HSRC Integrated Annual Report 2018/2019

Profile of DGSD DGSD is a knowledge hub for high quality, independent, strategic and relevant research addressing national, continental and international issues of democracy and development; governance and service delivery; social cohesion; poverty; inequality; and social justice. The research outputs from DGSD propose strategic interventions using qualitative and quantitative methodologies that assist policy makers in making informed choices and decisions in response to political and socio-economic challenges, with a specific focus on how to improve the lives of marginalised and vulnerable individuals and communities as is required by the Constitution of the country. The work produced, and outputs generated, are of value to national, provincial and local government and to the wider academic community, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and civil society. Through the use of comparative research, South African issues are also addressed through continental and global lenses. The programme is driven by three pillars: democracy; governance; and service delivery, with a cross- cutting focus on understanding social cohesion and unity in diversity . Research Highlights State of the Nation, Poverty and Inequality: Diagnosis, Prognosis, Responses Since the launch of the first edition of the HSRC’s annual flagship publication, State of the Nation, in 2003, the series has captured the attention of public intellectuals, scholars, policymakers and the media in South Africa and abroad. Internationally, the series has been acclaimed as one of the most in-depth and important independent analyses of the national agenda through the lens of the South African political, economic and social context. In his Foreword to the 2018 volume under the title Poverty & Inequality: Diagnosis, Prognosis, Responses , Alec Irwin described it as “… a sober, scholarly and immensely powerful reminder of the reality that poverty and inequality (P&I) remain our major structural challenges in the way of that noble aspiration. This is the basis for the collective work and dialogue that must result in a paradigm realignment”. Volume editors Crain Soudien, Vasu Reddy and Ingrid Woolard included chapters looking at a range of topics from a broad perspective, both historically and within an international context, from conceptual and ethical issues such as taxing wealth and addressing socioeconomic rights, to P&I as local and community-level phenomena, such as civic participation in Khayelitsha. Public dialogue: ‘Landless women of South Africa: Expropriation of land without compensation’ In 2018 Parliament endorsed a motion to expropriate land without compensation. This has direct implications for South African women, who have been disempowered by patriarchy over centuries. The current epoch provides a chance to reflect on legislation and its impact on women and how it has contributed to inequality and perpetuated DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND SERVICE DELIVERY (DGSD) Figure 4: Spectrum of Work of the DGSD Democracy Governance Service delivery HSRC INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 / 17