Resources

• 2012 South African Budget Guide and Dictionary
  [News]

  14 May 2012The purpose of the 2012 South African Budget Guide and Dictionary is to provide an accurate description of the South African budget system so as ...

• Idasa Democracy Index: Namibia Report
  [News]

  03 May 2012Idasa publishes its first Democracy Index for Botswana: ‘Unfinished Business: democracy in Namibia.' It provides an important analysis of the status of Namibia’s democracy based on ...

• Idasa Democracy Index: Botswana Report
  [News]

  02 May 2012Idasa publishes its first Democracy Index for Botswana: ‘A Fine Balance: Assessing the Quality of Governance in Botswana’. It provides an important analysis of the ...

• Idasa Invitation: Namibia & Botswana Democracy Index launch
  [News]

  23 Apr 2012Idasa launches its Democracy Index for Namibia and Botswana on 25 and 26 April 2012. The Namibia launch will be held on the 25th in ...

• Idasa Comments: SA's 2012 budget
  [Articles]

  24 Feb 2012Idasa researcher Len Verwey comments on South Africa Minister of finance Pravin Gordhan' 2012 budget speech which was held at Parliament in Cape Ton on ...

• Idasa Opinion: Political party funding. Legislation should regulate donations.
  [Articles]

  21 Feb 2012Judith February provides her views on political party funding in South Africa in this opinion piece written on the 20th of February 2012. Idasa hosted ...

• Letter to Public Protector of South Africa
  [News]

  21 Nov 2011Read a letter by Idasa, to Public Protector of South Africa, Adv TM Madonsela regarding the Possible Abuse of State Resources by Mr Mac Maharaj, ...

• An Immediate Response to the 2011 MTBPS by Idasa
  [Research Reports]

  26 Oct 2011Idasa says South Africans will have to accept that, fiscally, the period from 2008 to 2015 will be far more constrained than that of 2002 ...

• Parliament keeps failing in its duty to SA
  [Articles]

  21 Sep 2011The ANC still has the ability to rein itself in and listen to reason it would seem. This week’s surprise U-turn on the Protection of ...

• Idasa warns extension of Chief Justice’s term ‘unconstitutional’
  [Submissions]

  26 Jul 2011Idasa’s Political Information & Monitoring Service (PIMS) has made a submission to parliament noting that President Zuma’s invitation to Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, head of ...

• Media release: Accusations against the Public Protector
  [Press Releases]

  07 Jul 2011Idasa notes with concern unverified reports of the ‘imminent’ arrest of Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela, for fraud and corruption.Yesterday the Public Protector released her ...

• Idasa Statement on the Death of Kader Asmal
  [News]

  23 Jun 2011Idasa is saddened by the passing of Professor Kader Asmal and wishes to extend condolences to his family and friends. He was not, by any ...

• Idasa questions judgement of Director of Public prosecution in arms deal
  [News]

  19 Jun 2011African democracy institute Idasa is questioning the judgement of former national director of public prosecutions, Menzi Simelane, who decided not to investigate Fana Hlongwane, an ...

• Now it’s time to hold new councillors to their promises
  [News]

  10 Jun 2011Now that the elections have come and gone, citizens throughout the country have a responsibility to make local government work for them. This can be ...

• POI Bill being rammed through system
  [News]

  30 May 2011May 27 2011 at 11:58am By Gary Pienaar and Sithembile Mbete The ad hoc committee on the Protection of Information Bill (the “Secrecy Bill”) entered ...

• Reflecting on local govt poll raises more questions than answers
  [Research Reports]

  25 May 2011The increase in voter turnout, and an increase in DA support are about the only certainties of this controversial election. Whether DA gains were at ...

• What’s coming up in SA parliament ‘s next session?
  [Research Reports]

  15 May 2011The South African Parliament is in recess until after the Wednesday government elections and then it’s back to work for our national MPs. Idasa’s Political ...

• Toilets a fitting symbol for SA local govt election?
  [News]

  15 May 2011Are voters tired of hearing politicians talking sh*t? Judith February of Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring Service says candidates musn’t think that because people are ...

• Your vote is not for sale
  [Articles]

  15 May 2011Idasa's Political Information and Monitoring Service Programme (PIMS) has been monitoring vote buying during the run-up to the local government elections and our network of ...

• Idasa concerns over vote buying
  [News]

  06 May 2011Democracy institute Idasa has expressed concern over vote buying and the improper use of state resources to influence voters in the upcoming local government election.Idasa’s ...

• SA needs anti-corruption agency
  [News]

  01 May 2011Idasa’s Gary Pienaar says SA is a signatory to the UN Convention Against Corruption and the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption – but ...

• Idasa says its time National Assembly cracks the whip on truancy
  [News]

  14 Apr 2011In a report in Business Day Idasa’s Nonhlanhla Chanza reminded us of the disruption absent MPs bring to the work of the National Assembly and ...

• Investigate Shiceka – Idasa calls on Public Protector
  [News]

  14 Apr 2011African democracy institute Idasa has sent an urgent letter to South Africa’s Public Protector, Advocate Thulisile Madonsela, calling on her to investigate Minister Sicelo Shiceka ...

• Idasa says Minister Shiceka must go
  [Press Releases]

  12 Apr 2011Idasa believes if there is any truth in the allegations being made against Minister Shiceka, President Zuma must take the strongest disciplinary steps, including possibly ...

• Idasa warns voter dissatisfaction will be a factor in upcoming poll
  [News]

  12 Apr 2011A political researcher at African democracy institute Idasa, Justin Sylvester, has said voters are struggling to find new political homes, “and because of levels of ...

• Ruling puts democracy back on track
  [News]

  27 Mar 2011By Judith February We live in a constitutional democracy. The Constitutional Court reminded us of that last week when it handed down what is without ...

• Idasa welcomes Constitutional Court judgment upholding the State’s duty to ensure an independent anti-corruption unit
  [Press Releases]

  18 Mar 2011Media Release 18 March 2011Idasa welcomes the Constitutional Court’s ruling in the case of Hugh Glenister v the President of the Republic of South Africa ...

• Change: more than law
  [News]

  13 Mar 2011We need to stop seeing equity as a simple change in demographics, and start creating a transformed SA for ourselves, writes Judith February The Big ...

• Idasa warns local govt neglected in proposed bill amendment
  [Submissions]

  11 Mar 2011Gary Pienaar, a Senior Researcher in Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS), made a submission to the Portfolio Committee on Justice and Constitutional Development ...

• Idasa looks at implications of raid on Public Protector's Office
  [Press Releases]

  04 Mar 20114 March 2010  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media release: Police accountability cannot be avoided this timeIdasa notes with extreme concern what appears to have been an ...

• Idasa welcomes Budget 2011 but sounds a warning
  [Research Reports]

  23 Feb 2011Idasa has responded to the 2011 Budget with cautious optimism, but warns that debt servicing is by far the fastest increasing budget item over the ...

• Budget 2011: Are we getting better at achieving more with less?
  [Research Reports]

  22 Feb 2011Idasa believes South Africa’s 2011 Budget will be released against a more favourable economic backdrop than the 2009 or 2010 Budgets, but warns that the ...

• Here’s a first – Gwede Mantashe (ANC) and Athol Trollip (DA) speaking the same language
  [Podcasts]

  22 Feb 2011The ANC’s Gwede Mantashe reiterated that job creation should be the government's main aim while DA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip says he is satisfied that ...

• Idasa's Reflection on the State of the Nation.
  [Podcasts]

  16 Feb 2011The South African President’s annual State of the Nation address to Parliament gives citizens an opportunity to reflect on the health of our society, our ...

• More questions than answers from Zuma's State of Nation address
  [Research Reports]

  11 Feb 2011Once again, more questions than answers from Zuma's State of Nation address, says idasa. We want more detail, especially on local government's pending elections. Initial ...

• Does Zuma have that ‘vision thing’?
  [News]

  08 Feb 2011JUDITH FEBRUARY WHEN President Jacob Zuma delivered his state of the nation address last year, it was his first in a year that, by late ...

• What will Zuma have to offer in his State of the Nation address?
  [News]

  08 Feb 2011Is it going to be a confident and emboldened President Jacob Zuma at the podium in the National Assembly tomorrow for the State of the ...

• Mayor’s use of public office to fundraise clearly crosses boundary between party and state
  [Press Releases]

  02 Feb 2011“The opportunities for such abuses are so many, and the widespread failure to appreciate the gravity of such actions so disturbing, that effective and comprehensive ...

• Sparks set to fly in Parliament this year
  [News]

  23 Jan 2011PARLIAMENT'S programme for 2011 reflects a steep workload weighed down with bills likely to spark controversy, says Idasa. Judith February, head of the democracy institute's ...

• Parliament must retain institutional knowledge
  [Articles]

  18 Nov 2010By Nonhlanhla Chanza and Judith February    Much has been said about President Zuma’s recent cabinet reshuffle and the impact it will have on service ...

• MPs declare their interests
  [Articles]

  17 Nov 2010Nonhlanhla Chanza, political researcher in Idasa’s Political Information & Monitoring Service (PIMS), looks at the South African Parliament’s 2010 Register for Members’ Interests. Download the ...

• Determining the limits of the possible: A closer look at the 2010 MTBPS
  [Research Reports]

  03 Nov 2010One of the main purposes of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) is to set out the government’s assumptions on the medium-term outlook of ...

• Determining the Limits of the Possible - Budget Statement MTBPS 2010
  [Articles]

  28 Oct 2010South Africa has the most transparent and accountable government budget according to a global survey of 94 countries, in the Open Budget Index of 2010. ...

• Right to Know - the march
  [Stories from the field]

  27 Oct 2010See the pics from the march, to defend our right to know http://www.facebook.com/democracyafrica

• NHI: Call for strong and informed community participation
  [Podcasts]

  15 Oct 2010South Africa's health indicators are nothing to be proud of, says Saranne Durham of Idasa's Political Information & Monitoring Service in an article she co-wrote ...

• Your right to know is being threatened - join the R2K campaign
  [Videos]

  12 Oct 2010Join the week of action - 19 October 2010 - see more at www.right2know.org.za

• PIMS looks at internal party integrity management
  [Research Reports]

  06 Oct 2010The way political parties conduct their affairs will determine the quality and strength of South Africa’s democracy. All parties therefore have a common responsibility and ...

• Response to Minister's address about the Protection of Information Bill
  [Podcasts]

  04 Oct 2010Here Gary Pienaar from Idasa talks about the Minister of State Security's address to the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on the Protection of Information Bill.

• Decisive measures needed - ANC general council
  [Articles]

  22 Sep 2010Justin Sylvester, Political Researcher at Idasa's Political Information & Monitoring Service (PIMS) told the Financial Times that President Jacob Zuma needs to "flex his muscles" ...

• Idasa looks at World Cup legacy - ePoliticsSA
  [Newsletters]

  16 Sep 2010Attempts to measure the tangible and intangible benefits left by the World Cup suggest that while expenditure on infrastructure and stadiums significantly boosted the economy ...

• Debating Oversight: An Executive and Legislative Perspective
  [Conference Reports]

  31 Aug 2010In August 2010 Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring Service (PIMS) hosted a Roundtable Discussion on Parliamentary Oversight to bring together members of Parliament to discuss ...

• PIMS Budget Paper: No 7 - Where Does Our Money Go? Priority and Progress in the South African Health Budget
  [Research Reports]

  19 Jul 2010By: Saranne Durham and Len Verwey Looking at budget allocations from the perspectives of progress and priority can be quite revealing, as the preceding analysis ...

• South Africa’s Fourth Parliament 2nd Term 2010: Oversight and Progress report
  [Research Reports]

  17 Jun 2010Not much legislative work was done this term, but SCOPA has vigorously played its oversight role and strongly questioned and scrutinized government departments’ spending patterns. By ...

• Celebrating the world cup 2010
  [News]

  03 Jun 2010By: Judith February The World Cup will not be a panacea for this country’s ills. It will not ‘solve’ inequality nor will it bring an ...

• Solid research, clumsy structure
  [Articles]

  28 May 2010Review: Tyrone August. Memories of long snake like queues twisting their way  to voting stations in April 1994 are often fondly recalled as the most ...

• We owe a debt of gratitude to anti-apartheid risk-takers Duncan and Slabbert
  [News]

  27 May 2010By: Judith February Perhaps it is a reflection of the kind of society in which we live that the murder of a somewhat shady character ...

• Only an active citizenry can strengthen democratic governance in South Africa
  [Speeches]

  21 May 2010Idasa's Political Information and Monitoring Service and Political Governance Programme made a joint presentation at the Worker's Parliament organized by the Kwa-Zulu Natal legislature, exploring ...

• ANC stalls over public funding of parties
  [Articles]

  17 May 2010Certain addictions are hard to beat. The ANC looks no closer to exiting the Chancellor House deal now than it did a few weeks ago. ...

• Report on PIMS’ “Building Democratic Societies” Debate Series
  [Podcasts]

  10 May 2010By Justin Sylvester Idasa’s Political Information and Monitoring Service Programme (PIMS) hosted the first of their three-part Building Democratic Societies debate series on 4 May. ...

• Mandela's Party of Liberation Struggles to Hold On To Its Roots
  [Articles]

  23 Apr 2010By Christopher Alessi - Huffington Post   For decades, leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) sacrificed monumentally to give voice to South Africa's subjugated ...

• Legislation to Regulate Private Political Party Funding
  [Speeches]

  20 Apr 2010See letter compiled by Judith February, the Programme Head of Idasa's Political Information and Monitoring Service PIMS regarding legislating Private Political Party Funding. Also see ...

• Time to fulfil your pledges on openness about party funding
  [Articles]

  20 Apr 2010By: Caiphus Kgosana Idasa tells ANC "It is our view that debate should take place in Parliament in the context of a commitment to the ...

• Time to move away from the Malema monologue to dialogue on our future
  [News]

  07 Apr 2010By: Judith February A hip-hop star, allegedly high on cocaine ploughs into a group of schoolchildren in Soweto, killing 4 of them. The National Director ...

• Accountability, Democracy and Parliament
  [News]

  01 Apr 2010Idasa’s Political Monitoring and Information Service (PIMS) recently participated in a seminar in Parliament focused on exploring various methods of strengthening participatory democracy.  The three-day ...

• Benefits of democracy lost in the gap between constitution and complex reality
  [News]

  24 Mar 2010By: Judith February Along the mall in Washington DC stands the Korean war memorial. Alongside it, a marble wall with the powerful words, ‘Freedom is ...

• Zuma simply needs to play by the rules
  [News]

  10 Mar 2010By: Judith February WE SHOULD not have to be dragooned into setting high standards in public life. We should willingly seek maximum openness about what ...

• ANC must lay down the law on business interests or it will lose our confidence
  [News]

  24 Feb 2010By: Judith February According to the ANC, its Youth League president, Julius Malema has ‘broken no law’ by tendering for state contracts and in so ...

• PIMS Budget Paper: No 6 - Budget 2010: Still a Rocky Road Ahead
  [Research Reports]

  19 Feb 2010By: Len Verwey, Saranne Durham and Musa Zamisa It was already clear in Pravin Gordhan’s first medium-term budget policy statement in October 2009 that a substantial ...

• Our response to what Zuma says matters more than the details of his speech
  [News]

  10 Feb 2010By: Judith February One can’t help feeling that Jacob Zuma’s presidency is fast losing its way. It’s hard to ignore the ever-increasing and worrying sense ...

• Report on the NHI Roundtable Hosted by Idasa
  [Research Reports]

  02 Feb 201019 January 2010, Cape Town Access to quality health care for all South Africans remains a key challenge facing democratic South Africa. Debates concerning the ...