Alan Hirsch

When I ran a grad school at UCT I was frustrated when rules prevented us from hiring the best person for the job. E.g. a Lesotho woman would have to make way for a white male from SA. Huh? Too many foreigners? disq.us/t/51tj3qt

The New South Institute collaboratively convened a roundtable in Cape Town with IOM Director-General Amy Pope and leading migration researchers to discuss governance challenges in Southern Africa. @AlanHirsch2 led the discussion, reflecting on the emerging concept of route-based approaches and their implications for regional cooperation and migration policy.

Vacancy: Specialist Labour Lawyer The New South Institute is seeking to appoint a Specialist Labour Lawyer to join its Public Service Reform programme. This role is distinct in its legal focus. It is intended for a senior legal professional who can help ensure that reform proposals, regulatory instruments, and accountability frameworks are legally robust, constitutionally compliant, and defensible. The position includes legal drafting, legal governance advice, and the identification of litigation and compliance risks linked to reform implementation. This is a part-time role at approximately 30%, offered on a 12-month contract, with the possibility of renewal. It is best suited to candidates with experience in labour law, administrative law, or constitutional governance, particularly in relation to the public sector. To apply, please email your CV to info@nsi.org.za by Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

Vacancy: Senior Analyst/Researcher The New South Institute is seeking to appoint a Senior Analyst/Researcher to join its Public Service Reform programme. This role brings an analytical and institutional perspective to the programme. It is intended for someone who can strengthen the behavioural and institutional design of reform, analyse incentives and compliance mechanisms, and contribute to monitoring, evaluation, and evidence-based implementation. This is a 50% part-time role on a 12-month contract. It is suited to candidates with a background in politics, public administration, industrial/organisational psychology, public policy, or institutional design, together with experience in governance reform, policy research, or public administration analysis. To apply, please email your CV to info@nsi.org.za by Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

South Africa and the Southern migration route(s) in Africa dont often capture the attention of international organisations. I convened a very frank, freeflowing conversation between experts, advocates and @amypope and her team. Jointly hosted by @the_nsi and @MandelaUCT

🚨 A digital reset for South Africa’s immigration system? NSI’s @AlanHirsch2 breaks down what the proposed shift to digital migration governance could mean - and why bold policy ideas won’t matter without serious implementation capacity. Essential reading on the future of immigration, technology, and the state. 🔗 theconversation.com/south-africas-… #MigrationGovernance #DigitalState #SouthAfrica #NSI @TC_Africa @migration @UNmigration @HomeAffairsSA

Any comments welcome.

Here is an article I just wrote on the new South African White Paper on Citizenship, Immigration and Refugee Protection as part of my work for @the_nsi. I'm interested in comments on this as I will soon finalise my submission to Department of Home Affairs. theconversation.com/south-africas-…

@Radio702 Several mistakes in the answers to the schoolkids quiz this morning.

Now this is important--the civil constructors confidence index reached 52 in december, an 11-year high. Civil construction is a key leading indicator for economic growth. Perhaps recent optimism about the South African econmic has some substance? ber.ac.za/Documents/View…

Good question. Why are the Angola and Botswana governments competing to buy De Beers? Are they nuts? Desperate? Irresponsible? theafricareport.com/400525/de-beer…

I happened to listen to SAFM this morning and didn't hear any reference to this story. Did you? bbc.com/news/articles/…

🌍 2025 has been a landmark year for migration policy and reform, and we’re closing it with a powerful conversation. As mobility, integration, and regional cooperation continue to shape Africa’s future, the New South Institute (NSI) has been at the forefront of research, dialogue, and policy impact on migration governance throughout the year. From West to East Africa, and at the continental level, NSI’s work has helped sharpen how we understand movement, borders, trade, and people. 📢 Join us for this exciting webinar as we explore the theme: “Do Africa’s regional institutions help regularise the mobility of people in Africa?” This timely discussion brings together insights from three major NSI research papers on migration governance and continental integration, with expert reflections on their real-world policy implications. 🎙 Speakers & Discussants include: • @AlanHirsch2 – Head of Migration Governance Reform in Africa programme, NSI • Victor Amadi – Research Fellow, NSI • Ottilia Anna Maunganidze – Head of Special Projects, @issafrica • Brian Chigawa – Legal, Migration & Trade Consultant 📅 Tuesday, 2 December 2025 🕝 14:30 (Online) 👉 Register here: @41827e39-91ed-43df-a2ce-99de978a7afc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">events.teams.microsoft.com/event/4f616b6e… 🚀 As migration climbs higher on policy agendas across Africa, this conversation couldn’t be more relevant. If you’re working in governance, development, trade, security, or migration policy, this is one you don’t want to miss. #MigrationGovernance #AfricaMobility #RegionalIntegration #NSI #PolicyDialogue #AfCFTA #FreeMovement #DevelopmentPolicy @Afro_spectives @_AfricanUnion @GovernmentZA

Do Africa’s regional institutions help the mobility of people in Africa? Come join our webinar on Tuesday afternoon, 14.30 CAT. Registration in the link below. @the_nsi nsi.org.za/events/africa-…

Come join our webinar on regional communities and migration governance in Africa. Based on three new reports. Tuesday 2nd December at 14.30 SA time

BREAKING NEWS:  The #G20 Africa Expert Panel consists of leaders from various industries worldwide. This panel focuses on growth, debt and development opportunities for a new African partnerships.  ​ This is who our panelists are. #PartneringForAfrica​ #G20SouthAfrica

ADAM ABOOBAKER: Lower inflation target — corporate influence or economic strategy? businessday.co.za/opinion/2025-1…

🇿🇦President @CyrilRamaphosa, accompanied by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana held a meeting with the #G20 Africa Expert Panel on Debt Sustainability, Cost of Capital and Financing Reforms (led by former Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel) at Tuynhuys in Cape Town. President Ramaphosa established the Africa Expert Panel on debt sustainability at the inception of South Africa's G20 Presidency. The Panel aims to develop recommendations that the G20 could take forward, focusing on practical solutions to achieve debt sustainability, such as improving the G20 Common Framework for debt treatments to enable timely and adequate debt restructuring. #G20SouthAfrica 🇿🇦 #BetterAfricaBetterWorld 🌍

Of course I meant damn

Travel between African countries is still too darn hard: here are some fresh ideas to get movement flowing. theconversation.com/travel-between…