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This research paper chapter examines the negative dimensions of diaspora networking, specifically how migrants can facilitate organized crime, money laundering, and the financing of terrorism and armed struggles in Africa south of the Sahara. It analyzes the prevalence of informal remittance systems, the specific case of Nigerian criminal syndicates, and the socio-political drivers of xenophobia and immigration restrictions.

This research paper by Cheryl Frank evaluates the utility of crime-costing studies for policy making, specifically within the South African context. The author argues that while simple accounting exercises that total the monetary cost of crime are often flawed and offer little policy value, comparative cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness studies can provide meaningful data for operational management and strategic investment. The paper emphasizes that costing should be an integrated part of a structured policy development process and must be balanced against human rights imperatives to ensure that the cheapest option is not chosen over the most effective one.

This research paper reviews the origins, development, and challenges of the Moral Regeneration Movement (MRM) in South Africa, an initiative designed to address crime and social decay by promoting morality and positive values.

This research paper examines the relationship between organised crime and terrorism in Southern Africa, focusing on how illicit trades in arms, narcotics, and minerals provide resources for terrorist activities and how state-sponsored terrorism operates within the region.

This report summarizes a workshop hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) from 22-23 March 2005, which examined the links between conflict, civil wars, and organised crime in Africa. The conference brought together 30 participants from government, security, judicial services, and civil society from six African nations to discuss the origins of organised crime, the role of state dysfunction, and the impact of economic factors and natural resources on conflict.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the implementation of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Africa, analyzing their potential to address infrastructure and service backlogs. Through eight case studies across sectors including transport, telecommunications, water, power, and eco-tourism, the document argues that while PPPs can offer efficiency gains and fiscal benefits, they are not a 'magic bullet' and are susceptible to the same failures as full privatisation, such as corruption, poor pricing, and lack of transparency. The report provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for African governments to improve regulatory frameworks, conduct thorough feasibility studies, and build institutional capacity to ensure PPPs deliver value for money and social benefit.

This research paper explores methodologies for linking global food system scenarios with local food security and livelihood dynamics. Using case studies from India and South Africa, the authors demonstrate how top-down global scenarios (such as those from the Global Scenario Group) can be downscaled to national and provincial levels, while proposing a bottom-up approach that uses livelihood systems as an intermediate scale to better capture local vulnerability and adaptive capacity.

This situation report by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the progress and obstacles of security sector reform (SSR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) during its transitional government period (2003-2005). It focuses on the integration of the national army (FARDC), the restructuring of the national police (PNC), and the implementation of disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) programs.

This 2005 IISD report examines food security as a fundamental human right, moving beyond simple supply metrics to include distribution and individual access. It evaluates four strategies for achieving food security: food self-sufficiency, trade liberalization, food sovereignty, and multi-functional agriculture. The report argues that while trade can stabilize supply, it can also undermine local production and increase vulnerability. It concludes that a pragmatic approach combining flexible trade rules with national policy space and sustainable agricultural practices is necessary to ensure long-term food security.

This case study examines a Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) ruling regarding the interpretation of Section 19 of the National Water Act 36 of 1998 (NWA). The court determined that the legal obligation to take 'reasonable measures' to prevent pollution is not limited to a person's own land but can extend to land owned, controlled, or used by others.

This research paper analyzes the political crisis in Zimbabwe circa 2005, arguing that the ruling ZANU-PF elite is trapped in an 'insecurity dilemma' driven by the fear of international prosecution for human rights abuses. The author explores how this fear, combined with ethno-linguistic factionalism—specifically the dominance of the Zezuru faction—impedes a peaceful transition to democracy and shapes the party's resistance to power-sharing with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

This report examines the crisis of livestock theft in Lesotho, analyzing its impact on human security, livelihoods, and the efficacy of current policing and judicial strategies. It identifies unemployment as a primary driver of theft and highlights systemic failures in the criminal justice system, including resource shortages and legal contradictions, while recommending a shift toward restorative justice and improved technical identification of livestock.

This report, based on a 2004 conference hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs, examines the impacts of the Trade, Development, and Co-operation Agreement (TDCA) between South Africa and the European Union. It analyzes the TDCA as a potential benchmark for Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) being negotiated between the EU and other Southern African states, while highlighting the systemic challenges posed by overlapping regional memberships (the 'Spaghetti Bowl') and the legal complexities of the Southern African Customs Union (SACU).

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs analyzes Chile's economic and political transition from a military dictatorship (1973–1989) to a stable democracy. It highlights how Chile combined liberal market reforms with progressive social policies and pragmatic leadership to achieve high GDP growth and human development, offering these as potential lessons for African nations seeking to improve economic growth and reduce poverty.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the development of small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in Brazil, focusing on the role of SEBRAE as a model for public-private partnership. It contrasts the Brazilian approach—which emphasizes logistical support, training, and clear categorization over direct financing—with the strategies used in South Africa and Lesotho.

This report by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the evolution of corporate governance in South Africa, focusing on the influence of the King Reports and the country's role as a model for other African nations. It details the transition from a closed, racially-exclusive economy to a liberalised market with sophisticated governance codes, while highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcement capacity and the complexities of black economic empowerment.

This research paper argues that the United Nations 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 the MDGs act as a 'political camouflage' that diverts resources away from growth-oriented investments. To address this, the paper proposes a comprehensive set of 'African Millennium Growth Goals' focused on commercial infrastructure, rural economy investment, technical skills, financial reform, and the removal of bureaucratic and corrupt obstacles to business.

This research paper evaluates the effectiveness of the national and provincial secretariats for safety and security in providing civilian oversight of the South African Police Service (SAPS). It finds that while these bodies were established to ensure democratic accountability and transparency, their impact has been limited and inconsistent, often functioning as ad hoc monitoring structures rather than robust oversight mechanisms.

This research paper examines the history of violence and instability within South Africa's minibus taxi industry, tracing its origins from apartheid-era deregulation to post-1994 conflicts. It analyzes the failures of government attempts to re-regulate and recapitalize the industry, highlighting disputes over funding, vehicle specifications, and industry representation.

This issue of the SA Crime Quarterly (December 2004) examines critical failures and challenges within the South African criminal justice and security sectors. It details severe prison overcrowding driven by minimum sentencing laws, the mixed success of civilian oversight mechanisms for the South African Police Service (SAPS), the violent history and stalled recapitalisation of the minibus taxi industry, the under-utilization of weapon seizure powers in domestic violence cases, and the results of Operation Sethunya in combating illegal firearms.