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This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies argues that South Africa's reliance on reactive criminal justice spending is ineffective at reducing violent crime and advocates for a radical shift toward investment in preventive social programmes.

This practical guide, published by WWF South Africa in 2017, provides host employers with a framework for quality assuring Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for student interns in the biodiversity and environment sector. It outlines the entire internship lifecycle, from preparing the organization and recruiting students to mentoring, induction, assessment, and monitoring and evaluation.

South Africa's 2nd Biennial Update Report (BUR-2) provides a comprehensive overview of the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2000 to 2012, its mitigation strategies, and the financial and technical support received to transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy by 2030.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) argues that South Africa is caught in a 'middle-income trap' characterized by sluggish growth, deep inequality, and declining government effectiveness. The authors advocate for a paradigm shift away from a state-led developmental model toward a more flexible, labour-intensive economy and a knowledge-based society driven by private sector partnerships and technological innovation.

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.

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.

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 National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2015/16, published by the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), provides a comprehensive overview of environmental law enforcement activities in South Africa. It details the capacity of the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI), national compliance statistics, provincial performance, and specific case studies regarding industrial pollution and biodiversity crimes, particularly rhino poaching.

The report 'SIGNS OF HOPE?' by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) evaluates the implementation of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) regarding environmental records in South Africa from January 2010 to September 2015. It identifies a slow trend toward greater reactive disclosure by authorities and private companies, though proactive disclosure remains poor.

This research paper examines the viability of using power ships—marine vehicles with installed power plants—as a short-term remedy for South Africa's energy crisis, comparing them to existing open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs).

This research paper by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) evaluates the infrastructure and effectiveness of foreign direct investment (FDI) promotion in South Africa. It examines the decentralised system of provincial investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and their relationship with the national agency, Trade and Investment South Africa (TISA). The author argues for increased strategic oversight by TISA to reduce inter-provincial competition and improve the quality and sustainability of FDI inflows, particularly in the context of the Promotion and Protection of Investment Bill of 2013.

The 2015 SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project (ESP) is an educational competition for South African Grade 10-12 learners designed to build knowledge of environmental sustainability through research, presentations, and youth negotiations.

This feasibility report, commissioned by the Department of Trade and Industry and produced by GreenCape, evaluates the establishment of a greentech Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Atlantis, a suburb of Cape Town. The report concludes that a small-scale SEZ is viable, particularly if it focuses on manufacturing rather than services, and recommends a 'high road refurbishment' model as the most financially and economically attractive option to attract both large anchor tenants and smaller greentech firms.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines the extent and nature of domestic violence in South Africa and the implementation of the Domestic Violence Act of 1998 (DVA). It highlights the discrepancy between official police statistics and community-based surveys, the prevalence of intimate partner violence and femicide, and the systemic failures within the police and court systems to protect victims.

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2013/14 provides a comprehensive overview of the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). It details statistics on criminal and administrative enforcement, compliance monitoring across 'brown' (pollution/waste) and 'green' (biodiversity) sectors, and specific case studies involving industrial facilities and wildlife crime, particularly rhino poaching.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes potential electoral outcomes and political scenarios for South Africa for the period 2014 to 2029. It explores four primary pathways—'Bafana Bafana', 'The Future is ANC', 'The Rise of Multiparty Democracy', and 'A Nation Divided'—evaluating how factors such as ANC leadership, trade union splits (specifically NUMSA and COSATU), and youth voter apathy influence economic growth and poverty levels.

This policy brief examines South Africa's energy transition and its strategic international partnerships. It highlights the country's reliance on coal while pursuing a target of 30% clean energy for new capacity by 2025. The document details South Africa's role as a regional energy hub via the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) and its complex relationship with the EU, which balances broad strategic partnerships with specific bilateral cooperation and South-South engagements (BRICS, IBSA).

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies presents three plausible scenarios for South Africa's economic and political trajectory up to 2030: 'Bafana Bafana' (continued underachievement), 'Mandela Magic' (high growth and vision), and 'Nation Divided' (political instability and populist decline). Using the International Futures forecasting system, the author analyzes how leadership choices, particularly within the African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance with COSATU, will impact GDP, employment, and social stability.

This 2014 Market Intelligence Report by GreenCape analyzes the energy efficiency sector in South Africa, focusing on standards, legislation, financial incentives, and specific markets including solar water heaters, energy-saving lighting, and embedded generation.

The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2014-15 provides a comprehensive overview of the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI), known as the 'Green Scorpions'. The report details the growth of EMI capacity, national compliance and enforcement statistics, legislative developments, and specific operational outcomes across the 'green' (biodiversity), 'brown' (pollution and waste), and 'blue' (marine and coastal) sectors. It highlights a significant increase in the number of designated inspectors and a focus on high-risk areas such as rhino poaching and industrial pollution.