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South Africa at 30: Shaping the Next Chapter of Democracy

In 2024, South Africa marked 3 decades of democracy - a milestone calling for reflection and forward-thinking. Over the past 30 years, the country has made significant strides in governance, economic development, and social transformation.

The Political Economy of the 2025 Budget

South Africa’s finance minister faces opposition to his budget proposals, both in cabinet and in parliament. Traditionally, spending and revenue proposals are presented on Budget Day as the consolidated fiscal plan of the government.

Temporary Relocation Areas: an inappropriate response to a serious housing crisis

A UCT delegation engaged with the Human Rights Commission on alternatives to Temporary Relocation Areas.

Call for Applications: Postdoctoral and PhD Fellowships in Demography, Human Capital, and Sustainable Development

SALDRU, in collaboration with IIASA, invite applications for three postdoctoral fellowships and three PhD scholarships in the field of demography, human capital, and sustainable development.

Challenging inequalities through policy relevant academic research.

Left: Malcolm Keswell discussing the international evidence on cash and asset transfers. Right: Mvuselelo Ngcoya presents some of the key qualitative findings. Credit: Commission on Restitution of Land Rights.

LRES Findings Launch Conference: Reversing the legacy of spatial inequality and poverty

Segregated spatial planning during the apartheid period resulted in staggering levels of population displacements. Between 1960 and 1982, approximately 3.5 million people were displaced.

2024 Francis Wilson Memorial Lecture

The second annual Francis Wilson Memorial Lecture was delivered by former Minister of Finance Trevor Manuel. The title was “How to build – and break – a capable state: structural reform and institution building in the democratic era".

SALDRU and the African Leadership Initiative host pre-SA@30 years of democracy conference policy dialogue

In November 2024, SALDRU and ALI hosted the first of our three policy dialogues leading up to the upcoming SA@30 conference. This dialogue was titled: "What sacred policy cows need to be revisited to unlock South Africa’s potential?”

Participants at the consultation workshop of the Namibian Inequality Diagnostic report

ACEIR presents Namibia Inequality Diagnostic at ILO event in Windhoek

For several months now, ACEIR has been working on a Namibian Inequality Diagnostic report.

Siyaphambili interactive website

An interactive website to track and monitor qualification attainment and related information in South Africa.

OpenSALDRU

The SALDRU repository contains publications from research conducted within the research unit. Select a collection to browse its contents.