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This research paper by Marianne Camerer examines the requirements for effective anti-corruption systems, particularly within the context of new democracies in Africa. The author argues that a single-agency approach is often insufficient and that sustainable reform requires a combination of data-driven policy, a matrix of legal and oversight institutions, ethical leadership, and active partnerships with civil society and the media.

This research paper details the efforts of the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) to ensure that access to information and whistleblower protection were included in South Africa's African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) process. It highlights systemic obstacles, including the government's control over the National Governing Council (NGC) and the exclusion of specialist NGOs. Despite these challenges and the removal of key recommendations from the Country Self-Assessment Report (CSAR), ODAC's persistence led to the inclusion of a 'Know Your Rights' campaign and a commitment to review the Protected Disclosures Act in the final, binding Programme of Action (POA).

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) details the efforts of the Open Democracy Advice Centre (ODAC) to influence South Africa's self-assessment under the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). The document describes the challenges ODAC faced due to government control over the process, the strategic use of parliamentary committees and technical agencies to ensure their concerns regarding access to information and whistleblower protection were heard, and the eventual inclusion of these issues in the final Plan of Action.

This report provides a state-by-state overview of scheduled and potential elections across several African nations in 2008, noting a general trend where incumbents face little threat from fragmented oppositions, though some countries are experiencing significant leadership transitions.

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs argues that international donor agencies and UN bodies are hindering malaria control in Africa by resisting the use of Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS) and DDT in favor of less effective measures. The author contends that a 'vertical' health program approach, combining DDT-based IRS and Artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT), is the most effective strategy, citing successful implementations in South Africa and India.

This research paper examines the challenges of managing HIV/AIDS funding in poor communities, specifically focusing on the risk of graft and the lack of administrative capacity in grassroots organisations in South Africa and Kenya.

This research paper analyzes the governance of South Africa's intelligence services, tracing their evolution from the oppressive apparatus of the apartheid state and the ANC's liberation intelligence to the post-1994 democratic framework. It evaluates the efficacy of current oversight mechanisms, the role of the National Intelligence Coordinating Committee (NICOC), and the challenges of balancing secrecy with democratic accountability.

This issue of SA Crime Quarterly examines public perceptions of crime in South Africa, the role of the private security industry, the impact of sentencing policies on prison populations, and the legal implications of compulsory HIV testing for alleged sexual offenders.

This report analyzes public opinion surveys from Idasa and Afrobarometer conducted in South Africa since 1994 to compare citizen experiences of crime and policing against official statistics. While public perceptions of overall safety and government performance in fighting crime have improved since 2000, trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS) is undermined by high perceived and actual levels of corruption and poor user-friendliness.

This research paper, based on the 2005 National Youth Victimisation Study, examines the relationship between exposure to family violence and criminal victimisation among South African youth aged 12 to 22. The study finds that young people who witness or experience violence at home are significantly more vulnerable to becoming victims of crime, including violent crimes and repeat victimisations.

This research paper by Prince Mashele of the Institute for Security Studies provides an overview of the proceedings of the Khampepe Commission, established in 2005 to review the mandate and location of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), known as the 'Scorpions'. The document details the tensions between the Scorpions and the South African Police Service (SAPS), the debate over the DSO's broad statutory mandate, and the political and technical arguments regarding whether the unit should remain within the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) or be incorporated into the SAPS.

This 2006 report by the Institute for Security Studies and the Restorative Justice Centre documents the state of restorative justice (RJ) practice in South Africa. It maps over sixty projects across various sectors—including probation services, correctional services, civil society, and traditional leadership—to evaluate the scope and quality of services provided to victims and offenders. The authors argue that RJ should be viewed as a philosophy and approach rather than a specific programme, and they advocate for its 'mainstreaming' within the criminal justice system through a partnership where civil society leads direct service delivery while the state acts as an enabler, resourcer, and guarantor of quality.

This research paper critiques the reliability of non-police crime statistics in South Africa, specifically those from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Injury Mortality Surveillance System (NIMSS). The author demonstrates how urban sampling biases and flawed statistical assumptions led to an overestimation of murder rates in rural areas (such as Limpopo) and inaccurate conclusions regarding the vulnerability of the 'Coloured' community. The paper concludes that while police data has limitations, the alternative datasets used in these cases were stretched beyond their limits, and SAPS figures should be preferred unless proven erroneous.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the South African Police Service (SAPS) crime statistics for the 2003/04 financial year. It reports a general decrease in most serious crimes, including murder and residential burglary, while highlighting a concerning increase in aggravated robbery. The authors note a disconnect between improving statistical trends and the high levels of fear felt by the South African public.

This report from the Institute for Security Studies provides a comprehensive analysis of South African crime statistics for the 2003/04 financial year, alongside thematic studies on the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act, the 2005 firearms amnesty, and the nature of gang rape in inner-city Johannesburg.

The report evaluates Operation Sethunya, a large-scale South African Police Service (SAPS) initiative conducted from April to September 2003 to combat the proliferation of illegal firearms. The operation focused on confiscating illegal weapons, ensuring legal owner compliance with the Firearms Control Act (2000), and auditing state and security firm weapon stocks. The document highlights a trend of increasing illegal firearm detections and an improving recovery rate for stolen weapons, while noting that South Africa maintains one of the highest gun theft ratios globally.

This research paper examines the history of violence and instability within South Africa's minibus taxi industry, tracing its origins from apartheid-era deregulation to post-1994 conflicts. It analyzes the failures of government attempts to re-regulate and recapitalize the industry, highlighting disputes over funding, vehicle specifications, and industry representation.

This issue of the SA Crime Quarterly (December 2004) examines critical failures and challenges within the South African criminal justice and security sectors. It details severe prison overcrowding driven by minimum sentencing laws, the mixed success of civilian oversight mechanisms for the South African Police Service (SAPS), the violent history and stalled recapitalisation of the minibus taxi industry, the under-utilization of weapon seizure powers in domestic violence cases, and the results of Operation Sethunya in combating illegal firearms.

The 2003 National Victims of Crime Survey in South Africa, conducted by the Institute for Security Studies, provides a comprehensive analysis of crime levels, public perceptions of safety, and the performance of the criminal justice system. The survey indicates a slight decline in overall victimisation rates compared to 1998, though housebreaking increased. It highlights a significant gap between public perceptions—which often overestimate the prevalence of violent crime—and the reality of non-violent property crime. The report also documents widespread petty corruption, declining feelings of safety, and a reliance on state protection despite mixed views on police and court performance.

This December 2003 issue of Crime Quarterly, published by the Institute for Security Studies, provides a multi-faceted analysis of crime trends and policing strategies in South Africa. It examines 2002/3 crime statistics, the investigation of farm attacks, the implementation of sector policing, the rise of gated communities via private security, social crime prevention, judicial processes for firearm unfitness, and the emergence of methamphetamine on the Cape Flats.