Sandra Fraga appointed as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at SYSPRO

Fraga to enhance the customer experience journey by aligning global sales and marketing priorities SYSPRO, a global provider of industry-built enterprise resource planning (ERP) software,... 

SA at risk but not in crisis

South Africa does not face a crisis despite high crime, unemployment and inequality, though weak growth and poor governance have made it more likely things could go badly wrong, according to a new... 

President Zuma ignores increasing violent crime in his state of the nation address

The state of the nation speech is an opportunity for the sitting president of South Africa to build confidence in the government and rally collective action to address key challenges. When it comes... 

Policing in South Africa: it doesn't have to be the low road

On the first of April next year, the South African Police Service (SAPS) will commemorate 20 years as a democratic police service – but sadly it has not always lived up to public expectations of... 

What does increasing political violence mean for the future of South Africa's democracy?

In the six months leading up to South African’s fifth democratic election on 7 May, 76 incidents of election-related violence had taken place. These were mostly clashes between supporters of rival... 

Why the argument for a single police service in SA should be questioned

When people think of the challenges facing the South African Police Service (SAPS), matters such as brutality, corruption and poor service delivery typically come to mind. The 2012/13 statistics... 

Explaining the official crime statistics for 2012/13

This factsheet offers a brief overview and analysis of the key crime trends for the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2013 as recorded by the South African Police Service (SAPS).  It will highlight... 

Why have the police learned nothing from Marikana?

A year ago South Africa and the world watched in horror as police officers shot 112 striking mineworkers, killing 34 of them near the dusty town of Marikana in the country’s North West province.... 

What Guptagate says about the rule of law in South Africa

If any further evidence was needed that there is indeed a threat to the rule of law in South Africa, the recent Guptagate saga should convincingly provide it. Buttressed by the South African... 

South Africa needs credible leaders at the helm of its criminal justice system

The media has been abuzz with speculation that South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma is poised to make permanent appointments to the leadership of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the... 

Is South Africa an inherently violent country?

Violence in South Africa has captured national and international headlines with the recent deaths of Anine Booysen, Reeva Steenkamp and Mido Macie in very different but equally senseless... 

Roots of the crisis facing the South African police

The recent death of Mozambican taxi driver Mido Macia at the hands of police officials has once again turned the world’s attention to police brutality in South Africa. This incident only became a... 

Corruption in the defence sector to get greater attention

Most countries want to believe that they can rely on their military to secure their sovereignty and protect them from foreign threats. However, what is often not fully appreciated is how this... 

When do close ties between politicians and business people become problematic?

Recently, South African President Jacob Zuma was accused of blatantly promoting corruption in South Africa. In his words, ‘We’re not forcing people ... you can support and be a supporter, but if... 

Time for a rethink on how political leadership is chosen if SA is to prosper

Over the past few months South Africa’s economy has taken several knocks as a result of wildcat and violent labour strikes, capital outflow and credit downgrades by the globally influential ratings... 

The Deeper Implications of Widespread Lawlessness in South Africa

Over the last few years South Africa has increasingly found itself in the grip of widespread lawlessness that manifests itself in many ways. It includes actions that are seemingly innocuous, such... 

The Implications of the Appointment of Another Civilian to Lead the South African Police Service

On Tuesday, 12 June 2012, President Jacob Zuma announced his decision to ‘release’ General Bheki Cele of his duties as National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS). At the same... 

In South Africa the Rule of Law Does not Apply to the Political Elite

There is little disagreement that corruption is a serious problem facing South Africa. Unfortunately, various indicators suggest that the problem is getting worse. The annual Transparency... 

Why a South African Anti-Corruption Agency must be independent of the police to be effective

If it was not already clear why a dedicated anti-corruption agency capable of tackling powerfully connected people had to be independent of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the recent, and... 

AU Vote a Setback for South Africa

The 18th Summit of the African Union (AU) that took place in Addis Ababa this week has led to a sudden surge of interest into the workings of the organisation. This is due to the intense battle for... 

Shaik’s Prison Release Accelerates a Review of Medical Parole Legislation

If anything good emerges from the release of President Jacob Zuma's friend and one time financial advisor Shabir Shaik on medical parole, it is that it may improve the shortcomings in the...