SWOP Institute

Thirty years after South Africa adopted its democratic Constitution, some of its most difficult questions remain unanswered. One of these is the place of traditional leadership within a constitutional democracy – especially when it comes to land, accountability, and the lived experiences of rural communities. Join MISTRA’s public webinar on Traditional Leadership in South Africa’s Democratic Constitution this Thursday, 28 May 2026 at 10h00AM. The webinar will bring together critical voices to reflect on what remains unanswered, why it matters, and what must change in the years ahead. Register through this link: mistra-org-za.zoom.us/webinar/regist… #Constitution30 #TraditionalLeadership #LandGovernance #Democracy #PublicDialogue #MISTRA #SouthAfrica

Next up in our #UrbanCrisis series with @africanreclaim Detail and registration here: swop.org.za/urban-crisis-s…

Images from our workshop today in preparation for a special issue of Transformation on Fees Must Fall and End Outsourcing.

A bonus episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. This episode focuses on how unreliable and unaffordable basic services shape the realities of women-led households and highlights how opportunities for youth linked to the transition are often short-term, poorly structured, and disconnected from meaningful long-term employment. Listen to the episode here: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Nonhlanhla Mathibela, Researcher, PARI Murial Kwena, Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast

The next Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) research forum session will take place next Thursday 23 April at 13:00. The session will be in-person and online. Details and registration here: swop.org.za/wits-asm-resea… @WitsMining

The eighth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out tomorrow, the 14th of March on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 8: Designing Justice Inside municipalities, can co-production rebuild trust? Kate Tissington and Mahlatse Rampedi explore collaboration, accountability and resilience where the state is thin. Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Kate Tissington, Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #PublicParticipation

The 8th episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out on all major podcasting platforms. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Kate Tissington, Researcher, PARI Mahlatse Rampedi, Researcher, PARI Produced by: Richard Rumney #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #PublicParticipation

The 8th episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out on all major podcasting platforms. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Kate Tissington, Researcher, PARI Mahlatse Rampedi, Researcher, PARI Produced by: Richard Rumney #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #PublicParticipation

Joburg Urban Crisis Seminar on 16 April 1-3pm Civil society engagement with local government: the case of Joburg Crisis Alliance by @ychamda & @SeftelLisas with discussant @devanp52 pari.org.za/pari-urban-cri… @GCR_Observatory @SWOPinstitute

In today's JHB Urban Crisis Roundtable, we examined civil society organisations contesting local elections as a response to crisis in local governments. Discussants challenged narrow views of councillor failure, highlighting how governance can be shaped by austerity, political patronage and survival. There were also reflections on the promises and failures of local governments, councillors and tension of CSOs building local power amid fragmentation, co-option and growing public distrust of political actors. @GCR_Observatory @SWOPinstitute

The sixth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 6: From Below In Mpumalanga, Mahlatse Rampedi shows the transition from below - women-led solar cooperatives and local NGOs - where affordability, ownership and participation decide who benefits. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ ( @SWOPinstitute ) Guest: @Hlatse_r , Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #NGO

Join us tomorrow for a screening of an episode of uMhlaba Talks Podcast where Dr @DineoSks from @SWOPInstitute and Thuto Gabaphethe from @CALS_ZA will be on our panel. #HumanRightsFestival #podcast #screening #landrights @VisitConHill

The sixth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 6: From Below In Mpumalanga, Mahlatse Rampedi shows the transition from below - women-led solar cooperatives and local NGOs - where affordability, ownership and participation decide who benefits. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ ( @SWOPinstitute ) Guest: @Hlatse_r , Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #NGO

The sixth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 6: From Below In Mpumalanga, Mahlatse Rampedi shows the transition from below - women-led solar cooperatives and local NGOs - where affordability, ownership and participation decide who benefits. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ ( @SWOPinstitute ) Guest: @Hlatse_r , Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #NGO

Join us for a roundtable discussion as part of the #UrbanCrisis seminar series. Details at swop.org.za/urban-crisis-s…

The fifth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 5: State of Transition The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy split in two, but inertia remains. Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao and Waseem Holland unpack coal politics, policy gridlock and weak capacity - and why communities are still waiting for clarity on the Just Transition. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ @SWOPinstitute Guests: Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao, Researcher, PARI @Waseem_Wala, Researcher, PARI Produced by: Richard Rumney #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #RenewableEnergy

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Research Forum, a new monthly seminar series convened by the Wits Mining Institute (WMI) in partnership with SWOP. 26 March, 13:00, Wits Mining Institute Details at: swop.org.za/inaugural-wits…

The fifth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 5: State of Transition The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy split in two, but inertia remains. Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao and Waseem Holland unpack coal politics, policy gridlock and weak capacity - and why communities are still waiting for clarity on the Just Transition. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-a… Host: @TasneemEssop_ @SWOPinstitute Guests: Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao, Researcher, PARI @Waseem_Wala, Researcher, PARI Produced by: Richard Rumney #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #RenewableEnergy

DEADLINE EXTENDED Call for Applications: Post-Doctoral Fellowships and Masters Scholarships For details see swop.org.za/call-for-appli…

The fifth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out tomorrow, the 17th of March on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 5: State of Transition The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy split in two, but inertia remains. Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao and Waseem Holland unpack coal politics, policy gridlock and weak capacity - and why communities are still waiting for clarity on the Just Transition. Host: @TasneemEssop_ @SWOPinstitute Guests: Dr Thokozani Chilenga-Butao, Researcher, PARI @Waseem_Wala, Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #RenewableEnergy