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

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

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

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

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

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

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

🎙️ 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

🎙️ 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

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: pari.zoom.us/meeting/registe… 👤 Register to join in-person: forms.gle/Fz8sGATkprbYRxiz8 pari.org.za/wp-content/uploa… @SWOPinstitute @GCR_Observatory

A bonus episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. This episode focuses on how unreliable and unaffordable basic services shape the realities of women-led households and highlights how opportunities for youth linked to the transition are often short-term, poorly structured, and disconnected from meaningful long-term employment. Listen to the episode here: pari.org.za/podcast-just-acc… Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Nonhlanhla Mathibela, Researcher, PARI Murial Kwena, Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast

The eighth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out tomorrow, the 14th of March on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 8: Designing Justice Inside municipalities, can co-production rebuild trust? Kate Tissington and Mahlatse Rampedi explore collaboration, accountability and resilience where the state is thin. Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Kate Tissington, Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #PublicParticipation

The 8th episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out on all major podcasting platforms. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-acc… Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Kate Tissington, Researcher, PARI Mahlatse Rampedi, Researcher, PARI Produced by: Richard Rumney #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #PublicParticipation

The 8th episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out on all major podcasting platforms. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-acc… Host: @TasneemEssop_ (@SWOPinstitute) Guests: Kate Tissington, Researcher, PARI Mahlatse Rampedi, Researcher, PARI Produced by: Richard Rumney #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #PublicParticipation

In today's JHB Urban Crisis Roundtable, we examined civil society organisations contesting local elections as a response to crisis in local governments. Discussants challenged narrow views of councillor failure, highlighting how governance can be shaped by austerity, political patronage and survival. There were also reflections on the promises and failures of local governments, councillors and tension of CSOs building local power amid fragmentation, co-option and growing public distrust of political actors. @GCR_Observatory @SWOPinstitute

The sixth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 6: From Below In Mpumalanga, Mahlatse Rampedi shows the transition from below - women-led solar cooperatives and local NGOs - where affordability, ownership and participation decide who benefits. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-acc… Host: @TasneemEssop_ ( @SWOPinstitute ) Guest: @Hlatse_r , Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #NGO

The sixth episode of Just Access: The Real Transition (A PARI podcast) is out now on all major podcasting platforms. Episode 6: From Below In Mpumalanga, Mahlatse Rampedi shows the transition from below - women-led solar cooperatives and local NGOs - where affordability, ownership and participation decide who benefits. Tap the link to listen: pari.org.za/podcast-just-acc… Host: @TasneemEssop_ ( @SWOPinstitute ) Guest: @Hlatse_r , Researcher, PARI #JustEnergyTransition #JustTransitionPodcast #aPARIpodcast #NGO