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The Civil Society Working Group on State Capture issued a statement responding to the first part of the Zondo Commission's report on state capture in South Africa. The group welcomes the report's findings and recommendations, particularly regarding whistle-blower protection, but calls for more robust recommendations to catalyze wholesale state reform and demands swift action from law enforcement and professional oversight bodies to ensure accountability.

A press statement issued on 23 January 2022 by a collective of organisations, including the Public Affairs Research Institute and the Defend our Democracy Campaign, condemning the targeting of migrants in South Africa and calling for government intervention to prevent xenophobic violence.

This research paper examines how legal pluralism—the coexistence of statute, custom, and practice—affects women's access to land inheritance in Lesotho, utilizing qualitative data from Maseru and Mafeteng.

This research paper examines the role of School Governing Bodies (SGBs) in underperforming schools in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. It finds that while the South African Schools Act (SASA) decentralizes governance to empower communities, in practice, SGBs in poor areas are often ineffective due to low parental capacity, sporadic district training, and a heavy reliance on school principals. This results in 'principal-dominated' governance where SGBs act as rubber stamps for decisions rather than strategic partners in improving academic performance. The paper also highlights tensions in teacher appointments, including the influence of localism ('son of the soil') and political affiliations.

This report examines whether the current model for providing basic municipal services—specifically electricity, water, and sanitation—to low-income households in South Africa is effectively improving living standards and reducing poverty and inequality.

This report by Thina Nzo examines the failure of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement (REIPPP) programme to deliver tangible socioeconomic benefits to the eMthanjeni Local Municipality and its host communities, arguing that the current centralised policymaking approach reproduces structural disempowerment.

This report by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) evaluates whether the current South African model for providing basic municipal services—electricity, water, and sanitation—reduces poverty or entrenches inequality. It concludes that the cost-recovery model is a 'lose-lose' system that impoverishes low-income households by forcing them to sacrifice food expenditure to pay for services, while simultaneously failing to ensure the financial viability of municipalities.

This policy brief by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) argues that the deterioration of the South African state is rooted in the politicisation of personnel appointments and removals in the public service and municipalities. Despite constitutional requirements for non-partisan administration, the author contends that a lack of independent checks allows political office-bearers to appoint allies and remove non-aligned officials, facilitating corruption and patronage. The brief proposes a reform model based on the segregation of duties—separating process planning, administration, short-listing, and appointment—and suggests a 'covering in' mechanism to implement these changes incrementally to reduce political resistance.

This briefing by the Public Affairs Research Institute argues that South Africa has failed to deliver affordable energy to its poor. It highlights that poor households spend up to 17% of their income on energy and that the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy is failing; in 2019, only 2 million of the 9.8 million funded households actually received free electricity, leaving 5.4 million eligible households without support and costing them R6 billion.

This briefing by the Public Affairs Research Institute examines the failure of the South African government to provide affordable electricity to low-income households despite the Energy Act of 1998. It highlights the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy, where national budget allocations for poor households are not reaching the intended beneficiaries due to municipal mismanagement and registration barriers.

This research paper by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the failure of the South African government to fulfill its 1998 White Paper on Energy promise to provide affordable electricity to poor households, small businesses, and small-scale farmers. It highlights a significant gap between national budget allocations for free basic electricity and the actual delivery of these services by municipalities.

A joint statement by eleven civil society organizations condemning former president Jacob Zuma's defiance of the State Capture Commission (Zondo Commission) and his attacks on the judiciary.

An open letter from the Public Affairs Research Institute to President Cyril Ramaphosa arguing that South Africa's public service requires structural reforms to appointment and removal processes to eliminate political interference and corruption.

This research paper by Adrian Murray examines the contradictions between Canada's image as a progressive global leader and its actual response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The author argues that the pandemic exposed systemic inequalities, particularly regarding the treatment of seniors in long-term care, essential workers, and Indigenous populations, while criticizing the government's preference for virus mitigation over suppression and its role in global vaccine hoarding.

This research paper analyzes US President Donald Trump's handling of the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that he treated the crisis as a campaign stage. The author contends that Trump pursued a laissez-faire 'herd immunity' strategy, not for epidemiological reasons, but to frame himself as a protector of the working class and small business owners against a perceived 'elite' scientific and political establishment.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), supported by the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM), submitted public comments on the Companies Amendment Bill, 2021. The submission focuses on how mandatory disclosure of beneficial ownership information can enhance transparency in public procurement and increase the accountability of public servants by exposing hidden conflicts of interest.

This briefing by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the failure of the South African government to fulfill its 1998 White Paper on Energy promise of affordable energy for all. It specifically highlights the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program, where billions of rands allocated for low-income households are not reaching the intended beneficiaries due to municipal mismanagement.

This briefing by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the failure of the South African government to fulfill its 1998 commitment to provide affordable electricity to low-income households, small businesses, and farmers. It highlights a systemic failure in the implementation of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy, where billions of rands intended for poor households are not reaching the intended beneficiaries due to municipal mismanagement.

This report chapter analyzes the appointment and removal processes for senior leadership within South Africa's key criminal justice institutions, including the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), South African Police Service (SAPS), Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), and Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID). It argues that current frameworks allow for excessive political interference, undermining institutional independence and the rule of law, and proposes the institutionalization of independent selection panels and more rigorous, transparent criteria for appointments.

This report by the International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETTT) provides case studies on the status of climate and energy policies across twelve countries. It examines the gap between national commitments (NDCs) and actual implementation, highlighting the role of independent think tanks in driving decarbonization through research, stakeholder dialogue, and policy advocacy in major and emerging economies.