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This report, produced by a partnership between the Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS), the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), proposes a framework for an 'integrated land administration' system in South Africa. It argues that current land governance is fragmented, dualistic, and hindered by a legacy of racial segregation, which undermines land reform and social cohesion. The document defines land administration as the operational component of land governance and outlines the Integrated Land Administration Project (ILAP) to address these systemic failures through stakeholder engagement and institutional reform.

This brochure describes the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), a Johannesburg-based African research institute founded in May 2010. PARI focuses on research into constraints to effective governance, institutional design, and state-society relations to promote equitable policies and reduce poverty and inequality in South Africa and the global South.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) submitted a formal comment on the Public Procurement Bill 2023, arguing that while reforms are urgent, the current text contains significant constitutional hazards, excessive reliance on subordinate legislation, and gaps in transparency and integrity provisions.

This report by the Public Affairs Research Institute analyzes the financial and operational crisis facing South African municipal electricity distribution and proposes integrating existing rooftop solar PV and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) as a pathway to reduce bulk costs and improve reliability.

The Transnet Inquiry Reference Book, authored by the Public Affairs Research Institute, provides a fact-based account of governance failures and systemic corruption at Transnet, South Africa's state-owned freight transport and logistics company. The report details how the company's governance was repurposed to facilitate large-scale corruption and rent-seeking, primarily benefiting the Gupta family and their associates through manipulated procurement processes for locomotives, cranes, and IT services.

This RMI fact sheet argues that renewables and battery storage are now more effective than natural gas for supporting economic development and energy access in the Global South, offering superior reliability, deployment speed, and cost-effectiveness while avoiding the long-term financial and security risks associated with gas infrastructure.

The report 'HOW NOT TO PARACHUTE MORE CATS' by Hunter and Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute argues that global resource crises—including energy, water, and climate change—can be solved by understanding interconnections and prioritizing resource efficiency over the expansion of supply. The authors advocate for a 'least-cost' approach, demonstrating that energy efficiency and renewable technologies are often cheaper and more effective than fossil fuels or nuclear power. They suggest that these technical solutions can simultaneously improve economic health, reduce nuclear proliferation, and enhance global security by reducing dependence on volatile resources like Mideast oil.

This report chapter argues that the solution to global freshwater scarcity is not increasing supply through costly and environmentally damaging infrastructure, but radically increasing water productivity through efficiency and demand-side management across agriculture, landscaping, buildings, and industry.

This case study describes how Gold Fields developed a 40 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) project at its South Deep Gold Mine in South Africa to reduce operating costs and enhance energy security in the face of rising utility tariffs and supply constraints.

This report by the Alliance for Renewable Electrification (ARE) and UNIDO ITPO Germany explores the integration of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) in the mining sector to decarbonise operations and provide electricity to underserved surrounding communities. It advocates for a 'shared use' approach to infrastructure to address energy poverty and environmental impacts while enhancing the sustainability of mineral supply chains.

This research paper by Jodie Keane explores the nature of intra-Commonwealth value chains using a mixed-methods approach. It analyzes trade intensity, shifts in intermediate goods sourcing, and firm-level data to determine how Commonwealth members integrate into regional versus global value chains (GVCs). The findings suggest a prevalence of additive value chains and a specific tendency for Small Island Developing States to export within the Commonwealth.

This 2006 report examines the prospects for aerospace co-operation among India, Brazil, and South Africa (IBSA). It identifies South Africa's role as a 'second-tier' supplier and highlights the government's Aerospace Industry Support Initiative (AISI) to integrate the sector into global supply chains. While identifying potential for collaboration in regional aircraft, strategic defence systems, and small satellites, the report notes significant hurdles, including corruption allegations involving Denel and the Indian government, and the challenge of balancing South-South co-operation with existing partnerships with 'first-tier' Northern contractors.

This report analyzes the economic status and integration of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), highlighting significant disparities in GDP growth, business competitiveness, and trade patterns among its 15 member states. It identifies infrastructure deficits, corruption, and regulatory barriers as primary inhibitors to regional growth and trade efficiency.

This case study examines the regulatory barriers hindering the development of a regional fuel ethanol market within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), focusing on sugarcane as a primary feedstock.

This case study examines the challenges of pharmaceutical procurement and regulatory harmonisation within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. It highlights how fragmented registration policies, weak regulatory capacity, and intellectual property barriers hinder access to essential medicines for treating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and non-communicable diseases. The document emphasizes South Africa's pivotal role due to its advanced pharmaceutical sector and regulatory framework, while noting that political and economic interests often obstruct regional integration.

This case study examines the lack of progress in implementing a SADC Univisa, a regional visa intended to boost tourism and business travel in Southern Africa. Despite a 1998 protocol and the potential for 3-5% annual growth in tourism, implementation is hindered by security concerns, bureaucratic inertia, and conflicting interests between economic ministries and security agencies. The document highlights the disparity in visa openness compared to East Africa and suggests using the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA pilot as a model for broader regional adoption.

This case study examines the challenges and proposed improvements for Transit Management Systems (TMSs) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). It highlights how the requirement for multiple national customs bonds increases the cost and time of cross-border trade and suggests adopting a participatory management structure and a single-bond model similar to the international TIR system to facilitate trade within the proposed Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA).

This case study examines the non-tariff barriers and systemic inefficiencies at the Beit Bridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe. It details how inadequate infrastructure, IT failures, corruption, and bureaucratic redundancies cause significant delays for commercial trucks, increasing transport costs and consumer prices for goods such as fuel and sugar.

This case study examines the Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) Monitoring Mechanism used by private sector actors in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Tripartite Free Trade Area to report trade barriers. While the online database successfully registers complaints, the document highlights significant failures in the resolution process, particularly regarding transport-related barriers, due to a lack of political will, technical expertise, and effective institutional structures.

This case study examines the development of the Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia as a strategic logistics hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It details the port's infrastructure upgrades, the role of the state-owned Namibian Ports Authority (Namport), and the use of public-private partnerships through the Walvis Bay Corridor Group to facilitate trade for landlocked neighbors.