Search Climate Insights Directory

This statement from the Institute for Security Studies warns of potential violence in South Africa surrounding a 30 June deadline set by anti-immigration groups for 'illegal' foreign nationals to leave the country. The document highlights the risk of peaceful protests degenerating into attacks by armed groups and calls for the South African Police Service (SAPS) and movement leaders to prioritize the protection of lives to avoid a tragedy similar to the 2008 xenophobic riots or the July 2021 unrest.

This report summarizes a two-day meeting hosted by the Institute for Security Studies' Corruption and Governance Programme in September 2010, which brought together the South African Civil Society Energy Caucus to discuss governance, public participation, and accountability in South Africa's energy policy processes.

This statement by Sabelo Gumedze of the Institute for Security Studies criticises the South African government for failing to implement the Anti-Mercenary Act of 2006, arguing that this inaction encourages South African mercenaries to participate in African conflicts, including alleged attempts to assist Saif al-Islam Gaddafi in Libya.

This statement from the Violence Prevention Forum, published by the Institute for Security Studies, argues that South Africa requires ethical leadership and a commitment to violence prevention to achieve a just and inclusive peace. It highlights a disconnect between a pervasive public narrative of violence and the reality that most South Africans desire unity and are actively working to improve their communities through local interventions.

This monograph introduces the Human Security Project (HSP) launched by the Institute for Defence Policy (IDP), which seeks to redefine security in Southern Africa by shifting focus from state-centric military strength to human-centric threats. The project examines the socio-economic, political, and environmental drivers of regional insecurity, with a specific emphasis on population movement and the necessity of regional integration to address transnational challenges.

This monograph examines crime and policing in rural South Africa, finding that rural populations experience victimisation rates similar to urban areas but face greater severity due to a lack of social services. Based on a survey of 756 inhabitants across six provinces, the report highlights a lack of confidence in police capabilities and argues that safety interventions should prioritise improving basic policing and reactive services over complex social crime prevention programmes.

This research monograph by David Bruce analyzes the decision-making processes and the exercise of authority by senior leadership within the South African Police Service (SAPS) leading up to the Marikana massacre on 16 August 2012.

This research paper examines the legal perspectives surrounding the effects of climate change in Africa, specifically focusing on the role of environmental law and legal mechanisms as tools to enforce policy decisions and shape human behavior regarding the environment.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies outlines three potential development scenarios for South Africa leading up to 2030: 'Bafana Bafana', 'A Nation Divided', and 'Mandela Magic'.

This policy brief examines the impact of small-scale photovoltaic (PV) adoption on municipal revenue in South Africa's Western Cape and proposes a sequential policy approach involving advanced metering infrastructure, smart grid investment, and local PV manufacturing to mitigate financial losses.

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 organization of the recipient state and its capacity to capitalize on diaspora contributions.

This report examines the flight, reception, and long-term integration of Mozambican refugees in South Africa following the Mozambican civil war (1979–1992). It details the role of ethnic solidarity in the Gazankulu homeland, the creation of a precarious underclass in the agricultural labour markets of the lowveld, and the failures of the UNHCR repatriation programme. The author argues that despite various amnesties and a 2004 Constitutional Court ruling granting access to social grants, many former refugees remain de facto undocumented and socially marginalized due to structural economic dependence on cheap labour and deep-seated xenophobia.

This report examines the patterns of forced migration from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to South Africa, focusing on the demographic shift toward a young, educated, middle-class population. It details the social dislocation these migrants face, moving from professional status in the DRC to survivalist roles in the South African informal economy, and the defensive ethnic networks they form to navigate a hostile urban environment.

This briefing from the Conflict Prevention and Risk Analysis (CPRA) unit in Pretoria, dated 13 September 2012, details internal divisions within the African National Congress (ANC) as the party prepares for its electoral conference in Mangaung in December.

This research paper examines the Darfur conflict, arguing that simplistic media representations and international activism often overlook the deep-seated structural, political, and resource-based causes of the violence. The author contends that a focus on 'mass atrocity' statistics and international 'conflict management' can undermine local agency and the pursuit of an inclusive Sudanese state.

This policy brief examines the Violence Prevention Forum (VPF), a multisectoral platform convened by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) since 2015 to reduce and prevent violence in South Africa. Based on 2023 case study research, the document details how the VPF fosters collaboration between government, NGOs, academia, and the private sector by prioritizing relationship-building, collective sense-making, and the translation of evidence into policy and practice.

The Peace and Security Council Report No 176 analyzes the outcomes of the 38th AU Summit in February 2025, focusing on leadership transitions, the chairship of Angola, and the ongoing challenges of the 'Silencing the Guns' agenda. It highlights the election of Mahamoud Ali Youssouf as AUC chair and the debate over rotational versus permanent membership in the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC).

This policy brief examines the operational effectiveness, challenges, and potential future of South Africa’s Special Investigating Unit (SIU). While praised as an 'island of integrity' with a strong track record in civil recovery, the SIU faces significant hurdles including a cumbersome Presidential proclamation process, a precarious funding model, and safety risks for its personnel and whistleblowers. The document proposes various legal reforms to the SIU Act and evaluates a proposal by the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council (NACAC) to transition the SIU into a dedicated Chapter 9 anti-corruption agency.

This report details research by Professor Rudolph Zinn on residential robbery in South Africa, specifically focusing on perpetrators in Gauteng. It profiles offenders as typically young, unemployed males motivated by economic gain who often use inside information to target wealthy households. The report emphasizes that intelligence-led policing and securing the outer perimeter of homes are more effective than visible policing alone. It also provides behavioral advice for victims to minimize risk during an attack and suggests that convicted robbers can be a source of intelligence for police if given small incentives.

This joint submission by Corruption Watch and the Institute for Security Studies details how the Executive under former South African President Jacob Zuma manipulated criminal justice agencies—including the SAPS, the Hawks, and the NPA—to entrench state capture. The report highlights the use of strategic appointments, the misuse of crime intelligence to influence ANC party processes, and the obstruction of corruption investigations (such as the Bosasa case) to ensure impunity for the ruling elite. It concludes with twelve recommendations to reform senior management, increase transparency in Executive-agency interfaces, and institutionalize professional appointment processes to prevent future political interference.