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This guide, published by the Public Affairs Research Institute in August 2018, provides a framework for public service employees and departments in South Africa to report unethical conduct, corruption, and non-compliance. It outlines the legal obligations under the Public Service Regulations (PSR), 2016 and the Protected Disclosures Act (PDA), 2000, while offering practical guidance on establishing departmental reporting policies, protecting reporters from occupational detriment, and utilizing various disclosure channels.

This briefing by the South African Institute for International Affairs (SAIIA) synthesizes four years of research on the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI), trade liberalisation, and regional integration (RI) within the Southern African Development Community (SADC). It examines the FDI regimes of several member states and specific sectors, such as energy and transport, to identify barriers to broad-based economic development and the creation of regional value chains.

This statement from the South African Institute of International Affairs advocates for the integration of gender perspectives into the BRICS bloc's development strategies, specifically regarding the Fourth Industrial Revolution, peace and security, and healthcare.

This research paper examines the diplomatic process and motivations behind South Africa's 1996 decision to switch official recognition from the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the People's Republic of China (PRC). It details President Nelson Mandela's initial attempt at a 'dual recognition' strategy and the internal and external pressures that eventually led to the establishment of formal relations with the PRC in 1998.

This report provides a management framework for South Africa's Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs), which produce over 50% of the region's mean annual runoff from 10% of the land. It details the economic importance of SWSAs, their role in supporting millions of people and the national economy, and provides specific implementation guidelines for the forestry, agriculture, and mining sectors to mitigate impacts on water quality and quantity. It advocates for the integration of SWSA maps into strategic spatial planning and the expansion of protected areas.

This report by the Centre for Environmental Rights examines the negative environmental and social externalities of coal-fired power generation in South Africa, with a primary focus on water use, pollution, and the associated economic costs. It argues that current energy planning, specifically the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), fails to internalise these costs, leading to a misrepresentation of the total cost of coal compared to renewable energy alternatives.

This report identifies and delineates Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) for surface water and groundwater across South Africa, Lesotho, and Swaziland. It defines SWSAs as areas providing disproportionate runoff or high groundwater recharge that are nationally important for water security. The study identifies 22 national surface water SWSAs (SWSA-sw) and 37 national groundwater SWSAs (SWSA-gw), analyzing their contribution to urban centers, agriculture, and industry, while assessing threats from land-cover change, mining, and invasive alien plants.

This briefing by the Climate Bonds Initiative explores the critical role of climate adaptation and resilience in infrastructure investments to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It highlights the current investment gap in the green bond market, where adaptation is significantly underfunded compared to mitigation, and proposes principles for improving definitions and disclosure to scale capital mobilization.

This guide by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) provides a strategic framework for governments to design and implement local content policies in the mining sector. It outlines a four-step process—aligning with national objectives, taking stock of capabilities, crafting specific policies, and establishing monitoring mechanisms—to ensure mining investments contribute to sustainable, inclusive economic development and diversification.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the cooperation between BRICS nations and Africa, focusing on industrialisation and infrastructure financing. It evaluates the role of South Africa in promoting African interests within the BRICS framework, the potential of the New Development Bank (NDB), and the challenges of debt, transparency, and unequal trade.

This policy briefing argues for the expansion and improved management of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in South Africa to enhance socio-ecological resilience. It highlights the gap between South Africa's current MPA coverage and global conservation targets, while discussing the benefits of MPAs for fisheries, climate adaptation, and biodiversity, alongside the challenges of sectoral conflict and customary rights.

This policy briefing examines how the EU–SADC Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which entered into force in October 2016, can be leveraged to develop Lesotho's agriculture and agro-processing sectors. While the EPA provides tariff preferences and an EUR 6 million development envelope, Lesotho struggles with low production volumes and stringent EU standards. The author recommends that Lesotho integrate into South African value chains as a stepping stone to the EU market and improve coordination between government and donor programs.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that the BRICS bloc should move beyond gender-specific forums to mainstream gender perspectives across its broader strategic priorities, including the Fourth Industrial Revolution, peacekeeping, and healthcare.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several environmental justice organisations, submitted provisional comments on June 29, 2018, regarding the Department of Environmental Affairs' (DEA) proposed amendments to the 2012 National Framework for Air Quality Management in South Africa. The CER argues that the public consultation process was inadequate and that the draft Framework fails to address systemic failures in air quality monitoring, enforcement, and the achievement of previous targets.

A letter from the South African Water Caucus (SAWC) to the Minister of Water and Sanitation, dated 27 June 2018, detailing a state of institutional crisis within the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) and proposing priority actions to secure South Africa's water security.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, representing the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, submitted representations on June 25, 2018, regarding proposed amendments to the List of Activities resulting in atmospheric emissions. While supporting the elimination of 'rolling postponements' for minimum emission standards (MES), the submission argues for stricter requirements for once-off suspensions, greater transparency in application documents, and a more robust public participation process.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) sent a formal request to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 25 June 2018, demanding access to pollution prevention plans and greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting records. The CER disputes the DEA's claims of confidentiality regarding emissions data from major companies and calls for transparency to ensure the effectiveness of the national mitigation system.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, representing the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted representations to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs supporting the removal of 'rolling postponements' for minimum emission standards. The CER argues for stricter health-based emission limits for facilities seeking suspensions, mandatory public disclosure of decommissioning schedules, and a more robust public participation process, while highlighting that current national air quality standards are inadequate compared to WHO guidelines.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing various non-governmental and community-based organisations, submitted comments to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding the 2018 Draft Amendments to the National Dust Control Regulations 2013. The CER argues that the draft regulations remain inadequate for protecting human health and the environment, particularly for mining-affected communities, and calls for more rigorous enforcement, better monitoring methods, and the inclusion of specific health-related analyses for toxic dust.

This report details a trade mission from the Netherlands to Cape Town, South Africa, held from May 22-25, 2018. Organized by GreenCape in cooperation with the Netherlands Government, the mission focused on the circular economy and biomass valorisation, specifically targeting organic wet streams, invasive species, construction and demolition waste, plastics, and waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).