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This briefing describes a violent conflict among gangs and international syndicates in the Western Cape of South Africa, primarily driven by the trade of Crystal Methamphetamine (Tik). It details the rise of the drug's popularity, the organizational evolution of gangs, and the systemic challenges facing law enforcement, including police corruption and low public cooperation.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies examines the lack of regulation regarding private political party funding in South Africa. It argues that the absence of such legislation, combined with the implementation of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE), has created a 'blurred nexus' between the state, the ruling African National Congress (ANC), and corporate interests, facilitating political patronage and corruption.

This research paper examines the challenges of implementing a transitional justice framework in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) following a war that caused over three million deaths. The author analyzes the limitations of domestic prosecutions, the role of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and the failures of the national Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR) in the context of a fragile democratic transition.

This research paper by Prince Mashele analyses the June 2006 decision by President Thabo Mbeki regarding the future of the Directorate of Special Operations (DSO), known as the Scorpions, following the Khampepe Commission of enquiry. The author examines the political compromise of splitting the DSO's reporting lines between the Ministry of Safety and Security and the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Development, questioning whether this arrangement will hinder operational efficiency or the fight against organised crime.

This research paper examines the relationship between gender equality and peace processes in Africa, arguing that conflict can serve as a catalyst for transforming patriarchal gender roles. Through a comparative analysis of UN peacekeeping missions in South Africa (UNOMSA) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC), the author contends that the inclusion of a critical mass of women in peacekeeping enhances mission effectiveness and challenges traditional gender stereotypes.

The document lists South African provinces and their respective districts or cities under the heading of crime statistics, but it provides no actual data or findings.

A fact sheet from the Institute for Security Studies listing the categories of crime for which RSA totals were tracked between 2001 and 2006.

This monograph by Rocky Williams examines the historical impact of guerrilla armies on the formation of South Africa's national defence forces, specifically comparing the influence of the Boer Commandos on the Union Defence Force (UDF) in 1912 and Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) on the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) in 1994.

This briefing from the Institute for Security Studies analyzes the aftermath of the Democratic Republic of Congo's first democratic elections in 40 years, held on 30 July 2006. It evaluates the security situation across various provinces, the logistical challenges of the vote-counting process, and potential political scenarios and alliances should a second round of presidential voting be required.

This briefing discusses the volatile political atmosphere in the Democratic Republic of Congo following its first free elections in over four decades, focusing on the lead held by incumbent President Joseph Kabila over Jean-Pierre Bemba and the potential for renewed conflict.

This briefing by the Institute for Security Studies examines the state of Sudan eighteen months after the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) on 5 January 2005. It analyzes the fragility of the alliance between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese Peoples Liberation Movement (SPLM), the impact of Dr. John Garang's death on the 'New Sudan' vision, and the critical challenges regarding the demarcation of the Abyei boundary. The document highlights how peripheral regions like Darfur and the Beja area continue to experience instability, threatening the overall implementation of the peace process.

This briefing presents the results of the National Youth Victimisation Study conducted by the Centre for Justice and Crime Prevention. The study finds that South African youth aged 12 to 22 are significantly more likely to be victims of crime and violence than adults, with a high prevalence of both violent and property crimes occurring in their homes, schools, and communities.

This research paper discusses a child consultation study conducted in South Africa to explore the phenomenon of children being used by adults to commit crime (CUBAC). Part of a broader International Labour Organisation (ILO) and Department of Labour programme to eliminate the worst forms of child labour, the study engaged 541 children to understand the drivers of child criminality and the methods adults use to recruit and coerce them.

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 examines the state of human trafficking research in South Africa as of 2006, arguing that existing data is rudimentary, methodologically weak, and overly focused on sexual exploitation. It calls for more sophisticated, dispassionate research and the adoption of innovative methodologies to inform the development of specialized anti-trafficking legislation.

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.

A statement from the National Anti-Corruption Forum (NACF) regarding a civil society report on corruption during the apartheid era, detailing the forum's reception of the findings and its plan to establish a sub-committee for further action.

The document outlines a voluntary repatriation programme starting in August 2006 to return approximately 4,000 Angolan refugees from South Africa to Angola. While the UNHCR provides resettlement grants, it will end its assistance in October 2006. The briefing notes that many refugees are reluctant to return due to Angola's severe socio-economic challenges, including high poverty (70%) and unemployment (over 50%), despite a government shift in spending from defence to social sectors between 1999 and 2003.

A media statement from a meeting convened by the Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) and Transparency South Africa in Cape Town on 13 April 2006, addressing large-scale private sector corruption and failures in corporate governance.

This research paper examines the evolution of public order policing in South Africa, tracing the transition from the repressive Internal Stability Division of the apartheid era to the current Area Crime Combating Units (ACCUs). The author questions whether the shift in focus toward general crime prevention has eroded the specialized capacity of the police to manage volatile crowd situations and service delivery protests.