Search Climate Insights Directory

The report argues that South Africa's municipal service delivery model has failed, transforming basic services from tools for socioeconomic development into instruments of impoverishment. It finds a massive gap between the number of households funded for free basic services and those actually receiving them, while tariffs for low-income households have risen far above inflation. The author contends that the 'win-win' assumption—that tariffs can be simultaneously affordable for the poor and sufficient for municipal financial viability—is a fallacy. This failure exacerbates food insecurity, as poor households sacrifice nutrition to pay municipal bills, and undermines other national poverty-reduction efforts. The report advocates for a 'Food First' approach to affordability and a fundamental rethink of the local government fiscal framework.

The report argues that the REIPPPP's centralised, top-down approach reproduces structural disempowerment for rural municipalities. Using eMthanjeni Local Municipality as a case study, it finds that local governments are excluded from early planning and procurement, leading to deteriorating infrastructure and minimal revenue gains. While the programme promises 'green jobs' and community development, the report highlights a skills deficit, the prevalence of short-term construction labour over long-term operational employment, and the failure of community trusts to provide immediate relief due to long loan repayment periods. Furthermore, it notes that land lease benefits primarily accrue to white minority landowners, while the municipality struggles with significant debt to Eskom despite hosting renewable energy infrastructure.

The policy brief argues that South Africa's state deterioration is rooted in the politicisation of public administration, where political office-bearers use unchecked appointment and removal powers to install allies and sideline competent officials. To counter this, the author proposes a system of 'segregation of duties' where independent bodies, specifically the Public Service Commission (PSC), manage the process planning and short-listing stages to ensure technical merit, while political leaders retain the final appointment power. For municipalities, the brief suggests involving the PSC or professional associations in selection committees. Because patronage is central to current power structures, the document recommends a 'covering in' mechanism—a strategically incremental implementation via presidential proclamation—to transition departments and municipalities into the new system gradually.

The document examines the failure of South Africa's energy policies to ensure affordable electricity for the poor. It highlights that poor households spend up to 17% of their income on energy and identifies two main causes: the absence of a formal definition of 'affordable energy' and the systemic failure of municipalities to distribute Free Basic Electricity (FBE) grants. Specifically, in 2019, while the national budget funded basic services for 9.8 million households, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving 5.4 million eligible households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in value.

The document argues that the promise of affordable electricity for all in South Africa, established by the Energy Act of 1998, remains unfulfilled. It identifies two primary causes: the lack of a clear government definition for 'affordable energy' and the failure of municipalities to distribute Free Basic Electricity (FBE) grants to eligible low-income households. Research indicates a significant gap in 2019, where national budget support was provided for 9.8 million households to receive basic services, but only 2 million households actually received free basic electricity through their municipalities.

The report argues that South Africa's promise of affordable electricity for the poor remains unfulfilled 20 years after the 1998 White Paper on Energy. It highlights that poor households spend a disproportionate 17% of their income on electricity and that the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program, which provides 50 kWh per month, is severely under-implemented. The document claims that in 2019, while national funding supported 9.8 million households for free services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving over 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in an estimated R6 billion in diverted funds.

The document argues that South Africa's energy distribution system actively exacerbates poverty and inequality by failing to deliver on the affordable access promises of the 1998 White Paper on Energy. It identifies a critical conflict of interest where municipalities prioritize financial viability and revenue collection over the provision of Free Basic Electricity (FBE), leading to millions of funded households being denied benefits. The author contends that a 'just transition' to clean energy must include a 'just distribution' to prevent the entrenchment of a two-tier energy system.

The document argues that the goal of affordable energy in South Africa has not been met, leaving poor households to spend up to 17% of their income on energy and forcing many to use dangerous sources like paraffin and coal. It identifies two primary causes: the lack of a formal government standard defining 'affordable energy' and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy. Specifically, the briefing highlights a significant gap in FBE implementation, noting that in 2019, while the national budget funded free basic services for 9.8 million households, only 2 million actually received free electricity from their municipalities. This resulted in 5.4 million eligible households missing out on benefits valued at R6 billion.

The report examines the proposed green hydrogen development in Boegoebaai, Northern Cape, focusing on the readiness of the Namakwa District Municipality (DM) and Richtersveld Local Municipality (LM). It finds that both municipalities lack the financial and technical capacity to support the anticipated population influx and infrastructure needs. The study highlights a 'top-down' planning approach by national and provincial governments that excludes local authorities and communities, leading to mistrust and procedural injustices. It concludes that without significant intergovernmental support and genuine public participation, the transition risks being unjust and disruptive to rural livelihoods.

Civil society organizations express their support for the Zondo Commission and the South African judiciary, condemning former president Jacob Zuma's refusal to testify and his attacks on the courts. The signatories argue that no individual, including a former president, is immune from the law and that such defiance undermines the constitutional principle of equality before the law.

The Public Affairs Research Institute urges President Cyril Ramaphosa to strengthen the draft National Implementation Framework towards the Professionalisation of the Public Service. The author contends that current norms allow political office bearers to prioritize personal connections over expertise, contributing to corruption and the breakdown of basic services. The letter proposes granting the Public Service Commission greater institutional independence to manage the appointment and removal of senior public servants, including the head of the public service and directors-general, to ensure a capable state able to address social, economic, and climate crises.

The paper examines Canada's pandemic response, highlighting how a strategy of virus mitigation over suppression, combined with the privatization of long-term care and a lack of workplace protections, disproportionately harmed racialized people, women, and Indigenous communities. It further critiques Canada's international conduct, specifically its hoarding of vaccine doses and opposition to waiving intellectual property rights for vaccines in the Global South.

The author argues that Donald Trump pursued a 'herd immunity' approach to Covid-19 not for epidemiological reasons, but to frame public health measures as Democratic-led attacks on the working class and small business owners. By dismissing scientific expertise and associating mask-wearing with weakness, Trump leveraged the pandemic as a campaign tool to solidify support among his base, particularly the less-educated petite bourgeoisie, by presenting a choice between public health and employment.

PARI and the Public Service Accountability Monitor (PSAM) support the Companies Amendment Bill, 2021, specifically the amendments to Section 56 regarding the definition and disclosure of 'true owners' of companies. They argue that current limitations in the Companies Act, which only require the recording of director information, allow public servants to hide conflicts of interest and avoid financial disclosure obligations. The submission asserts that beneficial ownership transparency would help detect fraud, collusion, and corruption in public procurement, and enable the identification of senior public servants who fail to disclose company interests. PARI recommends that South Africa adopt a model without a minimum shareholding threshold for disclosure, similar to Botswana, and that the resulting data be freely and publicly available in an open format.

The briefing examines the gap between South Africa's policy goals for affordable energy and the reality for low-income households. It identifies two primary failures: the lack of a clear definition for "affordable energy" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) program. The document reveals that in 2019, while national grants covered 9.8 million households for basic services, only 2 million actually received free electricity, leaving approximately 5.4 million eligible poor households without the benefit and resulting in a loss of R6 billion in 2019 alone.

The document argues that the South African government has failed to fulfill its 1998 commitment to provide affordable electricity to poor households, small businesses, and farmers. It identifies two primary causes: a lack of a clear definition for "affordable electricity" and the systemic failure of the Free Basic Electricity (FBE) policy. While the national budget allocated funds for 9.8 million households to receive 50kWh of free electricity in 2019, only 2 million households actually received it. The briefing highlights that municipalities are responsible for registering low-income households and distributing these funds, but a lack of oversight has led to an estimated R6 billion in missing funds and millions of eligible households paying for electricity out of pocket.

The document examines the legal frameworks governing the appointment and removal of senior officials in South Africa's criminal justice system, specifically the NPA, SAPS, DPCI, and IPID. It argues that these processes are currently susceptible to political manipulation and patronage, which undermines the rule of law and institutional legitimacy. The author highlights a lack of rigorous selection criteria and the absence of independent oversight panels, noting that the President and Ministers often exercise unchecked discretion. To remedy this, the document proposes the institutionalisation of independent selection panels, the adoption of more specific 'fit and proper' criteria, and the implementation of non-renewable terms of office to prevent favour-seeking. It also suggests that removal processes should be guided by independent boards chaired by judges to ensure impartiality.

The report provides a comprehensive overview of energy transition progress in Brazil, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam. It highlights the role of independent think tanks in driving policy breakthroughs, such as coal phase-outs and renewable energy targets, while identifying systemic barriers including political resistance, grid limitations, and financing gaps. The document argues that while technology strategies (renewables and electrification) are converging, national implementation is shaped by distinct local political and social factors.

The report analyzes the systemic failure of South Africa's public administration due to the unchecked power of political office-bearers over personnel decisions. It proposes a reform model that divides appointment and removal into four stages—process planning, process administration, short-listing, and appointment—to create a functional segregation of duties. For the public service, it suggests empowering the Public Service Commission (PSC) as an independent check. For municipalities, it proposes the creation of independent personnel committees involving professional associations. To overcome political resistance, the author advocates for a 'covering-in' statutory mechanism to implement these reforms incrementally across different organs of state.

The report identifies a crisis in South Africa's public procurement system, characterized by systemic corruption, political interference, and a lack of professional capacity. It argues that the current legal regime is overly complex and fragmented, often prioritizing rigid compliance over operational efficiency and developmental goals. The authors propose several reforms: the creation of a single regulatory authority, the adoption of a principles-based strategic procurement approach, and the introduction of 'qui tam' mechanisms to incentivize whistleblowers through financial rewards for recovering defrauded state funds.