nations, arguing that the round has failed to live up to its designation as a 'Development Agenda'.

This executive summary of a monograph by Jonny Steinberg reviews literature on two distinct waves of forced migration to South Africa: Mozambicans fleeing civil war in the 1980s and people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) arriving from the early 1990s onwards.

This research paper introduction reviews the literature on two distinct waves of forced migration to South Africa: Mozambicans fleeing civil war in the 1980s and people from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) arriving from the early 1990s onwards. The author contrasts the social profiles and legal contexts of these two groups while highlighting a persistent pattern of xenophobia and a gap between formal legal rights and social practice in South Africa.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the 2003/04 financial year. It reports a general decrease in most serious crimes, including murder and residential burglary, while highlighting a concerning increase in aggravated robbery. The authors note a disconnect between improving statistical trends and the high levels of fear felt by the South African public.

This research paper examines the experiences of Congolese forced migrants in South Africa, detailing their transition from a middle-class professional background in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to survivalist roles in the South African informal economy. It analyzes the demographic profile of these refugees, the social networks they form, the institutional barriers they face, and their specific niches within the urban labor market.

This research paper evaluates the role of informal justice mechanisms in addressing domestic violence in South Africa, based on 26 interviews conducted in 2003. It finds that many women prefer these community-based structures over the formal criminal justice system due to their immediacy, affordability, and focus on reconciliation rather than punishment. While these mechanisms provide essential access to justice and align with the desires of many complainants, the author notes concerns regarding the lack of regulation and the potential for mediators to overlook abusive patterns in favor of social harmony.

This research paper examines the experiences of Mozambican refugees who fled the civil war (1979–1992) and settled in South Africa, primarily in the former homelands of Gazankulu and KaNgwane. It analyzes the complex interplay of ethnic solidarity, systemic exploitation in the labor market, and the failure of repatriation and regularization programs to fully integrate these populations into South African society.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive analysis of South African crime statistics for the 2003/04 financial year, alongside thematic studies on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, the 2005 firearms amnesty, and the nature of gang rape in inner-city Johannesburg.

This research paper examines the illicit trafficking of stolen and hijacked vehicles from South Africa into Zimbabwe, specifically focusing on the Beit Bridge border post. It analyzes the methods used by criminal networks, the institutional challenges of border policing, and the systemic weaknesses that facilitate smuggling.

This briefing summarizes a half-day conference convened by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) on 12 May 2005. The event aimed to discuss the prospects for Zimbabwe leading up to the 2008 presidential election, featuring perspectives from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), civil society, and South African parliamentarians. The document outlines systemic democratic deficits in Zimbabwe, critiques the conduct of the 2005 parliamentary elections, and proposes regional and internal reforms to resolve the political crisis.

This research paper examines the state of drug smuggling and border control at Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) and Durban Harbour. It analyzes the trade patterns of cannabis, Mandrax, cocaine, and heroin, while evaluating the effectiveness of risk profiling and the impact of international security standards, such as those driven by the United States post-9/11, on South African port security.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political landscape surrounding Zimbabwe's March 31, 2005, parliamentary elections. It examines the internal factional struggles within the ruling ZANU-PF party, the challenges facing the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and the role of South Africa's 'quiet diplomacy' in the region.

This research paper examines the historical and contemporary relationship between African diasporas and their homelands, focusing on political influence, the impact of remittances on national economies, and the social dynamics of migration in Africa south of the Sahara.

This research paper examines the relationship between remittances and political influence in Cape Verde, the Comores, and Lesotho. It argues that the political weight of a diaspora is not determined by its size or the volume of remittances, but rather by the structure and organization of the recipient state.