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This report evaluates the effectiveness of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) as South Africa's principal anti-corruption agency and examines the implications of the 2019 creation of a new Investigating Directorate within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The author argues that the Hawks have historically lacked a dedicated anti-corruption focus and have suffered from political compromise and weak investigative capacity, particularly regarding complex financial crimes. While the new NPA directorate is seen as a necessary step to address high-profile corruption, the report warns of potential inter-agency rivalry and the risk that the Hawks' own specialized capacities may be further neglected.

This report evaluates the internal anti-corruption mechanisms of South Africa's three largest political parties: the African National Congress (ANC), the Democratic Alliance (DA), and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). It concludes that while formal policies exist, their practical application is often undermined by political considerations, hierarchical structures, and a preference for party solidarity over probity.

This report examines the operational independence of South Africa's National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Office of the Public Protector (PP), arguing that both have been compromised by political interference and the appointment of partisan leaders.

This research paper evaluates the suitability of the Global Compact on Refugees (GCR) for the African context. It examines the GCR's objectives, the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF), and the challenges of implementing these non-binding frameworks in countries like South Africa and Tanzania, highlighting a critical gap between international policy and the fiscal and political realities of host states in the Global South.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) analyzes the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) as a multi-stakeholder initiative (MSI). It compares the APRM with the Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) to provide recommendations for improving the APRM's governance, transparency, and engagement with civil society.

The 2019 report by the NewClimate Institute analyzes the impact of climate mitigation commitments from cities, regions, and businesses, specifically focusing on ten major emitting economies and 17 international cooperative initiatives (ICIs). It finds that while individual actor commitments provide modest reductions, ICIs offer the most significant potential to close the global emissions gap to 2°C by 2030.

This briefing examines the motivations, benefits, and challenges for African nations considering membership in the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), noting a significant infrastructure finance gap and differing levels of suitability based on a country's income level.

A statement bySSS by Natural Justice regarding the intersection of climate change, xenophobia, and gender-based violence in Africa, specifically highlighting the risks facing South Africa.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) issued a statement condemning recent xenophobic violence in South Africa, calling for political leadership to stop scapegoating migrants and for the state to prosecute criminals and implement civic education based on common humanity.

This policy brief examines the role of inter-sectoral collaboration and coordination in preventing violence in South Africa, using the Western Cape's After School Game Changer (ASGC) as a primary case study. It argues that violence prevention requires a holistic approach involving government, NGOs, and academic institutions to provide safe environments and life skills for youth, particularly in impoverished areas.

The September 2019 Peace & Security Council Report by the Institute for Security Studies examines the coordination between the African Union (AU) and the UN Security Council (UNSC), the challenges of the AU's 'Amnesty Month' initiative, and specific political crises in the Central African Republic, Sudan, South Africa, and Cameroon.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the political and socio-economic environment surrounding Mozambique's October 15, 2019, general elections. It examines the impact of a massive corruption scandal, natural disasters, an insurgency in the north, and new decentralization laws on the stability and credibility of the electoral process.

This report analyzes the failure of Section 139 interventions in South African municipalities between 1998 and 2019. It finds that interventions are typically initiated too late, are legally misclassified to avoid mandatory financial recovery processes, and rely on an unauthorized 'administrator model' that often exacerbates municipal collapse. The authors call for a standardized, non-political implementation framework with clear triggers and strengthened oversight.

This research paper examines the role of digital financial services (DFS) in promoting financial inclusion, with a detailed case study on South Africa. It explores the global benefits and risks of digitisation, South Africa's progress toward its National Development Plan targets, and the broader opportunities for digital financial transition across the African continent.

This report is a monograph of a symposium hosted by the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) on 7 August 2019. It examines the independence and accountability of South Africa's criminal justice system, specifically focusing on the appointment and removal processes of the heads of key state institutions to prevent political interference and 'state capture'.

This report explores how cell captive insurance structures can address structural constraints in sub-Saharan African (SSA) insurance markets, such as fragmentation, lack of innovation, and limited capacity for specialised risks. It identifies four primary use cases—specialised risk management, retail innovation, market participation, and offshore financial centre development—and provides a decision framework for regulators to design appropriate legal and supervisory structures.

This policy briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the role of marine and coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in enhancing climate resilience, particularly in Southern and East Africa. It advocates for the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into national climate policies to protect vulnerable coastlines and livelihoods from sea-level rise and extreme weather events.

This synthesis report by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) examines the role of Marine and Coastal Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) in enhancing climate resilience in Southern Africa, specifically focusing on Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania. It advocates for the integration of biodiversity and ecosystem services into national climate policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to protect vulnerable coastal populations and ecosystems.

A statement from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to the South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries arguing against the weakening of Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for sulphur dioxide (SO2) and challenging the cost claims made by Eskom and Sasol regarding pollution abatement technologies.

Friends of the Earth International expresses deep disappointment with the July 16 revised version of the UN's legally binding treaty on transnational corporations and human rights, arguing that the text is too weak and fails to establish international jurisdiction to hold corporations accountable.