Policy Briefs

The HSRC works in the area of getting research into policy and practice preparing policy briefs on topical issues.

2021 POLICY BRIEFS

COVID-19 and human rights limitations: Taking public opinion into account

NARNIA BOHLER-MULLER, BENJAMIN ROBERTS, YUL DEREK DAVIDS, STEVEN GORDON and YAMKELA MAJIKIJELA

In this policy brief we analyse the willingness to sacrifice specific human rights in the context of COVID-19 in South Africa. It is argued that the suspension of certain freedoms is sometimes considered or perceived as necessary under the dire and lifethreatening circumstances of the pandemic.|

This complex issue has critical policy and social implications that need to be considered and addressed as part of an effective strategic and regulatory response that minimises risk and promotes recovery, while considering public needs and preferences. For this reason, the role of social sciences – and in particular public opinion research – in thinking through challenges and solutions is encouraged.

The BIG question: COVID-19 and policy support for a basic income grant

GARY PIENAAR, YUL DEREK DAVIDS, BENJAMIN ROBERTS, MOKHANTŠO MAKOAE and TIM HART

For more than two decades, successive South African administrations have been reluctant to support a basic income grant/guarantee (BIG), also termed universal basic income (UBI) or basic income support (BIS), even for chronically poor unemployed citizens. However, a milestone was achieved in April 2020 with the introduction of a monthly R350 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant to assist these South Africans during the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdown.

This policy brief examines: (a) how the SRD grant, provided to millions of unemployed South Africans, is perceived to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and whether this signifies the country’s readiness to support a larger and permanent grant for the chronically poor in the future; and (b) whether a monthly basic income grant is a viable and sustainable postpandemic policy option.

Drug-resistant HIV in South Africa: Status and response

SIZULU MOYO, GILLIAN HUNT, ALI FEIZZADEH, KHANGELANI ZUMA and THOMAS REHLE

The risk of the development of HIV mutations with resistance to ARVs may be exacerbated by weaknesses in health services and by the loss of patients from the cascade of care. Drug-resistant HIV is associated with a higher risk of mortality, and high levels of drug-resistant HIV will impede progress towards attainment of the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets and could potentially reverse the remarkable progress that has been made by the antiretroviral treatment (ART) programme to date.

This policy brief presents findings on drug-resistant HIV in South Africa and suggests policy responses to this emerging issue.

Financing clean energy technology in BRICS cities: Recommendations from renewable energy financing experts in BRICS

KRISH CHETTY, MODIMOWABARWA KANYANE, KAMLESHAN PILLAY and CHARLES HONGORO

The South African BRICS Think Tank’s (SABTT) Energy Architecture cluster convened a webinar on 19 March 2020, bringing together clean technology financing experts from South Africa, China, India and Russia. In South Africa, participants included representatives from academia, the South African Local Government Association and the Western Cape provincial government. The webinar afforded the SABTT the opportunity to discuss the findings of the Energy Architecture Clusters’ research into the financing of renewable energy projects among a selection of BRICS cities, while identifying best practices from BRICS to inform policy recommendations for cities in South Africa, in particular, and the BRICS countries in general.

This policy brief discusses the recommendations made by the webinar’s participants.

Improving psychosocial support in SA schools during and after COVID-19 as part of a recovery plan

CATHERINE NAMOME, LOLITA WINNAAR and FABIAN ARENDS

South African (SA) schools experienced a prolonged school closure during 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department of Basic Education has a recovery plan that aims to undo many of the learning losses – but we argue for a recovery from a different kind of loss: the social and emotional loss to learners, teaching and non-teaching staff in school settings.

The purpose of this policy brief is to evaluate the adequacy of existing psychosocial strategies to deal with the ongoing pandemic. Using findings from the recent school readiness survey, we highlight the importance of psychosocial support in SA schools, analyse the current policy environment in the context of existing strategies in South Africa, and provide our recommendations for the DBE.

Addressing the marginalisation of refugees and asylum seekers in South Africa

STEVEN LAWRENCE GORDON

Currently, not much is known about how ordinary citizens in South Africa see refugees, and this has undermined efforts to address the problem. To bridge this knowledge gap, attitudes and behaviours towards refugees are examined in this policy brief, using contemporary data from Ipsos (Ipsos South Africa 2019).

The brief offers a targeted set of recommendations to assist policymakers in building effective programmes to assist refugees. Shifting public attitudes should be part of a broader strategy to address the root causes of anti-immigrant prejudice. Consequently, the recommendations outlined will cover not only effective communication interventions, but also proposals for targeted immigrant integration programmes.

COVID-19, food security and nutrition: Implications for vulnerable urban households in South Africa

BLESSING MASAMHA, THOKOZANI SIMELANE, SHINGIRIRAI MUTANGA and RODNEY MANAGA

For the period June 2019 to March 2020, there were 13 670 000 people in South Africa who were regarded as being food insecure (World Food Programme (WFP) 2019). Food and nutrition insecurity in impoverished urban and rural household settings has been a long-standing problem, although there had been a marked decrease between 1999 and 2008.

This policy brief provides an overview of the implications of COVID-19 pandemic on food security and nutrition in South Africa, with a focus on urban households’ food security and nutrition situation. It proposes short-term and long-term intervention measures that can be implemented to reduce the vulnerability of urban households to food insecurity. This calls for the re-evaluation of South Africa’s social security system.

Innovation and employment growth in South Africa: Effects and implications

YASSER BUCHANA and MOSES SITHOLE

Previous studies have shown that innovation can influence employment growth at the business level. In the context of developing countries with high unemployment rates, innovations may, through technological advancements such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, have positive or negative effects on employment levels. As such, it is important to investigate the link between innovation and employment at the business level in contexts with high unemployment rates. This policy brief contributes to the discourse in the different policy domains — innovation policy, employment policy, skills development policy — by linking innovation to employment growth at business level, and by providing recommendations that may lead to the development of policy actions that are adaptive to the dynamic nature of innovation in South African businesses.

Upgrading dense informal settlements by building upwards: Lessons from an informal settlement in Durban, South Africa

JUSTIN VISAGIE, IVAN TUROK and MARK MISSELHORN

Approximately 287 000 households live in 581 informal settlements across eThekwini Municipality and the numbers are growing. This translates into roughly one shack for every ten formal brick or block houses. The pressures on housing in South African cities are sizeable, despite 25 years of a national housebuilding programme with a budget of almost R20 billion each year. This policy brief examines how the dense informal settlements represent some of the most challenging places for public investment and management because of the intense competition for space. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the challenges of dealing with contagion in overcrowded informal settlements where basic hygene is compromised by inferior services and where other measures invloving ‘social distancing’ are often impractical. Neither is it socially nor financially feasible to relocate households in order to de-densify.

2020 POLICY BRIEFS

Gaps in the design and implementation of the Gauteng housing allocation process

Housing allocation continues to be a concern, not only in South Africa, but also globally, in contexts where public housing programmes have been a key element in addressing housing needs. The clarity or lucidness of a housing allocation policy directive regarding its objectives and intended outcomes often influences the success of its implementation (DeLeon & DeLeon, 2002). This policy brief draws from Buitendijk’s (2011) definition of housing allocation as ‘a social housing allocation policy that consists of a set of criteria indicating which households are allowed to live in which accommodation, and includes rules about how households can apply for a vacant property’ (Buitendijk, 2011:1–2).

POLICY BRIEFS ARCHIVE

Criminalising racism in tumultuous times

N BOHLER-MULLER, G PIENAAR, G HOUSTON, V BAROLSKY and N MAJOZI

The purpose of this policy brief is to evaluate whether existing laws governing discrimination, hate speech, crimen injuria and defamation are adequate to deal with the recent rise in racist hate speech in South Africa. The introduction of a new bill criminalising hate crimes and hate speech is discussed in the context of existing egislation in South Africa and elsewhere which is designed to deal with these harmful acts.

Eco-innovation in South African manufacturing enterprises: Trends and benefits

C MOSES

This policy brief examines how innovative manufacturing enterprises have embarked on eco-innovative initiatives and contribute to sustainable manufacturing. The research results indicate that the refined petroleum, coke and nuclear fuel sector and the food and beverage sector are the most likely to introduce innovations with environmental benefits.

Promoting a science, technology and innovation policy for inclusive development in South Africa

G KRUSS, I PETERSEN, J RUST and A TELE

We address the following question in this policy brief: ‘How are current public policy goals and instruments aligned with the Department of Science and Technology’s (DST) goal to promote science, technology and innovation (STI)-enabled inclusive development through a national IID strategy?’ Addressing this question is a major challenge considering the complexity of South Africa’s development policy framework.

Improving the probability of policy acceptance and implementation: Lessons from the Gauteng Department of Education

T TWALO

This policy brief draws policy implementation lessons from the broader needs analysis study. The GDE had identified human, systemic and structural challenges that constrained its ability to excel in delivering on its mandate. The human challenges included lack of accountability and a compliance-driven approach by many officials.

Understanding occupational choices of low-skilled workers in South Africa

B MNCWANGO, M VISSER, S NGANDU and A PATERSON

This policy brief explores some attitudinal factors based on work-seekers’ reflections on the most valued job attributes that affect workseekers’
labour market behaviour. It also recommends revisions of current labour market policies to incorporate the role of attitudinal factors. Such revisions could lead to improved policy outcomes.

Informing policy-making with systematic reviews and evidence gap maps

K YU and I MAGAYA

This policy brief introduces systematic reviews and evidence gap maps as two relatively new types of synthesised evidence. It explains why these synthesis tools are particularly valuable for the policy-making processes. It offers a brief history of their development, their main characteristics and procedures, as well as the main resources where they are found.

Policy support for innovation in the South African tourism sector

I BOOYENS and CM ROGERSON

This policy brief draws attention to the importance of innovation in the tourism sector based on evidence from a Western Cape study carried out under the auspices of the University of Johannesburg (Booyens & Rogerson 2016a, b).  Tourism has been described as a ‘success story’ of the new South Africa as a result of its strong economic performance alongside growth in services.

Body-image perception and dissatisfaction: Acknowledging the sociocultural factors of -obesity in South Africa

ZJ MCHIZA, D LABADARIOS, W PARKER and N BIKITSHA

In light of these data, the DoH needs to acknowledge the effects that social and cultural norms of body size have on the development of underweight, overweight and obesity in the country.The recommendations in this policy briefhould be considered and implemented within the context of current interventions in addressing overweight and besity in the country.

HIV knowledge, attitudes and behaviours: The situation at technical, vocational education and training (TVET) colleges in South Africa

G SETSWE, N MBELLE, J MTHEMBU, M MABASO, S SIFUNDA, V MADUNA

This policy brief was prepared by the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) on behalf of HEAIDS. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of USAID SHIPP and NACOSA.

Focus on 'the family'? How South African family policy could fail us

T MORISON, I LYNCH and C MACLEOD

Some of the unintended consequences that may result from the preoccupation with preserving the nuclear family are discussed in this brief, drawing on recent research on reproductive decisionmaking and sexual and reproductive justice Lynch & Morison, forthcoming; Macleod 2011, 2015; Macleod & Vincent 2014; Morison & Macleod 2015; Morison et al. 2015).

Accelerating tuberculosis control: Addressing the structural drivers of the disease in South Africa

S MOYO and T REHLE

Drawing on international and national literature, we discuss the burden of TB in South Africa, highlight the impact of structural factors in driving and sustaining the disease burden, and conclude with recommendations for trengthening current policies to address these structural drivers as part of efforts to eliminate TB in the ountry.

Winners and losers: Gender disparities in the South African labour market

C NDINDA and S NGANDU

Drawing on data from Quarterly Labour Force Surveys and the 2011 Census conducted by Statistics South Africa, this policy brief interrogates the gains women have made in entering different sectors of the economy and their location in those sectors. Given the global context of women’s participation in the labour market, the fundamental question that this policy brief addresses is as follows: Do the changes in women’s occupational participation represent a holistic shift with respect to other indicators of labour-market participation?

Teenage pregnancy in South Africa: Reducing prevalence and lowering maternal mortality rates

P REDDY, R SEWPAUL and K JONAS

This policy brief identifies a number of policy interventions that can (1) lower the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in South Africa and (2) provide better prenatal care for teenagers who are pregnant.

How can universities and colleges improve the alignment between education and work?

G KRUSS and I PETERSEN

This policy brief proposes a framework that can be used by PSET organisations and skills planners to analyse the current alignment – or misalignment – between labour market demand and skills supply within a system. This framework provides a basis for identifying appropriate change mechanisms and intervention strategies to promote better alignment.

Disrupting Cycles of Violence in Africa - Unlocking Complex Dimensions of Human Security

S. MAPHOSA, A. KEASLEY, Y. SLIEP, M. HAAVELSRUD, C. HEMSON, V. MJIMBA, O. BIALOSTOCKA AND S. MUTANGA

This policy brief discusses a range of negotiation processes that can mobilise communities to engage in social actions that supply in their own security and peace-making needs. The discussion generates crucial insights and knowledge that may inform and strengthen community-based ‘whole-of-society’ strategies for the prevention of violence and its gendered dynamics.

Safe and sound? Violence and South African education

TL ZUZE, V REDDY, A JUAN, S HANNAN, M VISSER and L WINNAAR

The brief therefore recommends that policies to promote safe and drug-free schooling environments be closely monitored and periodically reviewed so that they remain relevant to the needs of schools and communities.

Rural water access and management in southern Africa: Does community involvement offer alternatives?

S KARUAIHE, M MOLOKOMME, J MATHEBULA and L SAKOANE

This policy brief reviews current and past approaches to rural water access and management in southern Africa, and suggests recommendations, using Namibia and South Africa as case studies.

Does it matter whether students enjoy learning science? Exploring student attitudes towards science in South Africa

A JUAN, V REDDY, TL ZUZE, C NAMOME and S HANNAN

Attitudes towards science are seen as key components of an individual's scientific literacy but are often overlooked in favour of achievement scores.While achievement scores convey levels of problem-solving skills and intelligence,attitudes convey the emotional evaluations of science and have a powerful influence  on behaviour, either  facilitating or hindering the learning  process.The 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)1 was used to investigate four broad categories of attitudes: value of science, enjoyment of science, confidence in ability to learn science (self-efficacy),and physiological states experienced when engaging in science tasks (anxiety, stress or excitement).

Female condoms in South Africa: Promoting availability and use

FM GUERRA, LC SIMBAYI and JC MTHEMBU

This brief suggests that the expansion of female condom programming could  be both strategically beneficial in reducing new HIV infections while also upholding the SRHR of South Africa’s women and girls. It makes some recommendations for both policy and programming efforts.

Have we reached gender equity in mathematics education? Evidence from TIMSS South Africa 2011

TL ZUZE, V REDDY, A JUAN, M VISSER, L WINNAAR AND S HANNAN

This policy brief examines gender differences in South African education as documented in the 2011 Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). On average, across South Africa, gender differences in TIMSS mathematics test results were small or non-existent. When fee-paying, no-fee and independent schools were compared, boys and girls within each school grouping achieved similar results.

Museums in the palaces of the Cameroon Grassfields: Concerns about accessibility and sustainability

MA FUBAH

This policy brief argues for the construction of museums outside palaces in order to give visitors and the community an opportunity to fully explore museum collections and to facilitate sustainability of the museum for present and future generations.

Rewarding participants in public works programmes: Cash or food transfers?

S MOTALA, S NGANDU, S MASVAURE, T HART and Y GWENHURE

One specific component of the study focused on examining the comparative performance of cash versus food transfers with respect to household poverty, quality of life and food security in terms of EPWP benefits for participating households. This policy brief addresses findings in respect of this component.

Traditional male circumcision: How to prevent deaths and complications

M DOUGLAS, TX MALULEKE, D LABADARIOS, C HONGORO and A NYEMBEZI

This policy brief emanates from an intervention study that was conducted to develop a male circumcision healthpromotion programme in the Libode rural communities of the Eastern Cape province in the period 2009–2013.

Small-scale livestock farming and primary animal healthcare in South Africa: Challenges and policy implications

V REDDY, S GOGA, S CHIUMBU and F TIMOL

The policy recommendations provided in this brief emerge out of a pilot study on gendered dimensions of farming systems, rural farmer households and food security conducted in Marble Hall and Rhenosterkop, Limpopo, and a follow-up policy dialogue on PAHC in South Africa.

Teenage pregnancy in South Africa: Reducing prevalence and lowering maternal mortality rates

P REDDY, R SEWPAUL and K JONAS

This policy brief identifies a number of policy interventions that can (1) lower the prevalence of teenage pregnancy in South Africa and (2) provide better prenatal care for teenagers who are pregnant.

How can universities and colleges improve the alignment between education and work? A systemic, demandled approach to skills planning and development

G KRUSS and I PETERSEN

This policy brief proposes a framework that can be used by PSET organisations and skills planners to analyse the current alignment – or misalignment – between labour market demand and skills supply within a system. This framework provides a basis for identifying appropriate change mechanisms and intervention strategies to promote better alignment.

Body-image perception and dissatisfaction: Acknowledging the sociocultural factors of obesity in South Africa


ZJ MCHIZA, D LABADARIOS, W PARKER and N BIKITSHA

With regard to body-weight management, there is good reason to believe that implementing the recommendations in this policy brief would not only improve the personal well-being of the citizenry, but would also enhance the economy of the country by curtailing the costs and healthcare needs related to managing NCDs and their complications.

Winners and losers: Gender disparities in the South African labour market

C NDINDA and S NGANDU

Given the global context of women’s participation in the labour market, the fundamental question that this policy brief addresses is as follows: Do the changes in women’s occupational participation represent a holistic shift with respect to other indicators of labour-market participation?

Focus on 'the family'? How South African family policy could fail us

T MORISON, I LYNCH and C MACLEOD

This policy brief draws on research projects conducted by Tracy Morison, Ingrid Lynch and Catriona Macleod with funding support from the South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa; the DST-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development; and the Ford Foundation.

Levering m-governance innovations for active citizenship engagement

E SEKYERE, O TSHITIZA and T HART

This policy brief focuses on the opportunities to give leverage to mobile phone innovations as a means of mitigating these constraints to effective and timeous communication between government and citizens. The brief considers the benefits that could accrue to both citizens and government; examines international evidence of mobile governance (m-governance)1 innovations; presents key research findings from the study by the NDA and the HSRC; and makes policy recommendations for the way forward.

How inclusive is Namibia's inclusive education policy?

O BIALOSTOCKA

This policy brief examines the scope of Namibia’s inclusive education policy and suggests revisions to make it more comprehensive. It is based on a study conducted in primary schools in Namibia’s Kunene region that was designed to understand people’s lived experiences with respect to multiculturalism in the school setting.

Understanding occupational choices of low-skilled workers in South Africa

B MNCWANGO, M VISSER, S NGANDU and A PATERSON

This policy brief explores some attitudinal factors based on work-seekers’ reflections on the most valued job attributes that affect workseekers’ labour market behaviour. It also recommends revisions of current labour market policies to incorporate the role of attitudinal factors.

Addressing Terrorism Threats around the Globe (What Africa could Learn from some of the Recent Terrorist Attacks around the World)

Dr Nicasius Achu Check
This policy brief examines the recent terrorist attacks in Africa and what Africa should do to prevent them. It equally examines global counter-terrorism measures and it implications for Africa.

Governing African Extractives for Development - Lessons from Ghana's Petroleum Revenue Management Law

Olivia Lwabukuna
This was driven by policy aimed at using Ghana’s new hydrocarbon wealth to achieve viable socioeconomic development. Whilst the policy and its associated frameworks are laudable, hurdles remain in implementing, institutionalising and overseeing them. Cooperation between public, private and civil society stakeholders will be a strong pillar in ensuring the success of the framework.

Fostering an inclusive development agenda in South Africa: Citizen voices and government policy responses

Y.D.Davids, B.Roberts, J.Struwig
The purpose of this policy brief is to identify the policy issues that are important to South Africans and to ascertain whether government is responsive to these challenges. Results from the South African Social Attitudes Survey series (2003 to 2014) are used to examine public opinion about the most important challenges facing the country as well as the public’s satisfaction with government performance. Download the policy brief.

Does it matter whether students enjoy learning science? Exploring student attitudes towards science in South Africa

A.Juan, V.Reddy, T.L.Zuze, C.Wokadala, S.Hannan
Attitudes towards science are seen as key components of an individual’s scientific literacy but are often overlooked in favour of achievement scores. While achievement scores convey levels of problem-solving skills and intelligence, attitudes convey the
emotional evaluations of science and have a powerful influence on behaviour, either facilitating or hindering the learning process. Download the policy brief.

Female condoms in South Africa: Promoting availability and use

F.M.Guerra, L.C.Simbayi, J.C.Mthembu
The female condom is the only female-controlled device that offers women dual protection from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and from unplanned pregnancy. Access to female condoms is thus central to protecting the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of South Africa’s women and girls. Download the policy brief.

Body-image perception and dissatisfaction: acknowledging the sociocultural factors of obesity in South Africa

Z.J.Mchiza, D.Labadarios, W.Parker, N.Bikitsha
This policy brief recommends that the South African Department of Health endorse the necessary strategies directed at (i) educating South Africans on how to correctly identify their body size; (ii) increasing awareness of a normal/healthy body size; (iii)advocating the importance of adopting a healthy body size; and (iv)restricting the use of the current terminology (i.e. ‘lose or gain weight’) in South African health messages. Download the policy brief.

Rewarding participants in public works programmes: Cash or food transfers?

S.Motala, S.Ngandu, S.Masvaure, T.Hart, Y.Gwenhure
What is the best way for public works programmes to remunerate participants so that they can achieve improved socio-economic status? Drawing on evidence from a study conducted by the HSRC on the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) Phase 2 (2009–2014) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), this policy brief considers the appropriateness and outcomes of the programme’s wagetransfer mechanisms – namely, ‘wages’ in cash or as in-kind payments in the form of food parcels – by contrasting their socio-economic outcomes across programme beneficiaries. Download the policy brief.

Traditional male circumcision: how to prevent deaths and complications

M.Douglas, T.X.Maluleke, D.Labadarios, C.Hongoro, A.Nyembezi
There is a need to include traditional leaders as custodians of the circumcision custom in the planning and development of intervention programmes to reduce both the high mortality rates and the incidence of injury associated with the practice. The deaths of circumcision initiates are preventable provided there is mutual respect, understanding, cooperation and common purpose between the healthcare systems, the initiates themselves, traditional leaders and the local communities. Download the policy brief.

Rural water access and management in southern Africa: Does community involvement offer alternatives?

S.Karuaihe, M.Molokomme, J.Mathebula, L.Sakoane
Water scarcity is a major problem for Namibia and South Africa as both countries are classified as ‘water stressed’ based on their per capita water availability. The situation is exacerbated by the increase in water demand in excess of supply. Water provision in both countries has traditionally relied on supply-side approaches, and the potential for expansion is becoming dim, making efforts towards demand-management approaches more necessary and feasible (Karuaihe et al. 2012). Download the policy brief.

Safe and sound? Violence and South African education

T.L.Zuze, V.Reddy, A.Juan, S.Hannan, M.Visser, L.Winnaar
This policy brief makes an argument for the expansion of policy efforts that ensure the safety of all learners at South African schools. Violence in schools is considered more serious in South Africa than elsewhere. A clear link between the prevalence of school-related violence and high crime levels in communities was also found. Compared to public schools, independent schools were somewhat safer, but even in these schools, one in five learners reported being bullied on a weekly basis. The socio-economic status of learners was another important indicator for potential exposure to acts of violence. Download the policy brief.


2015 Policy Briefs

You can view and download all the 2015 Policy Briefs here.

2014 Briefs

You can view and download all the 2014 Policy Briefs here.

Policy Briefs archive 2008 to 2013

The Policy Briefs archive contains all briefs published between 2008 and 2013.

RIA Research Outputs and other outputs

View RIA's Research Outputs, media coverage and events.