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The report outlines a framework for food systems transformation in southern Africa, emphasizing the need for a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach, the integration of indigenous knowledge, and the empowerment of women and youth. It identifies key leverage points for change, such as governance reform, sustainable rural livelihoods, and the adoption of climate-smart agriculture. The document recommends shifting from siloed sectoral approaches to systemic, multi-sectoral governance and suggests using 'futuring' methodologies to identify 'Seeds of Change'—small-scale innovative projects that can be upscaled to build regional resilience.

The report identifies widespread labor rights violations by Chinese companies in Southern Africa, including low wages, unsafe working conditions, and unfair dismissals. It highlights a systemic failure of national governments to enforce labor laws, often exacerbated by corruption and political ties between Chinese investors and local elites. While some positive impacts on employment and infrastructure are noted, the study emphasizes the precarious nature of these jobs and the marginalization of trade unions.

The document analyzes the AfCFTA's potential to industrialize Africa and create a market of 1.3 billion consumers. It highlights a decline in Korea-Africa trade since 2011 and suggests that Korea leverage its strengths in capital goods, specifically the automotive and shipping sectors, to integrate into emerging African regional value chains. The authors recommend that Korea pursue formal economic partnership agreements with African regional economic communities, focusing on asymmetric trade liberalization and supporting Africa's green energy transition.

The document examines the challenges African countries face in accessing sustainable finance for regional infrastructure, noting a significant financing deficit and a lack of bankable projects. It highlights the disparity between climate mitigation and adaptation finance, arguing that adaptation is more critical for Africa's vulnerability. The brief analyzes the ASEAN regional approach—specifically its sustainability taxonomies and the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility—as a model for Africa. It evaluates current AU initiatives, such as the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa and the Green Infrastructure Corridor for Intra-African Trade, and recommends integrating sustainability more deeply into AfCFTA protocols to attract investment and enhance climate resilience.

The document outlines the current state of South Africa's solar PV market, noting that while the Integrated Resource Plan targets 10% solar PV generation by 2030, local manufacturing remains limited. It identifies specific opportunities across the value chain—from mineral extraction of chromium and manganese to the assembly of modules and inverters—and recommends policy certainty, concessional finance, and skills development to foster a domestic industry.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted written representations on 29 July 2022 regarding the Draft Mine Health and Safety Amendment Bill, 2022. The CER argues that the current Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 and the proposed amendments fail to adequately protect the constitutional rights of communities living near mines, specifically regarding the impacts of mine blasting.

The memorandum outlines a series of legislative amendments to the South African tax regime. Key proposals include a ramp-up of the carbon tax rate to US$30/tCO2e by 2030, the extension of energy efficiency and electricity price neutrality incentives until 2025, and the introduction of an excise duty on vaping products. It also addresses technical corrections in retirement fund transfers, insurance accounting under IFRS 17, and VAT registration for foreign suppliers.

This research paper examines the internal organisational structures of South African national government Cabinet departments between 2009 and 2021, analyzing how inter-departmental expansion and political leadership influenced internal unit growth.

Comparing 2021 and 2015 projections, G20 absolute emissions for 2030 are now expected to be 15% lower, with average annual growth rates slowing from 1.2% to 0.3%. Despite these improvements, collective emissions are still projected to increase until 2030, leaving the G20 off track to meet the 1.5 °C warming limit of the Paris Agreement.

The SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration 2022 outlines youth-led demands for climate justice and sustainable development, specifically targeting South Africa's energy transition and the Global South's vulnerabilities. It calls for the urgent implementation of the Just Transition Framework, the removal of the 100MW limit for renewable energy supply from Independent Power Producers, and the integration of youth and marginalized genders into policy writing. Beyond climate, the declaration advocates for the decolonization of African educational curricula, the protection of informal workers, and the eradication of the 'pink tax'. It concludes with pledges from both youth and educators to foster leadership and civic engagement to achieve a more equitable society.

The document examines how the war in Ukraine is facilitating a geopolitical realignment in Africa, where countries are increasingly wary of Western 'coercive diplomacy' and 'paternalism'. It posits that China is capitalizing on this by aligning its diplomatic rhetoric with African desires for non-alignment and multipolarity. The author suggests that China's control over supply chains and its 'Global Security Initiative' provide tangible alternatives to Western partnerships, potentially eroding Western influence on the continent.

A coalition of civil society organisations condemns the UNDP's signing of an MoU with the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) in South Africa. The letter argues that the MMSEZ is a coal-dependent project that would generate approximately 1 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent over its lifetime, jeopardising South Africa's Paris Agreement commitments and exacerbating water insecurity in the Limpopo region. The authors further claim that the UNDP's grievance mechanisms, specifically the Stakeholder Response Mechanism (SRM) and the Social and Environmental Compliance Unit (SECU), are inadequate because they are reactive and do not cover non-binding MoUs that lend legitimacy to flawed projects.

The Declaration of the Conference for Democratic Renewal and Change, adopted on 2 July 2022, asserts that South Africa's constitutional democracy is under threat from corruption and state capture. It proposes a 'new politics' based on social and climate justice and outlines a programme of action focusing on electoral reform, public service professionalisation, and the implementation of the Zondo Commission's recommendations. The document resolves to transform the 'Defend our Democracy Campaign' into a popular movement to oversee these goals.

The study found that an integrated intervention of parenting programmes and social activation led to significant decreases in children's internalising and externalising behaviours and a reduction in parenting stress. While there was a trend toward decreased spanking, overall positive parenting levels remained stable. Social network analysis revealed that programme participants became more influential, potentially spreading positive parenting practices to non-attendees. However, the impact was undermined by systemic risks including intimate partner violence, poor mental health, and substance abuse, which the authors argue must be addressed through integrated social and government services to optimise outcomes.

The study tracks the internal machinery of seven South African Cabinet departments from 2009 to 2021. It finds an aggregate expansion in internal organisational units that peaked around 2018/19, coinciding with the presidency of Jacob Zuma, before declining under Cyril Ramaphosa. While most departments are dominated by externally-oriented specialist portfolio units, the research indicates that internal structural changes are generally not triggered by ministerial reshuffles. Furthermore, the creation of public entities (agencification) did not lead to a corresponding reduction in the internal functions of Cabinet departments.

The document analyzes the varied diplomatic positions of African nations regarding the Ukraine war, noting a split between those condemning Russia and those maintaining neutrality to preserve bilateral ties. It argues that African states should move from being passive bystanders to proactive actors by mediating peace, filling resource gaps created by sanctions, diversifying commodity imports, and strengthening pan-African unity.

The document examines the operationalisation of the Paris Agreement's Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF), which mandates that all countries submit biennial transparency reports by December 31, 2024. It highlights the shift toward standardised reporting and review processes to increase accountability for Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). While the ETF aims to build trust and facilitate ambitious climate commitments, the author notes that developing countries face significant barriers in technical capacity, particularly in greenhouse gas accounting and measurement, reporting, and verification (MRV). The brief advocates for integrating climate tracking into national budgets, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and increasing capacity building for adaptation and loss and damage reporting, particularly in Africa.

Russia has increased its presence in Africa through defense and security partnerships, positioning itself as an alternative to Western paternalism. However, the document argues that Russia lacks the financial capacity to compete with the U.S., EU, and China, as evidenced by its modest trade volume and the contrast with China's massive infrastructure investments. The war in Ukraine has further complicated this strategy by draining resources and increasing international sanctions.

A letter of demand from the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) to the South African government and the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) regarding the failure to pay Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grants for April, May, and June 2022.

The Institute for Economic Justice argues that bureaucratic delays at SASSA have prevented the payment of April and May 2022 SRD grants, affecting up to 10 million people. The letter proposes emergency measures, such as payment based on applicant declarations or prioritizing previously verified beneficiaries, to prevent widespread hunger.