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The Institute for Security Studies criticizes the South African government's Green Paper on Policing for its lack of transparency and public participation, arguing that the closed process misses an opportunity to rebuild trust between the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the public. The author advocates for a comprehensive, open consultative process similar to the one adopted by Kenya in 2009 to address systemic policing issues and public mistrust.

This text is the introductory material for a book titled 'The many faces of human security: Case studies of seven countries in Southern Africa', produced by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) with funding from the Royal Danish embassy in South Africa. It outlines the collaborative effort between the ISS, the Southern African Peace and Security Network (SAPSNet), and various academic and strategic partners across seven Southern African nations to explore the concept of human security in a region historically dominated by state security priorities.

This research paper examines the introduction of private prisons in South Africa as a response to overcrowding and funding shortages within the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). It discusses the opening of the first private facilities in Bloemfontein and Louis Trichardt, comparing the South African model to those in the United Kingdom, United States, and Australia, while suggesting reforms for transparency and the expansion of private sector involvement in community corrections.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the African Union's (AU) strategy to increase troop levels for the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) following suicide bombings in Uganda in July 2010.

This editorial introduction to South African Crime Quarterly 48, written by editor Chandré Gould, critiques the narratives used in the Presidency’s 20-year review of safety and security (1994–2014). Gould argues that the state relies on simplified 'meta-narratives' of victims and perpetrators and a 'language of war' that obscures the root causes of violence and justifies state violence. The text introduces several articles in the edition that challenge these narratives, covering topics such as the pitfalls of community policing, the inefficiency of corruption responses, and the impact of punitive bail practices on prison overcrowding.

This monograph presents a collection of papers from 'Exercise Morning Star', a September 1996 seminar held at the South African Army College. The document provides a general overview of conflict management, peacekeeping, and peacebuilding in Africa, emphasizing that these issues are no longer exclusively military domains and require partnerships between military forces, civil society, and regional bodies.

The Apartheid Grand Corruption Report by Hennie van Vuuren documents corruption during the apartheid era, specifically between 1976 and 1994, and examines how the criminalisation of the apartheid state created a legacy that influenced the subsequent democratic order.

This research paper serves as a literature review to inform a three-year study on sentenced repeat violent offenders in South Africa, conducted by the Institute for Security Studies in collaboration with the Department of Correctional Services and the Community Law Centre at the University of the Western Cape.

A briefing by the Institute for Security Studies analyzing the outcomes of a four-day African National Congress (ANC) policy conference, noting a lack of clarity on key issues such as education, corruption, and the economy ahead of the national conference in Mangaung.

The briefing examines the role of the BASIC countries (Brazil, South Africa, India, and China) after the 2009 Copenhagen Accord. It notes that while the BASIC countries helped broker the Accord, they view it as a set of 'building blocks' rather than a replacement for the UNFCCC's formal two-track system. The group continues to push for developed nations to provide financing, technology transfer, and clear emissions targets. The document highlights a strategic alignment between the BASIC countries and the African Union on issues of climate justice and the balance between economic development and emissions reduction.

This policy brief outlines the importance of democratic governance at local levels for the effective disbursement of climate change funding in developing countries. It references a September 2010 civil society meeting in Cape Town where experts discussed national and subnational experiences with the Adaptation Fund, the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), and Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD).

This research monograph 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. It highlights the legal ambiguities and social marginalization faced by Mozambican refugees, as well as the significant socio-economic decline and lack of integration experienced by Congolese refugees.

This monograph examines corruption within the South African Police Service (SAPS) before and after 1994, analyzing its causes and the SAPS's responses. It suggests that reducing corruption requires enhancing internal accountability, promoting organizational integrity, and mobilizing community support to restore the agency's legitimacy and professionalism.

This research paper by Cheryl Frank for the Institute for Security Studies evaluates the role of South Africa's Departments of Education, Health, and Social Development in social crime prevention. It identifies a systemic over-reliance on law enforcement and a failure to leverage social services—such as early childhood development and offender reintegration—due to budget constraints, skill shortages, and a lack of clear conceptual understanding of social crime prevention within government.

This briefing discusses the economic and political decline of South Africa, referencing an article from The Economist and statements by political figures. It highlights failures in education, rising inequality, and systemic corruption within the ruling ANC, while noting the government's counter-claims regarding health and infrastructure successes.

This report by the Institute for Security Studies details a 2000 survey of nine police agencies within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region to assess perceptions of organised crime. It identifies significant resource constraints, a lack of standardised definitions for organised crime, and the prevalence of transnational criminal activities, highlighting the need for improved regional cooperation and international training.

This briefing analyzes the shifting political dynamics within the African National Congress (ANC) leading up to the 2012 National Conference in Mangaung, contrasting it with the 2007 Polokwane conference. It further examines the challenges of combating corruption among powerful elites in South Africa, specifically citing a failed legal effort by Transnet to recover funds, and reports on Mary Robinson's keynote address regarding the erosion of the ANC's moral authority.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies discusses the upcoming parliamentary elections in Angola scheduled for 31 August, detailing the electoral process, opposition grievances regarding voter registration, and the socio-economic challenges facing the ruling MPLA party.

This monograph examines the role of traditional leadership in South Africa, specifically focusing on the administration of justice and crime prevention within the rural community of Mokopane in Limpopo province.

This research paper outlines the transition of border security responsibilities in South Africa, detailing the shift from the South African Police to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the formalization of the SANDF's role in patrolling international borders to prevent the illegal movement of people and goods.