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By July 17, 2025July 22nd, 2025No Comments

2025

There are capacity gaps and mismatches between the municipalities and traditional councils. The divide between decision-making systems constrains, compromises and, at times, frustrates the quest for transformative practices and policies to elevate land governance in municipalities.
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Land Allocation Grey Area

There are capacity gaps and mismatches between the municipalities and traditional councils. The divide between decision-making systems constrains, compromises and, at times, frustrates the quest for transformative practices and policies to elevate land governance in municipalities.

If the state is to offer citizens a route out of severe poverty, then the cost of a household’s sufficient basic services — electricity and water — cannot be so high as to displace proper nutrition. In Tracy Ledger’s latest report ‘Affordability of Basic Services For South African Household’, she makes an urgent case for recalibrating the level of basic services necessary to protect human rights and drive development.
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The Three-Step Ladder

If the state is to offer citizens a route out of severe poverty, then the cost of a household’s sufficient basic services — electricity and water — cannot be so high as to displace proper nutrition. In Tracy Ledger’s latest report ‘Affordability of Basic Services For South African Household’, she makes an urgent case for recalibrating the level of basic services necessary to protect human rights and drive development.

2021

'[Adv. Dali Mpofu]'s assertion that it is a "cruel and degrading" punishment for Zuma to remain in jail seems to make the case that not everyone should be treated equally before the law.' — Financial Mail 15/07/2021
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Dali the Nihilst

'[Adv. Dali Mpofu]'s assertion that it is a "cruel and degrading" punishment for Zuma to remain in jail seems to make the case that not everyone should be treated equally before the law.' — Financial Mail 15/07/2021

Civil society mobilises around the work of the Zondo Commission and issues of state capture and corruption because South Africa’s struggle for social justice and human rights will not be realised if those who loot with impunity in the public and private sector remain unaccountable.
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Slowest Things

Civil society mobilises around the work of the Zondo Commission and issues of state capture and corruption because South Africa’s struggle for social justice and human rights will not be realised if those who loot with impunity in the public and private sector remain unaccountable.

A new damning report by PARI Energy and Society programme shows how municipalities are robbing poor households of electricity.
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Municipal Energy

A new damning report by PARI Energy and Society programme shows how municipalities are robbing poor households of electricity.

The immense responsibilities placed on teachers during a pandemic not only contradicted some public sentiments that teachers were reluctant to reopen schools, it also demonstrates how current policies for teacher availability, placement and training have failed.
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Pandemic Timetable

The immense responsibilities placed on teachers during a pandemic not only contradicted some public sentiments that teachers were reluctant to reopen schools, it also demonstrates how current policies for teacher availability, placement and training have failed.

The PARI working paper 'A Just Distribution' argues for a developmental and pro-poor transition to green energy.
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Energy Injustice

The PARI working paper 'A Just Distribution' argues for a developmental and pro-poor transition to green energy.

2020

PARI endorsed a press statement signed by 26 organisations, calling for former President Jacob Zuma to account at the Zondo Commission.
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Zuma to Zondo

PARI endorsed a press statement signed by 26 organisations, calling for former President Jacob Zuma to account at the Zondo Commission.

In October 2020, PARI's submissions to the journal 'Transformation' came out as a special edition on local government. There is often a mismatch between central govt reforms and municipalities' needs.
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PARI on Local Govt

In October 2020, PARI's submissions to the journal 'Transformation' came out as a special edition on local government. There is often a mismatch between central govt reforms and municipalities' needs.

Covid-19, States and Societies is a new series which presents texts from around the globe, detailing relationships between states and societies: how they have unfolded since the beginning of the pandemic and throughout the varied experiences of lockdown in different countries.
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Covid-19 States and Societies

Covid-19, States and Societies is a new series which presents texts from around the globe, detailing relationships between states and societies: how they have unfolded since the beginning of the pandemic and throughout the varied experiences of lockdown in different countries.

PARI is holding a webinar in September with the aim to make sense of many voices concerned with land reform.
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The Land Cacophony

PARI is holding a webinar in September with the aim to make sense of many voices concerned with land reform.

PARI's energy programme states that Eskom's effect on the national fiscus is calamitous in more ways than its constant demand for bailouts.
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Bull in the Fiscal China Shop

PARI's energy programme states that Eskom's effect on the national fiscus is calamitous in more ways than its constant demand for bailouts.

The Organisational and Institutional Studies (OIS) programme seeks to understand institutions and challenge unjust models of society.
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Babylon Status Quo

The Organisational and Institutional Studies (OIS) programme seeks to understand institutions and challenge unjust models of society.

PARI, along with civil society organisations, wrote an open letter to President Ramaphosa appealing for decisive action to ensure that emergency funds for Covid-19 relief are not wasted or stolen. PARI has also released a position paper on state reform in public procurement.
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Keep the vultures away

PARI, along with civil society organisations, wrote an open letter to President Ramaphosa appealing for decisive action to ensure that emergency funds for Covid-19 relief are not wasted or stolen. PARI has also released a position paper on state reform in public procurement.

SA's response to Covid-19 has been called exemplary on the world stage, although civil society calls for an end to the "hunger epidemic". At the end of April, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden announced that New Zealand had successfully stopped community transmission of the virus.
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StopThePandemic

SA's response to Covid-19 has been called exemplary on the world stage, although civil society calls for an end to the "hunger epidemic". At the end of April, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden announced that New Zealand had successfully stopped community transmission of the virus.

Days before the President's announcement of a national lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic, PARI took all its operations online.
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Virtual Earth

Days before the President's announcement of a national lockdown due to the Covid-19 virus pandemic, PARI took all its operations online.

In a response to the 2020 State of the Nation address, PARI's Director Mbongiseni Buthelezi emphasized the urgent need for President Ramaphosa to rebuild trust in the public service.
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Trustometer

In a response to the 2020 State of the Nation address, PARI's Director Mbongiseni Buthelezi emphasized the urgent need for President Ramaphosa to rebuild trust in the public service.

South African state response to Covid-19 has been called exemplary on the world stage, although civil society calls for an end to the 'hunger epidemic'. New Zealand, at the end of April, has eliminated spread of the virus, under the leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.
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SOE Recovery Ward

South African state response to Covid-19 has been called exemplary on the world stage, although civil society calls for an end to the 'hunger epidemic'. New Zealand, at the end of April, has eliminated spread of the virus, under the leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Arden.

2019

PARI wishes its colleagues and followers a happy festive season.
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Happy Holidays!

PARI wishes its colleagues and followers a happy festive season.

Radically reducing corruption and patronage, establishing the official professionalism and flexibility required by the developmental state, these goals necessitate constructing a public administration that is insulated in the right sorts of ways from political interference and factionalism. #FixTheState
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Survival Kit for Political Appointees

Radically reducing corruption and patronage, establishing the official professionalism and flexibility required by the developmental state, these goals necessitate constructing a public administration that is insulated in the right sorts of ways from political interference and factionalism. #FixTheState

PARI, with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, co-hosted a civil society conference on 23 October titled 'Defeating State Capture and Rebuilding The State'. The conference intended to further the state capture discussion to mapping a plan of action towards a accountability, integrity and transparency in the state. PARI presented three position papers with concrete proposals for state reform in key areas.
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Dreams of an Effective State

PARI, with the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, co-hosted a civil society conference on 23 October titled 'Defeating State Capture and Rebuilding The State'. The conference intended to further the state capture discussion to mapping a plan of action towards a accountability, integrity and transparency in the state. PARI presented three position papers with concrete proposals for state reform in key areas.

There are fifteen municipalities that for the last three consecutive years have received either a disclaimer or adverse audit outcome, or have failed to submit their financial statements on time, or a combination thereof. More than thirty municipalities have achieved that dubious distinction in the last two consecutive years. This group represents a complete breakdown in good governance and municipal management and, in many cases, the misappropriation of considerable amounts of public money.
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Local Landscape

There are fifteen municipalities that for the last three consecutive years have received either a disclaimer or adverse audit outcome, or have failed to submit their financial statements on time, or a combination thereof. More than thirty municipalities have achieved that dubious distinction in the last two consecutive years. This group represents a complete breakdown in good governance and municipal management and, in many cases, the misappropriation of considerable amounts of public money.

It is with great sadness that PARI announces the passing of Head of Administration Mpho Mohapi on Thursday, 8 August. Mpho was one of PARI’s very first employees.
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Remembering Mpho Mohapi

It is with great sadness that PARI announces the passing of Head of Administration Mpho Mohapi on Thursday, 8 August. Mpho was one of PARI’s very first employees.

Over the past few years, corruption and patronage politics have put into question not only the independence and accountability of key institutions within the criminal justice system, but also public perceptions of their legitimacy and ability to uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law in South Africa.
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The Long String of the Law

Over the past few years, corruption and patronage politics have put into question not only the independence and accountability of key institutions within the criminal justice system, but also public perceptions of their legitimacy and ability to uphold constitutionalism and the rule of law in South Africa.

In 2020, PARI will introduce a PhD programme to the Wits University OIS department.
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Analysing the State

In 2020, PARI will introduce a PhD programme to the Wits University OIS department.

The state procurement system is the major site of corruption in the state, but reforms to the procurement system itself should, we suggest, focus on enabling the state to play its intended role in supporting economic and social development.
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Public Procurement

The state procurement system is the major site of corruption in the state, but reforms to the procurement system itself should, we suggest, focus on enabling the state to play its intended role in supporting economic and social development.

A string of elections are happening across Africa this year -- and in many of the countries that will be voting, there are concerns over the integrity of electoral institutions, with perceptions of rigging or interference being most prevalent among the youth.
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Democracy in Africa

A string of elections are happening across Africa this year -- and in many of the countries that will be voting, there are concerns over the integrity of electoral institutions, with perceptions of rigging or interference being most prevalent among the youth.

Only 66% of African youth vote in elections despite youth (aged 18–35) constituting 77% of the continent’s population.
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Voter participation 2019

Only 66% of African youth vote in elections despite youth (aged 18–35) constituting 77% of the continent’s population.

The mismanagement and corruption at Eskom has reached crisis levels, leading to sustained blackouts and a debt crisis that has the potential to cripple the entire economy. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Eskom’s imminent unbundling.
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The Eskom Debacle

The mismanagement and corruption at Eskom has reached crisis levels, leading to sustained blackouts and a debt crisis that has the potential to cripple the entire economy. In response, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Eskom’s imminent unbundling.

PARI launched a new Masters degree to the Organisational and Institutional Studies academic programme at Wits University. For 2019, PARI has accepted 8 Honours students and 6 Masters students to the multi-disciplinary degree course, based in the School of Social Sciences.
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Organisational and Institutional Studies

PARI launched a new Masters degree to the Organisational and Institutional Studies academic programme at Wits University. For 2019, PARI has accepted 8 Honours students and 6 Masters students to the multi-disciplinary degree course, based in the School of Social Sciences.

2018

The circulation of the urban model referred to as gated communities challenges the understanding of contemporary urban spaces all over the world. — GAted Communities and Townhouse Complexes Workshop and Exhibition
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Gated communities

The circulation of the urban model referred to as gated communities challenges the understanding of contemporary urban spaces all over the world. — GAted Communities and Townhouse Complexes Workshop and Exhibition

The State Capture and its Aftermath conference hosted some exciting speakers over 22-24 October 2018.
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State Capture and its Aftermath

The State Capture and its Aftermath conference hosted some exciting speakers over 22-24 October 2018.

The similarities between apartheid-era corruption and contemporary corruption are clear, even in today’s democratic South Africa, supposedly accountable to its citizens. Corruption is old, but now wears a new face.
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People's Tribunal on Economic Crime in South Africa

The similarities between apartheid-era corruption and contemporary corruption are clear, even in today’s democratic South Africa, supposedly accountable to its citizens. Corruption is old, but now wears a new face.

August 19th – 27th 2018, PARI hosted a group of Masters in Public Affairs students from Brown University. The group were taken through an exciting itinerary exploring Johannesburg’s historical and political spaces to better understand South African public policy.
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Brown MPA Programme

August 19th – 27th 2018, PARI hosted a group of Masters in Public Affairs students from Brown University. The group were taken through an exciting itinerary exploring Johannesburg’s historical and political spaces to better understand South African public policy.

The capacity of the state has been severely eroded. South Africa has had to grapple with a weaker economy, a continued revenue short-fall and dysfunctional State-Owned Entities that are bleeding the fiscus dry. — Civil Society Working Group on State Capture
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SOE Freefall

The capacity of the state has been severely eroded. South Africa has had to grapple with a weaker economy, a continued revenue short-fall and dysfunctional State-Owned Entities that are bleeding the fiscus dry. — Civil Society Working Group on State Capture

The PARI report, 'Taxation and State-Society Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa' was launched on 7 June 2018.
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Taxation and state-society relations

The PARI report, 'Taxation and State-Society Relations in Sub-Saharan Africa' was launched on 7 June 2018.

PARI in May held a Public Service Reform Roundtable. This second-in-the-series discussion was to investigate one of the deadly side-effects of state capture in South Africa – the Life Esidimeni tragedy in which 144 people died after being transferred to ‘spaza-shop NGOs’.
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Life Esidimeni

PARI in May held a Public Service Reform Roundtable. This second-in-the-series discussion was to investigate one of the deadly side-effects of state capture in South Africa – the Life Esidimeni tragedy in which 144 people died after being transferred to ‘spaza-shop NGOs’.

The PARI report 'We Are Building a City: The Struggle for Self-Sufficiency in Lephalale Local Municipality' was launched on 18 April 2018.
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Lephalale

The PARI report 'We Are Building a City: The Struggle for Self-Sufficiency in Lephalale Local Municipality' was launched on 18 April 2018.

In March 2018, in collaboration with the New School in New York, PARI hosted a conference in Buenos Aires titled 'Rethinkling Democracy in Africa and Latin America'.
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Global South

In March 2018, in collaboration with the New School in New York, PARI hosted a conference in Buenos Aires titled 'Rethinkling Democracy in Africa and Latin America'.

Disturbing revelations of ‘state capture’ have brought to the surface the need to re-prioritise state reform and address a number of issues that this entails. The #AfterCapture campaign was PARI's flagship project in 2018.
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After Capture

Disturbing revelations of ‘state capture’ have brought to the surface the need to re-prioritise state reform and address a number of issues that this entails. The #AfterCapture campaign was PARI's flagship project in 2018.

In December 2017, the ANC elected a new President, Cyril Ramaphosa. This event is being widely celebrated as a ‘new dawn',that is, as an opportunity to deal with the corruption and economic mismanagement and opportunity to restore the constitutional project and return government to action on the basis of sound policies.
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Great Wave

In December 2017, the ANC elected a new President, Cyril Ramaphosa. This event is being widely celebrated as a ‘new dawn',that is, as an opportunity to deal with the corruption and economic mismanagement and opportunity to restore the constitutional project and return government to action on the basis of sound policies.

Cartoons by Carlos Amato, political cartoonist, and freelance illustrator and writer, based in Johannesburg.

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