Latest news with #InstituteforSecurityStudies
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- Politics
- RNZ News
South African DJ's murder exposes nexus between crime and power
South African Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu pictured on January 14, 2025. Mchunu has been suspended after accusations of burying investigations. Photo: Christian Velcich / AFP By Clément Varanges, AFP On a quiet November night in 2022, DJ Sumbody - a rising star in South Africa's music scene - was gunned down in a hail of bullets while heading home. Then in April 2024, engineer Armand Swart was executed in a similar shooting after his company flagged a suspicious government tender in which prices had been inflated by over 4,500 percent. But dramatic arrests this week are tying those murders and many more together, exposing a murky underworld where criminals consort with political bigwigs for lucrative state tenders. The arrests came after explosive allegations by a senior police chief who accused the force and South Africa's police minister of a cover-up. Deep-rooted procurement corruption has seeped through every level of government for decades, security researcher David Bruce told AFP. "The whole issue of killings of whistleblowers and assassinations generally is massively interlinked with that issue," said Bruce, a consultant with the Institute for Security Studies. DJ Sumbody, a rising star in South Africa's music scene, was shot dead in November 2022. His murder is tied to others in the country, exposing a murky underworld. Photo: Instagram / DJ Sumbody Among those arrested this week are a former Johannesburg police officer at the time of DJ Sumbody's murder, as well as the prime suspect, a businessman named Katiso Molefe. British media have reported that a South African man of Molefe's same name and age was sentenced to four years in prison in the United Kingdom in 2003 for drug trafficking. Two other men, already in custody for the 2023 attempted murder of former reality TV star turned influencer Tebogo Thobejane, are also believed to have played a role. It doesn't end there. During the raid on Monday, police found prominent Johannesburg politician, Kenny Kunene, at Molefe's home. Kunene, a Johannesburg city council member, has since been suspended by his party leader, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie, though police have not formally implicated him. Kunene denied any wrongdoing, saying he was merely trying to assist a journalist seeking to interview Molefe. At the centre of the widening web is businessman Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala, described locally as a "tenderpreneur", a term referring to individuals who have made fortunes through government contracts. Also the head of private security firm, Matlala was arrested in May in connection with the 2023 attempt on his ex-partner Thobejane's life. Thobejane, famous for her role in the long-running local soap opera Muvhango, earlier this month denied having "snitched" on Matlala. "I am a victim," she told local newspaper News24. In 2024, Matlala secured a $20 million contract with the national police - now cancelled - despite being implicated in a $125 million public hospital embezzlement scandal. The Tembisa hospital case cost whistleblower Babita Deokaran her life in 2021, when she was shot nine times outside her home. No arrests have been made in Deokaran's killing, reflecting the impunity that reigns with only 11 percent of murders solved, according to 2024 police statistics. "All these three cases are linked somehow," police spokeswoman Athlenda Mathe said, referring to DJ Sumbody, Swart and Thobejane. Four weapons, including the AK-47 rifle used to kill DJ Sumbody, have been linked through ballistics to at least 10 high-profile cases, she added. SA President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a judicial inquiry into the allegations against his police minister. Photo: AP Photo/Jerome Delay The implications run deep. KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi last month accused colleagues and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu of burying investigations targeting Matlala. In a bombshell televised press conference, flanked by armed security forces, Mkhwanazi alleged Mchunu had received payments from a corruption suspect and accused prosecutors of delaying justice. "We do hope that pretty soon we might find some changes with good, dedicated prosecutors and we might see arrests happening," he said, adding that cases of murdered artists would finally "come to the fore". President Cyril Ramaphosa has since suspended Mchunu and announced a judicial inquiry into the allegations. But there has been no tangible action. South Africa faces one of the world's highest murder rates, averaging more than 75 killings a day. Politically motivated contract killings have surged 108 percent over the past decade, according to a 2024 report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Studies show hiring a contract killer can cost as little as $145 in the country all too accustomed to violence. "It's easier to silence someone with a bullet than contend with an investigation," said Chad Thomas, head of private investigation company IRS Forensic. - AFP
Daily Maverick
14-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Nelson Mandela Day, critical climate discussions and more events this week in civil society
This week, join a range of events focused on climate justice, anti-corruption, children's rights, and youth empowerment, ending with the annual Nelson Mandela Day Walk and Run on 19 July. On Tuesday, 15 July, at 10am, the Institute for Economic Justice will host a webinar on how South Africa's new Climate Change Act can advance a just transition in the food system. During the webinar, experts will break down key provisions of the act, spotlight advocacy opportunities, and explore how civil society can play a leading role in ensuring climate justice includes food justice. Register for the webinar here. On Wednesday, 16 July, at 10am, the Institute for Security Studies will host a seminar on the Special Investigating Unit's achievements and challenges, and how to secure its future success. 'The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is reputed to be South Africa's most effective anti-corruption agency. New research by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) undertaken in cooperation with the SIU examined the factors associated with its success and the challenges the unit faces in combating corruption. This seminar will discuss key research findings and recommendations for the SIU's future,' the ISS said. Panellists include: On Thursday, 17 July at 1pm, the Dullah Omar Institute's Children's Rights Project will host the first instalment of a webinar series exploring children's rights. The webinar, Children's Rights and Business in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, aims to build and sustain a focused Africa-wide discourse on the subject. 'The business sector has significant implications for the realisation of children's rights in Africa, both negative and positive. While businesses contribute to beneficial societal outcomes and economic growth in ways that support the realisation of the rights of children, their operations, products and policies can also adversely impact children's rights,' the institute said. Panellists include: Opal Sibanda Chairman Okoloise Nimrod Muhumuza Register for the webinar here. Friday, 18 July is International Nelson Mandela Day, where people, communities and organisations around the world will reflect on Mandela's values to make a positive impact on their communities. Here are the events that will take place in celebration of Nelson Mandela Day: Licebo Harvest will spend the day teaching young people about agriculture and community building on the organisation's farm. The youth will learn how to plant and harvest crops, understand farm management techniques, and get hands-on experience in a real farm setting. To attend, RSVP to Vuyo at 060 469 8725. Maruma Bantfu is running an essay-writing contest to commemorate Mabiba's legacy of social justice, change and unity. Grade 8-12 learners are encouraged to submit 300-500-word essays on the following question: How to create non-violent, harmless and safe communities for children? The winning entry will be announced and celebrated on 18 July 2025. Entries close on 16 July. Learners can submit their essays here. On Friday, 18 July at 12.30pm, Life After Coal will host a webinar on the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). The webinar will unpack what the NDC is and how civil society can engage with South Africa's next big climate commitment. Register here. On Saturday, 19 July, the Nelson Mandela Foundation will host the highly anticipated Nelson Mandela Day Walk and Run at Wanderers Stadium. The annual event is dedicated to promoting community service and inspiring positive change within our communities. Venue: DP World Wanderers Stadium, Corlett Drive, Illovo, Sandton, Johannesburg.
Daily Maverick
09-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SA's clothing and textile industry caught between global trade, local development
The industry remains heavily reliant on imports from China. As trade imbalances persist, local manufacturers and circular economy advocates are working to rebuild domestic production capacity. South Africa is dressing itself in imported cloth, and most of it has a 'made in China' label. At the Allfashion Sourcing exhibition in Cape Town's International Convention Centre, local and international players across the clothing and textile value chain were brought together to showcase their products and business ideologies. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads One couldn't help but notice a skewed balance, tilting decidedly east. Of the 142 exhibitors listed on its website, 71 are Chinese companies. From fabric suppliers to accessory makers, China's footprint was everywhere, reinforced by the presence of Chinese diplomats and state-linked industry delegations. That overwhelming presence brings into sharper focus a longstanding trade dynamic in this sector that continues to shape South Africa's local fashion economy. The numbers don't lie In 2024, South Africa exported R19.4-billion worth of textiles, data from The Observatory of Economic Complexity shows. Of that, R4.07-billion went to China. It doesn't seem like a significant slice of the pie, until you look at the inflows – imports in this sector totalled R65.4-billion, and nearly half of that came from China. The result is a trade deficit that makes it clear who is dressing whom. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads This is part of a much larger trend, according to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS). Since 2000, South Africa has sent a staggering R2-trillion more to China than it received in overall exports. In March 2025 alone, the textile trade gap widened again: exports at R2.22-billion, imports at R4.85-billion — and China topped both categories. 'Many of the local producers, they need to import certain components, be it zippers, or buttons, or even highly specialised textiles that are not made in South Africa – (these products) are not made in Africa,' said Michael Dehn, managing director of global trade fair organiser Messe Frankfurt, which hosted the Allfashion trade show. There are parts of the production chain that South Africa doesn't – and can't – make. 'There are only a handful of major manufacturing countries,' Dehn said. 'China is one of them. Of course, you have India, Bangladesh, Turkey and so on, but these are the main suppliers globally.' Tariffs, Trump and Trojan horses Amid the mess of trade imbalances comes a shiny, diplomatic olive branch. China recently announced a zero-tariff policy on all product lines for 53 African nations, including South Africa. Against the backdrop of Trump's most recent tariff tantrum (a 30% duty hike on South African imports to the US), this almost feels like a lifeline. Almost. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads China's pitch is simple: open access, deeper trade and 'more business opportunities and broader market access', as Tang Chang'an, Chinese deputy consul, put it. 'This will play a positive role in promoting the development of the local economy and job creation,' he said. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Since 2014, South Africa's overall imports from China have been nearly double that of the value exported, writes ISS research consultant Marvellous Ngundu. 'Importing manufactured goods, particularly clothing, electronics and other consumer products, crowds out South African industries.' The Cape Town compromise Faith Kolala, head of investment and trade at the City of Cape Town, acknowledges that the city has a big part to play in revitalising the industry. He reported a concerted drive headed by the city to expand local production, support producers in townships and roll out skills development pathways. 'We are working with industry bodies to ensure that this sector, the clothing and textile sector, thrives in the face of global uncertainty,' he said. Precisely because of the many uniquely South African challenges the industry has faced, like load shedding and import duties, the local clothing and textile industry should be 'comfortable and confident' that it will come out on top, he added. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'Cape Town and the wider southern African region are not just nodes of the global supply network any more. We are trusted suppliers, unique design voices and an expanding ecosystem of businesses, township manufacturers, and youth-driven innovation.' Globalisation has forced the clothing and textile sector to think differently about sourcing and collaboration, Kolala said. 'It's not about importing or sourcing, it's about collaboration nowadays,' he said, hinting at South Africa's trade alliance with China. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads The worth of waste Parallel to these global entanglements, innovation is sprouting in unlikely places among South African designers, an example of which can be found in Natasha Pearce, founder of Vivacious Eco Vixon. She has worked in the clothing industry for more than two decades, and instead of importing, she intercepts waste – offcuts, zips, surplus threads – and transforms them into upscale lifestyle products. Pearce is also upskilling communities. Her team, largely women from poverty-stricken areas, learn practical sewing and design skills. She describes her design process with a kind of reverence. 'The fabric speaks to me… I don't design a range based on a trend, I design a range based on the fabrics that I get in.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Her gripe is that waste is an afterthought in this industry and not engineered out from the start. She works with big interior design houses such as Hertex, salvaging sample books and discontinued materials for her products. Green capital and local hands Part of Pearce's work is funded by Nedbank's green economy fund, which supports entrepreneurs who are moving towards circularity, offering concessionary loans and de-risk grants to prove that waste can, in fact, be a business model. 'Partners that we fund have programmes that are designed to educate entrepreneurs around sustainability, secularity and the green economy,' said Maluta Netshaulu, head of the social impact portfolio development at Nedbank. The supply chain also needs people with sewing skills, design sense and line management expertise. Thandeka, a skills training NGO, is stepping in to bridge this gap. The NGO offers a range of learnerships and job placements in the clothing and textile industry. 'It's all about creating jobs in South Africa,' said Heidi Williams-Oelz, customer relationship and marketing manager at Thandeka. 'We want to be able to partner with our retailers and our manufacturers to enable them to bring more onshoring to South Africa.' The demand is there. Brands like Foschini, Levi's and K-Way are already working with South African firms such as Berzacks, known locally as the 'sewing machine people', who equip manufacturers with industrial sewing machinery and products such as thread. 'The next place to be' Chinese companies are looking to further cement their place in the South African value chain. SAB South Africa, a subsidiary of global accessory giant WeiXing, is planting roots in SA, gaining traction with major retailers such as Truworths. Its goal is to bridge the gap between Chinese innovation and South African creativity. Cliff Shen, SAB's sales manager, said that the company wanted to penetrate the South African market because it was 'uncharted territory' and that Africa had a growing economy, which made it 'the next place to be'. China floods South Africa with imports, but it also supplies the materials and components without which local clothing production would grind to a halt. 'The cooperation between China and South Africa is quite close,' Chang'an said. 'We are not necessarily competitors in the textile industry; we could be partners.' In the same breath, he referred to China's 'longstanding advantages' of advanced tech, established industrial chains and strong manufacturing capabilities, comparing it with South Africa's large consumer market, which provided space for the development of the clothing industry. Kolala believes that globalisation has forced us to think differently about sourcing and collaborations. 'We have to take that opportunity and work with competitors as well as collaborators in order to [have a] bigger pie.' DM
Eyewitness News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
ISS describes infighting within SAPS as a setback in building public confidence
JOHANNESBURG - The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) has described the infighting within the South African Police Service (SAPS) as a setback in the quest to rebuild public confidence in policing Head of justice and violence at the institute, Gareth Newham said allegations of political interference in police matters are both shocking and disappointing. His comments come a day after KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi went public with damning allegations against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and other high-ranking officials. Mkhwanazi claimed there is a powerful organised criminal syndicate operating across the country's crime-fighting institutions. Newham said allegations of this magnitude need to be the subject of an inquiry. "Had the government implemented its own recommendations in the National Development Plan, which came out in 2012, which identifies the crises of top management in the SAPS as a key issue that needs to be urgently addressed, had they addressed those issues back in 2012, we wouldn't be here today."
Daily Maverick
23-06-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Violent extremism erodes local climate resilience in the Sahel
Jihadist groups and militarised counterterrorism responses have weakened traditional approaches to resolving climate disputes. The Sahel is one of Africa's most climate-vulnerable areas. The region increasingly experiences extreme weather such as floods and droughts, and ongoing land degradation, depleting the natural resources vital to local economies. Between 1979 and 2010, average temperatures in the region rose by 0.6°C to 0.8°C, and further increases of 3°C to 6°C are projected by the end of the 21st century. Recent Institute for Security Studies (ISS) research examining the nexus between climate change and insecurity reveals that rural Sahelians have long relied on indigenous dispute resolution mechanisms to address climate-related tensions. The effects of climate change and rapid population growth have intensified competition over arable land, water and pasture – often leading to local conflicts. Historically, the peaceful management of such tensions ensured the equitable use of scarce resources during periods of climatic stress. However, the intensification of jihadist violence in the Sahel is eroding social cohesion in several localities. That makes it more difficult for communities to resolve resource-based tensions and in doing so, withstand the effects of climate change. Tillabéri in Niger and Fada-Ngourma in Burkina Faso ISS research in Tillabéri and Fada-Ngourma (see map) reveals that natural resource management is traditionally based on the coexistence of three production systems – pastoralism, agriculture and fishing, particularly around the Niger River. These systems often compete for limited resources. They have coexisted through codified practices and norms grounded in customary law that govern interactions among socioeconomic groups. This approach represents a complex social architecture overseen by lineage heads, land chiefs, village chiefs and religious leaders, who monitor resource access and resolve disputes. Their authority maintains harmony within families, clans, casts and ethnic groups. Nevertheless, the study found that resource-based conflicts continue in the context of increasing resource scarcity. These disputes include tensions between sedentary and nomadic herders, farmers, transhumant herders and farmers, and breeders and fishermen. The most frequent conflicts – particularly during periods of scarcity – arise between farmers and herders. In response, Burkina Faso and Niger have established structures to arbitrate these natural resource disputes. In Niger, the Rural Code enabled land commissions at regional, departmental, communal and village levels. In Burkina Faso, legislation on rural land tenure created a Village Land Conciliation Commission in each village. But these entities – typically headed by prefects, governors or central government officials – struggle to manage tensions effectively. In both ISS case studies, most interviewees expressed greater trust in customary institutions than in the state's formal dispute resolution structures, which were often perceived as lacking legitimacy, impartiality and transparency. Concerns about corruption also undermine their credibility. In contrast, the strength of traditional institutions lies in their proximity to local communities and their ability to avoid cumbersome bureaucratic processes. Trust in these institutions is rooted in two factors. First, the moral legitimacy of customary figures such as religious leaders, land chiefs and village heads, who are widely recognised as guardians of social order. Second, their conciliatory approach to dispute resolution, which prioritises the preservation of communal harmony and familial ties. This traditional governance structure has long supported community resilience to climate shocks. However, it is increasingly threatened by the growing influence of violent extremist groups and the overly militarised counterterrorism responses of Sahelian states. Groups such as Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara have frequently attacked communities and local religious leaders. With their deep-rooted authority and strong influence, these leaders are targeted for several reasons. First, to weaken their influence and impose the jihadist groups' authority by subjugating dissenters. Second, because the leaders represent a community order that the groups seek to dismantle. This is either because the hierarchical structures of customary or religious leadership conflict with the extremists' egalitarian vision of Islam, or because the local leaders are viewed as state collaborators. Many community leaders have been killed, threatened or displaced, leading to a loss of authority and a reduced capacity to mediate social tensions. In some areas, jihadist groups impose governance systems based on oppressive rules that directly challenge the legitimacy of traditional land tenure systems and destabilise local governance. Several leaders and fighters within extremist groups originate from the Fulani community. Generalisations implying widespread Fulani sympathy for jihadist groups have fuelled retaliatory attacks, cycles of violence and social exclusion. In turn, these dynamics have led some Fulani individuals to join armed groups – either as a means of self-protection or to seek revenge against security forces. State-led security initiatives have sometimes aggravated local tensions. In Burkina Faso, the recruitment of civilian volunteers for counterterrorism operations has inadvertently exposed some communities to jihadist reprisals, further eroding public trust in the state to provide security. These ongoing cycles of violence and deteriorating local governance undermine the social consensus needed to manage natural resources. Ultimately, it is not just resource scarcity that threatens climate resilience in the Sahel, but the breakdown of the traditional systems that once ensured their equitable management. The Sahel crisis underscores the need for a multidimensional approach to regional stability. While climate adaptation strategies must include technical interventions such as agronomic innovations, long-term resilience demands that the underlying drivers of insecurity are addressed. These drivers fuel the region's political, humanitarian and environmental fragility. Strengthening community resilience to climate change requires strengthening local governance structures. Sahelian governments – particularly in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso – must go beyond military responses and invest in restoring social cohesion. A sustainable future also depends on meaningful support for community dialogue, conflict mediation and empowering traditional institutions as part of a comprehensive strategy for peace and stability. DM
