PARI's Executive Director Sithembile Mbete participated in a recent SMWX podcast: 'In today's episode, in collaboration with the Institute for Economic Justice, we are joined by Febe Potgieter (ANC: Head…
On the 24th of June 2025, PARI’s Land Governance Programme Researcher Daniel Sher presented the Draft Guidelines on how municipalities should unlock land for a just transition, at the Q4…
Dr Tracy Ledger, lead author on PARI's latest report, Affordability of Basic Services for South African Households, spoke to Radio Islam about why it is imperative for South Africa to…
By Tracy Ledger, with Nonhalanhla Mathibela South Africa is characterised by high poverty and high inequality. More than half of all households live below the upper bound poverty line and…
Symposium | State, Democracy and the Promise of Development: South Africa in comparative perspective 15–16 May 2025 Wits Club, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa The symposium, State, Democracy…
With reference to Tracy Ledger's recent work on basic services in South Africa, and particularly the City of Johannesburg, PARI ran a social media campaign, outlining the Just Transition programme's…
Workshop | State Capture and Corruption in Africa: Towards critical engagement with anti-corruption policy 8–9 May 2025 Wits Club, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa The workshop was held…
“I think that President Ramaphosa dealt with falsehoods as well as he could. But of course, no one can ever be prepared for that kind of ambush.” —Dr Sithembile Mbete,…
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP), Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the Johannesburg Crisis: Concerned Academics, launch a seminar series to offer scholars, researchers,…
Professor Marco Marzano from Bergamo University will present a lecture at PARI on 9 June, looking at the ethics of investigative research. 'The Investigative is a theoretical paradigm for qualitative…
The symposium, State, Democracy and the Promise of Development: South Africa in comparative perspective is taking place at Wits University on 15 and 16 May, in collaboration with Brown University. In…
Dr Tracy Ledger is PARI's Just Transition Programme Lead. She was a panellist at the Embassy of Brazil in South Africa on 30 April 2025, to engage in the discussion,…
Dr Gaynor Paradza, PARI's Land Governance Programme Lead, is participating in this conference on transition-effective land governance on 5 May 2025, as part of the World Bank Land Conference 2025.…
Exploring different tools and programmes which seek to improve youth involvement in municipalitiesCOMPACT PresentationIEC PresentationHSRC PresentationMore information and resourcesSACN Youth Engagement Toolkit https://www.sacities.net/publication/sacn-youth-engagement-toolkit/ASRI’s Municipal Oversight & Accountability Programme https://asri.org.za/oversight/HSRC’s e-Participation…
Author Akshay Mangla will present his book, Making Bureaucracy Work: Norms, Education and Public Service Delivery in Rural India (2022), followed by a discussion. For more information about the seminar,…
Join the National Treasury, GTAC and PARI for an engaging webinar on the outcomes of the 2023/2024 MFMA Section 71 local government report. We’ll explore key revenue and spending trends,…
Image: Water leak in road, Johannesburg/Bram Lammers Photography for PARI By Tracy Ledger and Jugal Mahabir Extravagant councillor lunches should be sacrificed to ensure that everyone in Johannesburg receives their…
Image: KwaZulu-Natal/Simon Hull/November 2024 On 5 March, Land Governance Programme Lead Gaynor Paradza participated in the SALGA National Working Group on Development Planning and Rural Development. Dr Paradza shared…
Dr Gaynor Paradza and Murial Kwena, from PARI's Land Governance programme, are attending the 19th annual International Academic Association on Planning Law and Property Rights (PLPR) at Cardiff University, Wales…
The Association of Former Directors-General (AfDG), was formed in 2021 and brings together former DGs who adhere to values of integrity, honesty and transparency. The AfDG is committed to collaborating…
Image: Water leaks, Johannesburg/Bram Lammers Photography for PARI By Tracy Ledger South Africa is one of only 52 countries that guarantee access to water as a human right. “Access” from…
Media Statement 2 December 2024 PARI appoints a new Executive Director The Public Affairs Research Institute's Board of Directors is delighted to announce Dr Sithembile Mbete as PARI’s new Executive…
Image: Bram Lammers Photography, State Capture Commission Workshop, Johannesburg By Lawson Naidoo and Sarah Meny-Gibert Corruption, Paul Pretorius emphasised at a recent workshop on the State Capture Commission, is…
Image: Bram Lammers/Bram Lammers Photography for PARI By Tracy Ledger Despite the Constitution and the progressive pro-poor promises, administrative practices have largely abandoned this approach and instead focused on a…
Local Government Programme Lead Jugal Mahabir joined a conversation with Lerato Mbele (Power FM), Minister of CoGTA Velenkosini Hlabisa and Lerato Phasha, Head of Municipal Finances at SALGA on 11…
By Tracy Ledger Water is essential to human existence and wellbeing: access to sufficient, clean water is central to sanitation, human health and quality of life. This was recognised as…
Watch the livestream of What Now Since the State Capture Commission? Deliberation and feedback on the priority issues from the Zondo Commission that civil society needs to watch. November 15,…
Deliberation and feedback on the priority issues from the Zondo Commission that civil society needs to watch. More than two years ago, the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of…
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP), Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the Johannesburg Crisis: Concerned Academics, launch a seminar series to offer scholars, researchers,…
This animation was produced by the Just Transition programme at the Public Affairs Research Institute. It is a summary of the PARI report 'The Role of the State in a…
Engagement with South Africa’s 7th Parliament: the country’s first grand coalition will result in new challenges and opportunities for oversight and lawmaking. Will the GNU result in more cooperation in…
By Tracy Ledger To date, the details of how to build a transition effective state have received little attention in transition narratives, beyond narrow recommendations for an increase in certain…
By Thoko Chilenga-Butao and Waseem Holland A month before the publication of this report, the President announced his new cabinet under a Government of National Unity – appointing two ministers…
Thabiso Tema on PowerFM speaks to Energy Transition Lead, Dr Tracy Ledger. Households that have been struggling to pay rates and taxes to the city of Ekurhuleni can now benefit…
The Year In Review The past year has been the most notable at PARI, featuring our largest budget and a record number of publications. We released two significant edited volumes…
Please join us on 12 September to launch a new PARI report Transitions: The role of the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy in South Africa's just energy transition by…
This animation was produced by the Energy Transition programme at the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI). Download the full policy brief: Rapid electricity supply diversification in municipalities is the key…
Monday, 29 July 2024 - The Director of the Public Affairs Research Institute, Dr Mbongiseni Buthelezi has been appointed as the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Dr Buthelezi has…
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI), Society, Work and Politics Institute (SWOP), Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) and the Johannesburg Crisis: Concerned Academics*, launch a seminar series to offer scholars, researchers,…
Urban Power: Democracy and Inequality in São Paulo and Johannesburg (2024) Princeton University Press Benjamin Bradlow is Assistant Professor of Sociology and International Affairs at Princeton University, appointed in both…
This seminar is a presentation by Prof. James Chakwizira, University of Venda / NorthWest University on 16 July 2024 at 2pm, at PARI's offices in Forest Town. The title of…
Hungry for Electricity is a groundbreaking book by Tracy Ledger and Mahlatse Rampedi arguing for universal access to electricity in South Africa. It is now available in English and French,…
Pam Yako, representing the Association of former Directors-General (AfDG), talks to Newzroom Afrika about how the public administration in the Government of National Unity (GNU) should operate, just ahead of…
This seminar is a presentation by Dr Rachel King on 20 June at 2pm, at PARI's offices in Forest Town. Rachel King is Associate Professor in Cultural Heritage Studies at…
PARI's Director, Mbongiseni P. Buthelezi, contributes to the conversation how the Crux Alliance aims to support policy makers globally to achieve lower emissions and a safer climate future. PARI is…
The Albert Hirschman Centre on Democracy (Geneva Graduate Institute) is running a podcast series entitled Who is voting in 2024? This episode on South Africa looks at the South African…
A new Routlege publication edited by Federica Duca and Sarah Meny-Gibert. The collection examines state–society relations during the Covid-19 pandemic, from governance at the outset of the pandemic to vaccine…
By Devi Pillay The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has recently announced that German software company SAP will pay R2.2 billion to South African state entities and government departments as restitution…
The Public Procurement Bill is deficient and dangerous Parliament’s National Assembly has passed the Public Procurement Bill, sending it to the National Council of Provinces. This Bill is among the…
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) joins the international call for an end to the indiscriminate and unprecedented bombardment of Gaza — a permanent ceasefire, return of all hostages and…
Welcome to PARI and CASAC's conference on the implementation of the Zondo Commission recommendations. The aim of the conference is to keep the Commission’s work alive in the public imagination,…
The COMPACT Programme, led by PARI in collaboration with SALGA and Integrity Action was showcased in this short video. This film was made for the launch of the European Union…
The Implementing State Capture Recommendations Conference was held jointly by PARI and CASAC on 25 and 26 October 2023 in Johannesburg. READ MORE ABOUT THE CONFERENCE Watch the individual sessions…
The Public Affairs Research Institute launches the second round of the workshop series to offer scholars, researchers and postgraduate students an opportunity to share their ongoing work, either by discussing…
Researcher for State Reform programme at the Public Affairs Research Institute Devi Pillay says many of the justice and crime fighting institutions in SA have themselves been victims of state…
The 'Implementing State Capture Commission Recommendations' Conference is hosted by PARI and CASAC, partnering with the University of Johannesburg and News24, on 25 and 26 October 2023. The livestream can…
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Parliament is required by the constitution to “scrutinise and oversee executive action”: the key function of the system of separation of powers built into our democracy. The importance…
On 11 September, eNCA spoke to PARI Research Associate in the State Reform programme, Ryan Brunette, to understand more about why the new Public Procurement Bill, that was introduced to…
For week of the 4th to 8th of September, PARI hosted more than 25 delegates of the International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETTT) in Johannesburg. INETTT is a…
The PRWG believes the Public Procurement Bill is flawed and some critical changes still need to be made. "...public concerns must be addressed before the current draft is passed by…
The University of Pretoria’s Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship (CAS) cordially invites you to the book launch of State Capture in South Africa: How and Why it Happened with…
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) is excited to announce its affiliation with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) to ground its academic programme. PARI and UJ have entered into a…
1 August 2023 Facilitated by Jonathan Klaaren (PARI/Wits) with speakers: Steven Powell (ENSAfrica) Sopé Williams-Elegbe (Stellenbosch University) Carika Fritz (Wits University) Ryan Brunette (PARI/CUNY) This webinar is to support discussion…
The Year In Review The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) is in a new phase and it is stronger than ever before to carry out its mandate of shaping change…
Image: Thabo Mhambi / Bree Street, Johannesburg Thina Nzo | Explosion of a decaying city: Defects of Joburg's poor urban management revealed The rapid urbanisation and population density in Johannesburg…
18 July 2023 Rosebank, Johannesburg Mbongiseni Buthelezi and Peter Vale (eds) are in conversation with some of the authors of "State Capture in South Africa: How and why it happened";…
Mbongiseni Buthelezi will be facilitating conversations with some of the authors of the new book, State Capture in South Africa. The launches are set to happen at Exclusive Books in…
Call for proposals for the second round of seminars A multidisciplinary approach to the study of the state and civil society in the African continent and beyond. The Public Affairs…
Devi Pillay chats to Newzroom Afrika about the new Wits University Press publication State Capture in South Africa: How and Why It Happened, edited by PARI's Research Mentor Peter Vale…
22 June 2023 Today marks a year since Chief Justice Zondo delivered the Report of the Commission on State Capture to President Ramaphosa marking the end of a 4-year long…
SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY CAPACITY BUILDING FOR LOCAL CSOs IN RURAL MUNICIPALITIES TO STRENGTHEN LOCAL GOVERNANCE: THE CASE OF ALFRED NZO DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY ABSTRACT The research provides an insight into the way…
6 June 2023 The webinar will look at how energy transition policies in Germany reproduce uneven development between urban and rural territories, and draw parallels to South Africa's REIPP programme,…
4 June 2023 Thina Nzo contributed to a panel on eNCA's On the Spot with Lukhona Mnguni discussing DPME's role in assisting municipalities with monitoring and oversight to be able…
18 May 2023 The third seminar in the Care Economy Series. Electricity is crucial to ease the burden of care provision. In Africa, as documented in The Africa Care Economy…
SABC News, 3 May 2023: Findings of a report compiled by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) on the South African Police Service (SAPS) has concluded, that the country's police…
Care economy as economic democracy With the Covid-19 pandemic, conversations around the care economy have become more common. Around the world, however, few governments have actually increased investment in the…
May 2, 2023 Devi Pillay chats to Stephen Grootes on Newzroom Afrika the day after Gauteng’s new crime prevention wardens, with just two months training, started their new jobs. Devi's…
20 April 2023 The second seminar in the Care Economy Series. The Africa Care Economy (ACE) Index elaborates socialised healthcare in its fifth metric, underlining that public healthcare is the…
18 April 2023 Speakers from the International Network of Energy Transition Think Tanks (INETTT) discuss the status quo and challenges in planning and implementing a just energy transition in their…
Between Vision and Reality: Navigating the JETPs in South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam Speakers from South Africa (PARI), Indonesia (IESR), and Vietnam (VIETSE) will discuss the status quo and challenges…
Statement drafted by members of the Procurement Reform Working Group (PRWG). The PRWG was formed in 2020, in response to a sense from experts in the field of procurement reform…
On 15 March 2023, Newzroom Afrika hosted an insightful discussion about Good Governance Africa's urgent call for an independent panel to look into improving South Africa's framework around party coalitions…
15 March 2023 The Africa Care Economy Index is presented by Dr Salimah Valiani, author of the Index and Research Associate at the Centre for Advancement of Scholarship, University of…
PARI's Devi Pillay participated in this Open Secrets webinar on 16 February 2023: Who pays the price for State Capture? Look around and we see a strained fiscus, rolling blackouts,…
PARI's COMPACT programme is formally launching today, 16 February 2023, at Emperor's Palace in Johannesburg, courtesy of the South African Local Government Association (SALGA) partners. The following video shows COMPACT busy…
Chiara Cordelli, author of The Privatised State, will be presenting her book at the PARI seminar, followed by a discussion. The book was a focus of PARI's reading group in 2022. For…
Eskom has declared that load shedding stages 2 to 4 will be implemented over the next two years. PARI's Local Government programme hosted a panel to discuss the medium to…
PARI's Co-Director Lindiwe Ndlela talks about coalition politics on this Sunday Times podcast: "The latest local authority elections have been hailed as an indicator of the rapidly waning influence of…
PARI happily welcomes our intern, Jabu Hlatshwayo. Jabu graduated with an Honours degree from our Organisational and Institutional Studies programme in 2022. He is currently situated in the Land Governance…
By Mbongiseni Buthelezi and Nontando Ngamlana First published in The Daily Maverick It feels as though Stage 6 rolling blackouts will be the death of us all. Scheduled blackouts symbolise…
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