SWOP Institute

The Society,Work & Politics Institute (SWOP). Research entity at the University of the Witwatersrand.

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The fourth episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy, is now available everywhere you listen to your podcasts.

Starting with Johannesburg’s struggles to provide functioning fire services, the episode explores procurement failures, political interference and the unequal consequences of administrative neglect. It asks how appointments could be made more transparent, why outsourcing still requires expertise within municipalities, and what concrete commitments voters should demand when parties promise capable, ethical government.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
Dr Sithembile Mbete, Executive Director, (PARI)
Dr Sarah Meny-Gibert, State Reform programme lead, (PARI)
@Waseem_Wala, Researcher, (PARI)

Produced By: Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The fourth episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy, is now available everywhere you listen to your podcasts.

Starting with Johannesburg’s struggles to provide functioning fire services, the episode explores procurement failures, political interference and the unequal consequences of administrative neglect. It asks how appointments could be made more transparent, why outsourcing still requires expertise within municipalities, and what concrete commitments voters should demand when parties promise capable, ethical government.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
Dr Sithembile Mbete, Executive Director, (PARI)
Dr Sarah Meny-Gibert, State Reform programme lead, (PARI)
@Waseem_Wala, Researcher, (PARI)

Produced By: Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[SWOP Institute @SWOPInstitute]

Join us for the 2026 October Forum. Details and registration (online and in-person) at https://t.co/OqjvDPTpnj

[SWOP Institute @SWOPInstitute]

Keynote conversation, David Scott (Columbia) and Michael Hardt (Duke) with Noor Nieftagodien (Wits History Workshop). Go to our website for registration (online and in-person): https://t.co/DunoqBxMmZ

[SWOP Institute @SWOPInstitute]

Wits Artisanal and Small-scale Mining Research Forum

Anna Gowera will deliver a presentation entitled “Tracing the Hidden Ecologies of Informal Chrome Mining: People, Place and Space“ on 22 October, 13h00, Wits Mining Institute. Registration at https://t.co/w30csFQ3TF

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The third episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy, comes out on the 13th of October.

Talking to Tracy Ledger and Jugal Mahabir, this episode does a deep dive into water, electricity, affordability, free basic services, alternative energy and municipal infrastructure. It examines what affects municipal finances, and how the critical need for affordable services could be prioritised by municipalities to support development and livelihoods.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
@drtracyledger, Just Transition programme lead, (PARI)
Jugal Mahabir, Local Government programme lead, (PARI)

Produced By:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The third episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy, comes out tomorrow.

Talking to Tracy Ledger and Jugal Mahabir, this episode does a deep dive into water, electricity, affordability, free basic services, alternative energy and municipal infrastructure. It examines what affects municipal finances, and how the critical need for affordable services could be prioritised by municipalities to support development and livelihoods.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
@drtracyledger, Just Transition programme lead, (PARI)
Jugal Mahabir, Local Government programme lead, (PARI)

Produced By:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The third episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy, comes out tomorrow.

Talking to Tracy Ledger and Jugal Mahabir, this episode does a deep dive into water, electricity, affordability, free basic services, alternative energy and municipal infrastructure. It examines what affects municipal finances, and how the critical need for affordable services could be prioritised by municipalities to support development and livelihoods.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
@drtracyledger, Just Transition programme lead, (PARI)
Jugal Mahabir, Local Government programme lead, (PARI)

Produced By:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

Colloquium | Local Government in South Africa and Beyond

Panel 2: Local Government as a Site of Political Contestation

This session unpacks the ways in which we can think of local government as a democratic entity. What do residents expect from it? How has it changed? Where does the battle for a developmental local government take place? What institutions negotiate and collaborate with local government?

@TwendeMnE @SWOPInstitute

[SWOP Institute @SWOPInstitute]

The 70s and Us

28 October (5:30pm for 6pm until 8pm)

Keynote conversation: David Scott (University of Columbia) and Michael Hardt (Duke University), facilitated by Noor Nieftagodien (History Workshop, Wits).

29 October (9am – 5pm) - Roundtables

https://t.co/DunoqBxMmZ

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The second episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy, comes out on the 6th of October.

Looking at PARI’s work on land governance, Daniel Sher and Gaynor Paradza compare manifesto promises concerning housing, land rights, informal settlements, municipal land, commercial interests and climate change. They are joined by Federica Duca, who brings insights into spatial justice in terms of the uneven relationships between the state and society.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
Dr Federica Duca, Academic Engagement Programme Lead, (PARI)
Dr @GaynorParadza, Land Governance Programme Lead, (PARI)
Daniel Sher, Researcher (PARI)

Produced By:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The second episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy, comes out on the 6th of October.

Looking at PARI’s work on land governance, Daniel Sher and Gaynor Paradza compare manifesto promises concerning housing, land rights, informal settlements, municipal land, commercial interests and climate change. They are joined by Federica Duca, who brings insights into spatial justice in terms of the uneven relationships between the state and society.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
Dr Federica Duca, Academic Engagement Programme Lead, (PARI)
Dr @GaynorParadza, Land Governance Programme Lead, (PARI)
Daniel Sher, Researcher (PARI)

Produced By:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

The second episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy comes out tomorrow.

Looking at PARI’s work on land governance, Daniel Sher and Gaynor Paradza compare manifesto promises concerning housing, land rights, informal settlements, municipal land, commercial interests and climate change. They are joined by Federica Duca, who brings insights into spatial justice in terms of the uneven relationships between the state and society.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
Dr Federica Duca, Academic Engagement Programme Lead, (PARI)
Dr @GaynorParadza, Land Governance Programme Lead, (PARI)
Daniel Sher, Researcher (PARI)

Produced By:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

🎙️ The Just Access podcast is back, and this season, we’re talking democracy.

‘The Real Democracy’ is a new season exploring the importance of the upcoming local government elections and what they mean for you. Across the season, PARI researchers will unpack the issues, institutions and choices that shape local government, helping you make a more informed decision at the polls and stay an empowered citizen part of South Africa’s democracy.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
Dr Sithembile Mbete, Executive Director (PARI)
Jugal Mahabir, Local Government Programme Lead (PARI)
Kate Tissington, Researcher (PARI)

Produced by:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

🎙️ The first episode of Just Access: The Real Democracy is out tomorrow on all major platforms.

Host:
@TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute)

Guests:
Dr Sithembile Mbete, Executive Director (PARI)
Jugal Mahabir, Local Government Programme Lead (PARI)
Kate Tissington, Researcher (PARI)

Produced by:
Richard Rumney

#JustAccessPodcast #LocalGovernment #Elections2026 #LGE2026

[SWOP Institute @SWOPInstitute]

Images from today’s seminar “Undoing the Racial Contract in Education”, with Sharon Walker, Arathi Sriprakash and @lovezamazama

[SWOP Institute @SWOPInstitute]

Join us for a seminar co-hosted by Global Action for Racial Justice in Education (GARJE), CAWE (UJ), and SWOP

Speakers: Sharon Walker (Uni of Bristol), Arathi Sriprakash (Uni of Oxford), Zama Mthunzi @lovezamazama (ActionAid Intl)
27 Aug, 1pm 
RSVP to [email protected]

[PARI - Public Affairs Research Institute @PARInstitute]

Joburg Urban Crisis Seminar | Civil Society Engagement with Local Government: Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia (KAAX)

@KopanangAfrica is a national coalition of civil society organisations, community activists, migrant-led groups, workers, and individuals who have come together to fight xenophobia, racism, and gender-based violence in South Africa.

🎤 Speaker: Dale T. McKinley (International Labour, Research and Information Group)
💬 Discussant: Obvious Katsaura (@WitsUniversity)

🗓️ Date: August 20, 1-3pm.
🔗 Register to attend online: https://t.co/e1Y5MSOf7O
👤 Register to join in-person: https://t.co/kIuJe2nC19

https://t.co/Pjv0KjhCZf

@SWOPinstitute @GCR_Observatory

[Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia KAAX @KopanangAfrica]

Joburg Urban Crisis Seminar |

Join KAAX for a discussion on civil society engagement with local government.

🎤 Dale McKinley

🗓️ 20 Aug | 1–3pm
🔗 Online: https://t.co/aUhmOaGddr

👤 In-person: https://t.co/Xyz7Bgn2xc

@SWOPinstitute @GCR_Observatory

[SWOP Institute @SWOPInstitute]

#UrbanCrisis Seminar Series

Civil Society Engagement with Local Government: Kopanang Africa Against Xenophobia
20 August, 1-3pm, PARI offices or online. Details and registration at https://t.co/wj2A7XeHeQ