Panel Discussion | Bridging the Gap Between Government and Citizens Through Technology 08 October 2025, 2pm – 4pm 📅 Register: bit.ly/civictechpan...

Webinar | Municipal financial transparency 15 October 2025, 2pm – 4pm 📅Register: pari.org.za/webinar-muni... Know where your money goes: Tracking municipal spending. A COMPACT webinar.

PARI’s Dr Sarah Meny-Gibert looks at the kind of leadership needed for the efficient running of a city. She spoke to Newzroom Afrika on 20 September, just ahead of the DA announcing its mayoral candidate. www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...

In today's monthly internal research seminar, Mahlatse Rampedi and Ntokozo Ndhlovu presented a first cut of their moving short documentary on the water crisis.

Sithembile Mbete: More Explosive information released at Madlanga Commission radioislam.org.za/a/thembile-m...

The Executive Director of the PARI, Dr Sithembile Mbete, echoes the IEC’s generational theory of voter participation. This suggests that people become increasingly interested in elections as they age, as a probable cause for a lack of youth participation. newsday.co.za/south-africa...

The Department of Cooperative Government (DCOG) is currently reviewing the 1998 Local Government White Paper, and has recently called for comment on a short review document it published this year. pari.org.za/submission-w...

Notable panellists shared insights on the lecture and Tambo’s legacy. Dr Sithembile Mbete, Executive Director at the PARI, asserted that Tambo had a strong moral stance and welcomed criticism; thus, he did not possess an inferiority complex. www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corpor...

Sithembile Mbete is PARI’s Executive Director.

pari.org.za/this-months-... The National Dialogue While PARi researchers think the national dialogue is as about as effective a process as Heritage Day braais in terms of creating cohesion, we also acknowledge the power of holding space for discussion,

Today's internal seminar had Zain Mayet leading a discussion on AI's use in research in PARI and beyond. PARI researchers gave feedback on ethics, prospects and implementation capabilities for what proved to be an enriching dialogue.

At this week’s JHB Urban Crisis Seminar, David du Toit (UJ) explored the challenges facing paid domestic workers in Johannesburg. He highlighted transport struggles, stigma, and the limits of ILO Convention 189, noting how COVID-19 exposed the sector’s precarity.

Last day to register for this seminar.

JHB Urban Crisis Seminar on 28 August, 1:30–3:30pm Polishing the City of Gold, Paid Domestic Work in Johannesburg, South Africa by David Du Toit (UJ) with discussant Ruth Castel-Branco (Wits SCIS) - pari.org.za/pari-urban-c...

Following a leadership transition, PARI is seeking passionate and committed individuals to join our Board of Directors. This is an opportunity to contribute to the governance and strategy of an organisation with a vital role in informing both public policy and discourse. pari.org.za/vacancies-bo...

‘Experts like political analyst Dr Sithembile Mbete suggest protests reflect deeper governance failures: “Communities feel ignored until they block roads; proactive engagement is key.”’ Dr Mbete is PARI’s Executive Director. Read the full article here: centralnews.co.za/tsakane-resi...

Day 3 of the COMPACT Collaboration Tool: Train the Trainer workshop. Module 4: Reflecting and learning COMPACT - My Municipality SALGA Integrity Action

Day 3 of the COMPACT Collaboration Tool: Train the Trainer workshop. Module 3: Implementing and adapting COMPACT - My Municipality SALGA Integrity Action

Day 2 of the COMPACT Collaboration Tool: Train the Trainer workshop. Module 3: Vision and hope COMPACT - My Municipality SALGA Integrity Action

Day 2 of the COMPACT Collaboration Tool: Train the Trainer workshop. Module 2: Making sense of the challenge COMPACT - My Municipality SALGA Integrity Action

Day 1 of the COMPACT Collaboration Tool: Train the Trainer workshop. Module 1: Team Building, Agreements and Establishment of Learning Groups. COMPACT - My Municipality SALGA Integrity Action

Day 1 of the COMPACT Collaboration Tool: Train the Trainer workshop. Preparation: Getting clear on purpose, stakeholder mapping and logistics. COMPACT - My Municipality SALGA Integrity Action

Day 1 of the COMPACT Collaboration Tool: Train the Trainer workshop kicked off with building connections and exploring the value of collaboration. In the room are PARI, SALGA and two participating municipalities: Newcastle and Blue Crane Route, facilitated by Dstlry. With COMPACT & Integrity Action.

The Department of Cooperative Government (DCOG) is currently reviewing the 1998 Local Government White Paper, and has recently called for comment on a short review document it published this year. This is PARI's submission. pari.org.za/submission-w...

“The city has been exceptionally badly run,” said Tracy Ledger, a senior researcher at Johannesburg’s Public Affairs Research Institute. Johannesburg isn’t “spending the money where it is required. Against that standard, the city has failed,” she said. dailyinvestor.com/south-africa...

A leading advocate for the provision of free basic electricity (FBE) to poor South African households has welcomed moves by government to pursue its universal access goal through a “developmental” lens

This policy brief highlights the exclusion of young people in Mpumalanga Province’s Steve Tshwete Local Municipality (STLM) in South Africa, an area heavily reliant on coal-mining industry. pari.org.za/policy-brief...

At this week’s JHB Urban Crisis Seminar, Zachary Klamann (University of Chicago) explored how Joburg’s electricity crisis is reshaping the post-apartheid utility model. Drawing on ethnographic and archival research, he examined the pressures facing providers as users either bypass the grid or leave.

Associate Professor Simon Hull presented work that he has done with PARI, investigating the conditions required for a consolidated #landinformationsystem in #SouthAfrica, specifically regarding the complex interplay between customary and statutory #landadministration.

PARI’s Just Transition Lead, Tracy Ledger, will be presenting at this T20 Side Event on 6 August, on gender equity and social inclusion in the global energy transition. Register here: www.iisd.org/events/power...

PARI’s website got a new look recently. Come say hello 👋 over at www.pari.org.za/

PARI holds monthly internal research seminars. In today’s session, Mahlatse Rampedi presented a masterclass on Nvivo - a research data analysis software.

Joburg Urban Crisis Seminar on 31 July, 1–3pm South Africa's Electricity Crisis by Zachary Klamann (University of Chicago) with discussant Dr Christina Culwick Fatti (UWC) - pari.org.za/pari-urban-c... Register to join in person: forms.gle/4iewADQWnHwf... or to attend online: rebrand.ly/j9hov7u

Journal Article | The occupation of state housing as a moral obligation? Housing welfare in Gauteng between reciprocity and liberalism By Raffael Beier ( @tu-dortmund.bsky.social ) and Nonhlanhla Mathibela. Nonhlanhla is from PARI’s Just Transition programme.

Land Allocation Grey Area There are mismatches between the municipalities and traditional councils. The divide constrains, compromises and frustrates the quest for transformative practices and policies to elevate land governance in municipalities. Full report: pari.org.za/report-land-...

PARI, with University of Johannesburg and the Ethics Institute (TEI), recently made a submission to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature on the Public Service Commission (PSC) Bill. The PSC Bill aims to strengthen the independence of the PSC. pari.org.za/public-comme...

PARI, with The Ethics Institute (TEI), recently made a submission to Parliament on the Public Service Amendment Bill. This is the primary piece of legislation regulating the conduct of public servants in national and provincial departments in South Africa. pari.org.za/public-comme...

This new PARI report explores the governance structures and land administration systems of Rambuda, Tshivhase and Masia – traditional councils in Limpopo. pari.org.za/report-land-...

Local Government programme lead Jugal Mahabir presented on "Fiscal Decentralization and Local Government Revenue Challenges" at the CIGFARO Public Finance Seminar 2025.

PARI's Executive Director Sithembile Mbete participated in a recent SMWX podcast discussing the Government of National Unity (GNU) and its capacity to deliver economic justice. Watch the full podcast here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A8Z...

On 24 July, Land Governance Programme Lead Gaynor Paradza will be presenting ‘Unlock Land for a Just Transition’. Read more here: energyiseconomy.co.za

PARI supports Nkangala District Municipality’s work to institutionalise the Climate Change Act. On 18-19 June, our Land Governance programme participated in a stakeholder workshop held by DFFE and the Municipality, to develop a climate change needs and response assessment. #ClimateChangeAct

The ‘Draft Guidelines for Municipalities to Unlock Land for a Just Transition’ raises the awareness of district and local municipalities about the importance of land in the just transition in South Africa. Read more here: pari.org.za/draft-guidel...

PARI’s Jugal Mahabir outlined the current efforts to make data more accessible to different audiences, some of the challenges we have and PARI's proposed project to develop a local government knowledge common ecosystem. Read more: blog.okfn.org/2025/06/24/j...

pari.org.za/this-months-... 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. Full report here: pari.org.za/report-affor...

Listen | New report calls for clear basic-services standards in South Africa 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 SA to define and properly subsidise minimum levels...

Draft Guidelines | Unlocking Land for a Just Transition PARI is working with the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), the Columbia Centre on Sustainable Investment (CCSI) and the South African Local Government Association (SALGA)

“The PARI team has collected a range of financial, economic, social and demographic data over 10 to 15 years across 257 municipalities in South Africa that will need to be aligned and collated into a comprehensive database for sharing and analysis.” - Jugal Mahabir, PARI Programme Lead

Vacancy | Accountant PARI seeks to appoint a suitable candidate for the role of Accountant, to support PARI’s Head of Finance with the efficient and effective management of PARI’s finances, in accordance with budgets and the requirements of PARI’s donors and auditors. pari.org.za/vacancy-acco...

PARI's Just Transition Programme Lead, Tracy Ledger, participated in this public dialogue today on 'Funding Sustainability and Food Security for All' with Céline Kauffmann (IDDRI) at Dibukafé hosted by French Institute for Research in South Africa. @iddri.bsky.social