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This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) examines the challenges of measuring and understanding public violence in South Africa. It critiques existing data sources, such as the South African Police Service (SAPS) IRIS system, and presents preliminary findings from the ISS's own Public Violence Monitoring project (2013-2015). The paper explores the drivers of collective violence, including socio-economic inequality and government unresponsiveness, and analyzes the roles of local government, community leadership, and the police in escalating or mitigating public disorder.

This policy brief by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the state of youth policy in Africa, drawing on African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review Reports. It argues that while youth policies are becoming more common, they are often hindered by poor design, inadequate data, and weak state implementation capacity. The author emphasizes the need for evidence-based strategies and partnerships with non-state actors to effectively integrate young people into developmental agendas.

This report details the second phase (2015–2016) of the Breede Catchment Water Stewardship Programme in South Africa's Western Cape, a partnership between WWF-SA, Woolworths, M&S, GIZ, and the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). The project focused on transitioning from on-farm water risk identification to collective action, specifically addressing urban water quality in townships, invasive alien plant clearing in mountainous areas, and the application of the AWS Standard to agriculture.

WWF South Africa's 2016 report 'Water: Facts and Futures' details the critical state of the country's water security. It highlights that while only 8% of land generates 50% of river flow, these Water Source Areas are under-protected. The report identifies severe threats from invasive alien plants, failing engineered infrastructure (with 37% urban water loss), and widespread pollution from sewage and mining. It calls for a 'Water and Sanitation Revolution' focusing on nature-based solutions, groundwater management, and decentralized service delivery to ensure equitable access to safe water.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of several environmental organizations, issued a formal request to Eskom on 25 April 2016 for emission reduction plans, compliance roadmaps, and decommissioning schedules for all 15 of its coal-fired power stations. The CER asserts that existing compliance roadmaps provided by the National Air Quality Officer (NAQO) are insufficient to ensure Eskom meets the emission standards set in its atmospheric emission licences (AELs) and the minimum emission standards (MES).

A letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights to the Minister of Environmental Affairs seeking legal clarification on the potential amendment or revocation of the environmental authorisation for the Thabametsi Power Station following required impact assessments.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted recommendations to the Department of Environmental Affairs to amend the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA): National Appeal Regulations, 2014. The CER argues that the current regulations may violate the right to just administrative action under the Constitution and the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act, 2000 (PAJA), specifically regarding restrictive timeframes and procedural fairness for interested and affected parties (I&APs).

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several non-governmental and community organisations, submitted a formal request to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs on 5 April 2016. The letter urges the strengthening and immediate publication of draft regulations concerning greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reporting, the declaration of GHGs as priority pollutants, and pollution prevention plans, arguing that these are essential for South Africa to meet its commitments under its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) and the Paris Agreement.

A statement by the South African Institute of International Affairs welcoming a March 31, 2016, Constitutional Court ruling regarding the president's private residence at Nkandla, emphasizing the ruling's broader implications for the rule of law, the separation of powers, and the protection of marginalized citizens.

This report examines how the Green Climate Fund (GCF) can better support urban areas in achieving a paradigm shift toward low-emission and climate-resilient development. It identifies significant barriers facing cities—particularly in the developing world—including limited technical capacity, restricted access to international finance, and high fiduciary requirements. The authors propose three primary access modalities for GCF funding: utilizing unconventional implementing entities, accrediting cities as implementing entities themselves, and employing an Enhanced Direct Access (EDA) approach, potentially through a National City Facility.

This research paper analyzes the state of constitutionalism and civil liberties across Africa by examining African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Country Review Reports for 12 countries. It categorizes these nations based on Freedom House rankings and identifies systemic challenges to freedom, including executive dominance and securitization.

The Regulations Prescribing the Atmospheric Emission Licence Processing Fee, 2016, establish the mandatory fees for various types of atmospheric emission licence applications under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004.

This policy brief examines the barriers and facilitators to participation in parenting programmes in South Africa. Based on interviews with caregivers in Cape Town, it identifies low socio-economic status—specifically transport costs, hunger, and lack of childcare—as the primary structural barriers. Personal barriers include health issues and alcohol abuse, while programmatic barriers involve discomfort with group sharing. Facilitators include family support, a readiness to change, and the 'support group' nature of the sessions. The brief recommends house-to-house recruitment, the provision of shuttle services, childcare, and meals to increase engagement and return on investment.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) issued an open letter to Anglo American plc on February 29, 2016, urging transparency and public participation regarding the company's plans to divest its coal and iron ore assets in South Africa to prevent the creation of further derelict and ownerless mines.

In a 2016 address, SAIIA National Chairman Fred T Phaswana discusses the intersection of South Africa's domestic political and economic crises with global instability. He highlights the erosion of South Africa's international leadership due to internal corruption and poor growth, while contrasting these failures with the success of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REI4P) and global multilateral agreements on climate and development.

This research paper analyzes the outcomes of the 2015 World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, arguing that the conference effectively signaled the end of the Doha Development Round. The author examines the geopolitical shifts causing this failure and proposes a transition toward plurilateral agreements and the integration of megaregional trade deals into the WTO framework to maintain the viability of the multilateral trading system.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several environmental justice organisations, submitted comments on 8 February 2016 regarding the Draft Declaration of Greenhouse Gases as Priority Pollutants and the Draft National Pollution Prevention Plans (PPP) Regulations. The submission argues for greater alignment between these regulations and South Africa's international commitments under the Paris Agreement and its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC), while advocating for increased transparency, public access to data, and more rigorous monitoring and verification of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

This briefing note examines the role of the informal waste sector in South Africa's recycling economy and the potential impacts of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It highlights the significant economic value provided by informal waste pickers in diverting materials from landfills and proposes four integration scenarios to protect livelihoods while increasing recycling rates.

This document is a responding statement submitted by Jones & Wagener (on behalf of Kuyasa Mining and KiPower) to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA). It addresses an appeal by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against the granting of an integrated environmental authorisation for a 600MW coal-fired independent power plant near Delmas, Mpumalanga. The statement denies allegations that the project violates NEMA principles or environmental laws, arguing that the project aligns with the Department of Energy's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and employs Circulating Fluidised Bed (CFB) technology to mitigate pollutants.

This document introduces a project by Financial Sector Deepening Africa and Creative Metier to improve financial inclusion in sub-Saharan Africa by enhancing leadership capacity through executive coaching. It notes that while the region's financial sector has grown rapidly, formal financial account ownership remained low at 34% as of 2014.