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This research paper by the Public Affairs Research Institute identifies two critical gaps in South Africa's just transition discourse: an over-emphasis on energy generation at the expense of energy distribution, and a reactive focus on future transition-induced inequalities rather than existing systemic drivers of poverty.

This research paper examines the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on Kenya's informal sector and the resulting strain on the country's fiscal social contract. The authors argue that a lack of fiscal legitimacy, driven by corruption and poor service delivery in healthcare, discourages the informal sector from participating in direct taxation, while government fiscal relief measures primarily benefited formal taxpayers.

A press statement issued on 15 November 2020 by a coalition of organisations calling for former President Jacob Zuma to appear before the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture to provide transparent accountability regarding state capture and the influence of the Gupta family.

This policy brief argues that corruption in public procurement is a significant barrier to South Africa's recovery from crisis, citing Covid-19 procurement scandals as evidence. It proposes a reform mechanism designed to encourage whistleblowing and facilitate the recovery of civil damages resulting from fraudulent transactions against the state.

This policy brief by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) argues for the introduction of 'encouraged whistleblowing' (qui tam) within South Africa's public procurement system to combat widespread corruption and inefficiency. The authors propose a legal mechanism where private individuals are financially incentivized to report fraudulent claims against the state, drawing on the model of the United States' False Claims Act to recover damages and reduce the burden on under-resourced state prosecutors.

This research paper by Mbongiseni Buthelezi examines how the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent hard lockdown in March 2020 exposed and exacerbated existing social, economic, and political fault lines in South Africa. The author analyzes the state's response, the role of the military and police, the emergence of corruption in PPE and food relief procurement, and the evolving relationship between the government, business, and civil society.

This research paper examines the governance of Lephalale, a mining town in South Africa's Limpopo province, focusing on the intersection of local government, spatial planning, and mining companies. It argues that the Medupi power station project failed to bridge apartheid-era spatial divides due to the Lephalale Local Municipality's lack of institutional capacity and its heavy dependence on private interests, specifically the multinational corporation Exxaro.

This research paper applies Michel Foucault's 'micro-physics' of power to analyze the internal workings of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa during a period of intense political conflict between 2014 and 2015. The author examines how an ousted mayor, Tlhalefi Mashamaite, used regimes of visibility, exclusion, and truth to discipline municipal bureaucrats and consolidate power following a violent return to office.

This research paper examines non-compliance within South African local government, arguing that mainstream explanations—which focus on technical capacity and unethical behavior—are insufficient. Through ethnographic research, the author proposes that officials often follow 'uncodified rules' (informal norms, political pressures, and social justice perceptions) rather than 'codified rules' (legislation and regulations). The paper advocates for the 'logics of appropriateness' (LOA) framework to better understand how institutional culture and multiple identities influence bureaucratic decision-making.

This research paper analyzes New Zealand's 'hard and early' response to Covid-19, focusing on its transition to an elimination strategy in March 2020. The authors attribute the country's initial success—which led to a 'Covid Free' status by June 2020—to the decisive leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, a strong reliance on scientific expertise, clear public communication, and high levels of social solidarity. The document also discusses the role of border controls, the impact of the mixed member proportional voting system on governance, and efforts to maintain trust with Māori communities.

This research paper by Joan McGregor examines the United Kingdom's response to the Covid-19 pandemic up to August 2020, with a primary focus on England. It analyzes the intersection of the public health crisis with political distractions like Brexit, the impact of long-term austerity on the NHS, and the resulting socioeconomic disparities, particularly affecting BAME groups and low-income populations.

This research paper by Bariki G. Mwasaga analyzes the response of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Covid-19 pandemic, highlighting the role of President John Magufuli's leadership, the tension between government claims and scientific data, and the resulting social and political consequences.

This research paper analyzes how the Covid-19 pandemic in Bolivia intersected with a pre-existing political crisis characterized by the perceived illegitimacy of the interim government led by Jeanine Áñez. The author argues that the conflict between the executive and legislative branches, combined with corruption scandals and uneven application of quarantine measures, has hindered a coordinated state response to the health crisis.

This research paper by Aditya Nigam analyzes the Indian government's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, arguing that the state used the health crisis to further a Hindu supremacist agenda, suppress political dissent, and benefit corporate interests while neglecting the welfare of millions of migrant workers.

An open letter from Corruption Watch and the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) to President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni urging decisive leadership and collaborative reform of South Africa's public procurement system through the draft Public Procurement Bill.

A report by Tracy Ledger and Mahlatse Rampedi analyzing the failure of the post-1994 local government fiscal framework in South Africa, arguing that municipalities cannot generate sufficient revenue to cover operating expenditures and provide basic services.

An open letter from the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) to President Ramaphosa of South Africa, arguing that the government has failed to provide land justice for poor black women. The letter asserts that landlessness increases women's vulnerability to gender-based violence, food insecurity, and the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This research paper by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) evaluates the local government fiscal framework in South Africa, arguing that the structural assumptions made in the 1998 White Paper on Local Government are fundamentally unsound and have led to widespread municipal financial distress and the erosion of the social wage.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) submitted recommendations on the draft Public Procurement Bill [B – 2020], arguing that public procurement is critical to South Africa's economy but currently suffers from systemic corruption and operational failure.

A letter from the Civil Society Working Group on State Capture to Deputy Chief Justice Raymond Zondo urging the Zondo Commission to resume hearings and provide public updates during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure its mandate is met by March 2021.