Public Policy
latest news & developments
Designing the Bridge to Earning
Permanent private-sector jobs remain scarce, but public employment programmes are proving vital in bridging the gap for young South Africans seeking sustainable pathways to…
Digitising national identity is not the solution you think it is
Across Africa, digital identity systems are championed as remedies for public sector inefficiency. However, outsourcing biometric enrolment to private players risks reinforcing…
South Africa’s supplement crackdown risks R22bn health industry
South Africa's push to regulate natural health and wellness products under a strict pharmaceutical regime threatens an R22 billion industry, placing thousands of jobs, small…
The ghost in the bureaucracy: When code and algorithms harm citizens
As African governments accelerate the automation of public services, algorithmic errors and biases increasingly harm citizens. State accountability cannot be outsourced to…
Lessons from Peru and SA for the Global South
As Peru and South Africa prepare for subnational elections, their shared governance challenges highlight the delicate balance between subnational autonomy, state capacity, and…
Building a state beside a state
As presidential committees multiply and citizens take public services into their own hands, parallel structures risk bypassing South Africa's core governance systems instead of…
One goal, one system: A mission approach to improve early grade reading
With only 30% of South African learners in Grades 1 to 3 reading at grade level, the 2030 Reading Panel urges a systemic 'mission mode' overhaul to fix foundational learning.
South Africa does not need another GBV plan; it needs a system that works.
South Africa does not lack policies or awareness to fight gender-based violence; it lacks effective execution. Looking at international success stories like Nicaragua and the…
Editorial: Women can be saved only if the state acts
Despite progressive laws and decades of research, intimate-partner femicide is rising again in South Africa. Research presented in Cape Town reveals that saving women requires…
Our country’s vital statecraft is missing
As South Africa approaches another electoral cycle, political parties unveil familiar promises, yet genuine transformation seems absent. The article argues that the country's…
Keagile Makgoba
As global technology reshapes economies and societies, Keagile Makgoba is helping define how those conversations unfold across Africa. As head of communications for TikTok in…
Responsible journalism matters
In today's digital age, the language used in journalism profoundly shapes public understanding. Recent anti-illegal immigration marches in South Africa have highlighted the…
Illegal immigration is symptom of malaise
South Africa is caught in a painful cycle of protests, promises, and unresolved failures regarding illegal immigration. This article argues that the crisis is fundamentally one…
When economic participation outpaces social pressure
For much of the past decade, governments across the globe have found themselves locked in a familiar cycle. Economic growth lags behind population expansion. Youth unemployment…
Development-Linked Financial Architecture (DLFA): Financing stability in an age of migration
Migration is a defining policy challenge for South Africa and the African continent, often viewed through the lens of border management. This article argues that migration is…