since its inception in 2010, the mapungubwe institute for

MISTRA TEN-YEAR REVIEW AND

20202021ANNUAL REPORT

Since its inception in 2010, the Mapungubwe

Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA)

has assumed a leading position in long-term,

strategic and transdisciplinary research

through generating research and creating

platforms for engagement.

TABLE OFCONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL OF ADVISORS

4

MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

6

PREFACE BY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 8TEN YEARS: AN OVERVIEW OF STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND REPORTS

10

• CIVILISATIONS, ETHICS, THE STATE AND NATION-BUILDING

13

• RESEARCHONSOCIO-ECONOMICDEVELOPMENTANDPOLITICALRELATIONS

23

• EXAMINATIONSOFPOLITICALECONOMYOFMININGANDENERGY

31

• RESEARCHWORKINPROGRESS 38

TEN YEARS OF MAKING AN IMPACT 40• TENYEARSOFSTRATEGICREFLECTIONS:RETREATS,ROUNDTABLESANDCONFERENCES

42

• TENYEARSOFFACILITATINGSOCIALPARTNERSHIPS

54

• TENYEARSOFEVENTSADDRESSEDBYMISTRA’SEXECUTIVEDIRECTOR

57

• TENYEARSOFGLOBALRANKING 60• TENYEARSOFCONSULTANCIESANDCOMMISSIONEDRESEARCH

62

• TENYEARSOFFOSTERINGTALENT:MISTRA’SINTERNSHIPPROGRAMME 2011–2021

69

ORGANISATION: THE MARCH 2020–2021 REPORTING PERIOD

72

•GOVERNANCE 74• STAFF 78• COMMUNICATIONSANDOUTREACH 79• FUNDINGANDRESOURCES 82

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 84

GERALDINE FRASER MOLEKETI

MESSAGE FROM THECHAIRPERSON OF THE COUNCIL OF ADVISORSStanding at the virtual gateway to MISTRA’s next decade is indeed a sobering moment. We feel the responsibility which rests on our shoulders as we reflect on the past ten years and look forward to the next decade of MISTRA’s existence. We ask ourselves: how well have we done in contributing to long-term, strategic transdisciplinary thinking in South Africa? And just as importantly, how can our contribution be even more significant over the next ten years?

Thisannualreportbringstogetherreflectionsonboththepastyearandthe

pastdecade.ItispossibletoprovidehereonlyglimpsesoftheworkMISTRA

hasundertaken.Weareconfidentthatthedepthandsignificanceofthe

researchproducedwillcontinuetocontributetoadeeperunderstandingof

SouthAfrica’slong-termjourneytoademocraticandjustsociety.

Sinceitsformationin2010,MISTRAhasbeenattheforefrontofconducting

researchinSouthAfricaintheareasofpoliticaleconomy,thehumanities

andtheapplicationofnaturalsciences.TheInstitutehasdonesoinacontext

ofemergingandre-emergingepidemics,climatechange,unprecedented

technologicaladvancementsandeconomicandpoliticalupheaval.

Thisyear,theCouncilofAdvisorsonceagainreflectedontheenvironment

inwhichMISTRAoperatesandwhatitmeansfortheobjectivesofthe

Institute.Membersdeliberatedonpertinentthemessuchastheglobal

SINCE ITS FORMATION IN 2010, MISTRA HAS BEEN AT THE FOREFRONT OF CONDUCTING RESEARCH IN

SOUTH AFRICA IN THE AREAS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY, THE HUMANITIES AND THE APPLICATION OF NATURAL

SCIENCES.

anddomesticimpactofCOVID-19;SouthAfrica’s

reconstructionandrecoveryandthepossibilitiesfor

socialcompacting.Thesedeliberationsprovedtobe

invigoratingandinspiringandaplatformforsharing

arangeofperspectivesandideasintheInstitute.

Duringthereportingperiod,MISTRAhascontinued

toberesponsivetotheneedtoadvanceSouth

Africa’sdevelopmenttrajectory.TheCouncilof

AdvisorsisproudthattheInstitutecarriedouta

numberofcommissionedresearchassignments

andpublishedthreecoreresearchreportsand

accompanyingpolicybriefs:

• LandinSouthAfrica:ContestedMeaningsand

NationFormationexamineshowlandandagrarian

reformimpactsnation-buildingandcitizenship.

• Arts,NationalIdentitiesandDemocracyexamines

theroleofartsandcultureindevelopment,and

specificallyitsvalueinconsolidatingournascent

democracy.

• Leap4.0:AfricanPerspectivesontheFourth

IndustrialRevolutionisMISTRA’sunique

MAPUNGUBWE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC REFLECTION (MISTRA) ANNUAL REPORT 2020 • 2021

4

contributiontoidentifyingthechallengesandopportunities

the4IRpresentstoSouthAfricaandtherestoftheAfrican

continent.

AstheleadresearchpartneroftheIndlulamithiSouthAfrica

Scenarios2030,MISTRAcontinuestorefinepossiblefuture

scenariosforthecountry.Insodoing,itseekstodevelop

plausibletrajectoriesforSouthAfrica.

Akeyfunctionofanyresearchinstitutionisitsabilitynotonly

togenerateresearch,butalsotodisseminateitsworkand

influencethestrategiesofabroadrangeofstakeholders.

Besidesscenario-planningexercises,MISTRAhasbecomethe

‘go-to’organisationforcommissionedresearchonsuchissues

associalcompacting.

Throughinstitutionalcollaborationsandpartnerships,MISTRA

hasgainedtractionwithawiderangeofacademicand

researchorganisations,aswellasindividuals,allofwhomare

acknowledgedinthisreport.

Aswemoveintotheseconddecade,MISTRAwillcontinue

beingresponsivetothepolitical,scientificandhuman

challengesfacingthecountryandourcontinent.

Aswelookbackontheyear,wepaytributetotheMembersof

CouncilwhohaveservedMISTRAunwaveringly.TheInstitute

isindeedenrichedbyyourexpertise,visionanddiverse

perspectives.

TheMISTRAcommunity–itsCouncil,Board,management,

staffandall-roundpartners–hasonceagaindeliveredon

theInstitute’smission,strategyandplanthroughthepast

year.Inthisway,ithasadvancedSouthAfrica’sdevelopment

byaddressingthecomplexchallengesofnationformation,

economicgrowth,socialequity,scienceandtechnologyaswe

gearuptothepost-pandemicworld.

Toourdonors,sponsorsandallthosewhocontributeso

generouslytosustainingandadvancingourwork,wedeeply

appreciateyourconfidenceandinvestmentinourefforts.

Geraldine Fraser MoleketiChairpersonoftheBoardofAdvisors

AS WE MOVE INTO THE SECOND DECADE, MISTRA WILL CONTINUE BEING RESPONSIVE TO THE POLITICAL, SCIENTIFIC AND HUMAN CHALLENGES FACING THE COUNTRY AND OUR CONTINENT.


5

PROF SIBUSISO VIL-NKOMO

MESSAGE FROM THECHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES‘South Africa has not had a think tank that devotes its attention to strategic approaches to the country’s challenges, from a long-term perspective.’ This statement, released by the founders of the Mapungubwe Institute more than ten years ago, remains to this day the cardinal, animating principle of MISTRA. The Institute was born at a moment when South Africa’s democracy seemed to have taken the wrong fork. The universal accolades which poured in as we launched this organisation bore testimony to the need for such a centre of strategic reflection.

Committedtopreservingandenhancingthebrainpowerwhichdidbattle

againstthebrawnoftheapartheidmachinery,weunashamedlycommittedto

theidealsmillionsofSouthAfricansfoughtandsacrificedsomuchfor.

MISTRA’sindependentresearchagendahasbeenguidedbytheneedtobuild

anewsocietybasedonnon-racialism,unity,respectfordiversity,democracy

andsocialjustice.Thisindependencehasallowedustobringlaser-like

attentiontoissueswithoutfearingpossiblereprisals.Itisanindependence

whichfuturegenerationsofMISTRAleadershipandstaffmustguardjealously.

Astheworldcontendswiththenumerousissuesofthisdecade–notably

COVID-19,rapidchangesintechnologyundertherubricoftheFourthIndustrial

Revolutionandgeopoliticalrealignmentimpactingonallpartsoftheworld–South

Africaalsohastoaddressthechallengesofpoverty,hunger,extremeinequality

andunemploymentwhilecreatingasociallycohesivenationandacapablestate.

THE PARTICIPATION OF ALL THE PEOPLES OF SOUTH AFRICA IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CREATION OF A GLOBALLY COMPETITIVE NATION AND FOR FINDING SOLUTIONS TO

ITS KEY SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES.

MISTRAiswelllocatedtohelpoursocietyaddressthese

challenges.Itsmanagementandstaffworktoaddress

theseissuesoftodaywiththelong-terminmind.In

thesepasttenyearsMISTRAhasproducedsomeofthe

mostfar-sightedreportstobeseen.Iciteonlytwo:

• onsocialcompacting,commissionedin2014by

theNationalPlanningCommission,whichtothis

dayremainsthestartingpointofanyconversation

onsocialcohesion;and

• onepidemicsandAfricanhealthsystems,which

waslaunchedin2019wellbeforetheworldwas

galvanisedaroundCOVID-19.

ItisnowonderthatwecanstillsaythatMISTRA

isanideawhosetimehascome.Itsoutputhas

beenacknowledgedbyacademia,government,

business,labourandothersectionsofcivilsociety.

TheUniversityofPennsylvania’sGlobalGoToThink

TankIndexReportissuedearlierthisyearlisted

MISTRAamongthebestthinktankswithpolicyand

institutionalresponsetoCOVID-19.


6

Allthisworkwouldnothavebeenpossiblewithoutthevast

networkofresearchersMISTRAhasbeenabletotapinto,

locallyandinternationally,fromavarietyofsectors.Ourown

staffresearchersareoverwhelminglyfemale,blackandyoung.

Inaddition,MISTRA’sethosoftransdisciplinarityisreflectedin

thecompositionofitsresearchteams.

AtthecentreofthiswebistheMISTRAmanagementandstaff:

adedicatedbandwhodiligentlyworklonghoursproducing

rigorousscholarshipwhichcanstanduptoanyscrutiny.Imust

especiallysingleouttheExecutiveDirector,JoelNetshitenzhe,

whohassteeredtheshipsinceMISTRA’sfoundingwithacumen,

balanceandrectitude.Ithasbeenmygreatjoytoworkwith

himfromthoseearly,uncertaindayswhenwestartedimagining

athinktankofthiscalibre.

MydeepappreciationtoallwhohaveservedontheCouncilof

AdvisersandtheBoardofTrusteesoverthesepastyears.You

havebroughttobearthethreeTswhichensurethesuccess

ofanyNPO:talent,timeandthetreasureofnetworksand

experience.ItwaswithsadnessthatwesaidgoodbyetoVuyo

MahlatiwhohadbeenappointedtotheBoardonlyafewmonths

beforeherdemise.WewelcomeProfessorShireenMotalawhose

appointmentasanewmemberoftheBoardwasbeingfinalised

aswebroughtthe2020/2021financialyeartoaclose.

Toallthefunderswhohavemadethisprojectthesuccessitis,

abigthankyou.ThevastpartofourfundingcamefromSouth

Africancorporatesandindividuals,aswellasclientswhomade

useofMISTRA’sconsultancyservices.MISTRAenterstheeleventh

yearofitsexistencefacingseveralchallengesonthefundingside,

duetotheimpactofCOVID-19ontheInstitute’straditionalfunding

base.Wecalluponyoutocontinuelookingonusfavourablyso

thatwecancompleteanotherdecadeofindependent,strategic

reflection.

TheparticipationofallthepeoplesofSouthAfricaisessential

forthecreationofagloballycompetitivenationandforfinding

solutionstoitskeysocio-economicchallenges.

Prof Sibusiso Vil-NkomoChairpersonoftheBoardofTrustees

THE VAST PART OF OUR FUNDING CAME FROM SOUTH AFRICAN CORPORATES AND INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS CLIENTS WHO MADE USE OF MISTRA’S CONSULTANCY SERVICES.


7

JOEL NETSHITENZHE

PREFACE BY THEEXECUTIVE DIRECTOREleven years ago, when we established the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA), we characterised it as ‘an idea whose time has come’. This was based on our assessment of the critical importance of long-term strategic research. But we did not, at that stage, anticipate the overwhelming interest among various sectors of South African society in high-level intellectual engagement which draws from various systems of knowledge and is not constrained by short-term considerations.

AsMISTRAwascommemoratingitstenthanniversaryduringthe2020/2021financialyear,theworldwasbeleagueredbytheCOVID-19pandemic.Thisexperiencehasfurtherreinforcedthecentralityofaneffective‘thinkindustry’withinourcountryandacrosstheglobe.IthasconfirmedMISTRA’suniqueandtimelyadditiontothelandscapeofstrategicresearchanddiscourseinSouthAfrica.

Thepandemichasbroughtintoboldreliefexistentialquestionsabouthumancivilisation,includingtheallocationofresearchresourcestocorethreatsfacinghumanity;thebi-directionalrelationshipbetweenhealthissuesandthepoliticaleconomy;socialinequality,andthelegitimacyandcapacityofthestateandsocietalleadersmorebroadly.

Atthesametime,humanityisgoingthroughmajortransitionsintheformoftheFourthIndustrialRevolutionandthechangingnatureofwork,aswellastheAnthropoceneandglobalwarming.

Inmanyrespects,SouthAfricaisaglobalsociallaboratory,wherethefault-linesofrace,classandgenderplayoutinanintensefashion.If,atinception,

AS REFLECTED IN THIS ANNUAL REPORT, MISTRA HAS OVER THE PAST TEN YEARS UNDERTAKEN

COMPREHENSIVE RESEARCH ON A VARIETY OF STRATEGIC ISSUES PERTAINING TO CIVILISATIONAL STUDIES, THE

APPLICATION OF NATURAL SCIENCES AND BROAD ISSUES OF THE POLITICAL ECONOMY.

theMapungubweInstitutewasanecessaryadditiontothethinkindustry,itsrelevancehasconsistentlybeenconfirmed,ashumanityiscalleduponmoreintenselytouseevidence-basedresearchandanalysistolearnfromandrespondappropriatelytosystemicchallenges.

AsreflectedinthisAnnualReport,MISTRAhasoverthepasttenyearsundertakencomprehensiveresearchonavarietyofstrategicissuespertainingtocivilisationalstudies,theapplicationofnaturalsciencesandbroadissuesofthepoliticaleconomy.Duringthe2020/2021financialyear,threebookswerelaunchedonAfricanperspectivesontheFourthIndustrialRevolution(4IR);onarts,nationalidentitiesanddemocracyinSouthAfrica;andonthecontestedmeaningsoflandandnationformation.

InadditiontoeventslinkedtotheseprojectssuchastheLEAP4.0Conventiononthe4IR,MISTRAorganisedactivitiesthathelpedtogivecurrencytoitsearlierresearchworkinthecontextoftheCOVID-19pandemic.ThepublicationonEpidemicsandtheHealthofAfricanNations,launchedin2019,wasavailedonopen-accessplatforms,andMISTRAconvenedawebinaronthelessonsithighlights.Similar


8

engagementswereorganisedontransdisciplinarity,andonbasiceducation.TheInstitutealsolaunchedareport,inpartnershipwiththeOpenSocietyFoundationforSouthAfrica(OSF-SA),assessingdemocraticconsolidationinSouthAfricaincomparisonwithotherpost-colonialsocieties.

The2020MapungubweAnnualLecturewasheldunderthethemeof‘CanSouthAfrica’scivilisationofnationaldemocracysustainitself?’ThiswasinformedbytheveryfoundationalquestionsthatinspiredMISTRA’sformation.TheInstitutealsohostedthefifthofitsannualPlatinumGroupMetalsroundtables,anditcontinuedtoprovidestrategicadviceandtailoredresearchtoanumberofpublicandprivatesectorclients.

Likeallotherinstitutions,inundertakingthesetasksMISTRAhadto‘learnbydoing’innavigatingthedisruptionswroughtbythepandemic.Drawingontheorganisationalsystemsandinstitutionalcultureforgedovertheyears,andonthecommitmentofitsstaffandpartners,theInstituteensuredoptimalbusinesscontinuity,creativelyadaptingtothehealthonslaughtandthestrictmeasuresrequiredtopreventandmanageinfections.

Weareproudtoreportonasuccessful2020/21financialyear,withvirtuallyallplannedobjectivesrealised.Forthis,wehaveourCouncilofAdvisors,BoardofGovernors,staff,researchpartners,clientsandthedonorcommunitytothank;theirunwaveringcommitmentandsupporthassustainedus.

Adaptationalsomeantprudentmanagementofresources.ThisAnnualReportreflectstheseeffortsand,fortheeleventhyearinarow,MISTRAhasanunqualifiedauditopinion.

WearedeeplysaddenedthatoneofourBoardMembers,DrVuyoMahlati,passedonduringtheyear.Weextendourheartfeltcondolencestoherfamilyandscoresofthousandsofotherswholostlovedonesduringthepandemic.

Intheirhonour,weshallcontinuetostriveforexcellenceinunravellingtheriddlesofnatureandsocialrelations,andinpromotingthepursuitofsocialjustice.

Joel NetshitenzheExecutiveDirector

IN MANY RESPECTS, SOUTH AFRICA IS A GLOBAL SOCIAL LABORATORY, WHERE THE FAULT-LINES OF RACE, CLASS AND GENDER PLAY OUT IN AN INTENSE FASHION.


9

Civilisations, Ethics, the State and Nation-Building

13

Research on Socio-Economic Developments and Political Relations

23

Examinations of Political Economy of Mining and Energy

31

Research Work in Progress 38

TENYEARS:AN OVERVIEW OF STRATEGIC RESEARCH AND REPORTS

Civilisations, Ethics, the State and Nation-Building

13

Research on Socio-Economic Developments and Political Relations

23

Examinations of Political Economy of Mining and Energy

31

Research Work in Progress 38

11 Discourse on civilisations, ethics,

the state and nation-building

2 Research on socio-economic development and political relations

3 Examinations of South Africa’s political economy of mining and energy

4 Research work in progress

OneofthestrikingfeaturesofMISTRA’soutputisthediversityofitsresearchprojects.Inthisreviewoftenyearsofindependentstrategicreflection,wehaveorganisedouroutputsandongoingresearchalongfourthemes:

MISTRA’s various Priority Research Projects (PRPs), Commissioned Research and the outcomes of its conferences have been organised along these four themes.


12

12013

CIVILISATIONS, ETHICS, THE STATE AND NATION-BUILDING

THE ART, PHILOSOPHY AND SCIENCE OF FOOTBALL IN SOUTH AFRICAForanInstitutethathadbeenlaunchedintheyearSouthAfrica

hostedthe2010FIFAWorldCup,itwasnotsurprisingthatThe

Art,PhilosophyandScienceofFootballinSouthAfricawasthefirst

researchreporttobereleasedon29November2012,atTheCastle

inKyalami.ItwasdedicatedtothelateThomasMadigage,assistant

coachofBafanaBafana,whodiedinOctober2012.

Theresearchteamwascomprisedofacademicsfromsports

departmentsininstitutionsofhigherlearning,withtheUniversity

ofJohannesburg(UJ)playingaleadingrole.Thebookwasedited

byProfessorMelainieCameron,whowasbasedattheUniversityof

theSunshineCoast,Australia,andaformerfootballer,DrHoward

Freese,playedaleadingroleinit.Thereferenceteamincluded

membersoftheSouthAfricanFootballAssociation(SAFA)executive.

Motivatedbyconcernthat,notwithstandingfootball’spopularity

inSouthAfrica,thequalityofournationalteamsleftalotto

bedesired,thereporthelpedputthespotlightonthepaucity

ofresearchonfootball.Ithighlighted‘whatisotherwise

commonknowledge:SouthAfricaneedssystemicyouthfootball

development’,asMISTRAExecutiveDirectorJoelNetshitenzhe

putit.

Producedasaresearch-integratedreport,thewritersnotedthe

‘sheervalueoffootballonsocialcohesionandformationofnational

cultureandidentity’.Thelaunchreport’sfindingsweretakenupbythe

SouthAfricanFootballAssociation,andMISTRAwasinvitedtohavea

representativeonSAFA’sdevelopmentcommittee.

THE CONCEPT AND APPLICATION OF TRANSDISCIPLINARITY IN INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE AND RESEARCHGiventhattransdisciplinarityisatthecoreofMISTRA’sapproachto

research,MISTRAensuredthatthisbookwasprioritised.Itwasedited

byDrHesterduPlessis,whowasattheHumanSciencesResearch

Councilatthetime,andtwoMISTRAstaffers,JeffreySehumeandthe

lateLeonardMartin.ItwasdedicatedtothememoryofProfessor

DaniNabudere(15December1932–8November2011)who,atthe

timeofhispassing,wasaprofessorattheIslamicUniversityand

executivedirectoroftheMarcusGarveyPan-AfrikanInstitute,Mbale,

Uganda.

Foraresearchendeavourcoveringsotheoreticalanarea,theresearch

teamensuredthatitwasrootedinpracticedrawingespeciallyfromthe

workoftheCentreforTransdisciplinaryStudiesatFortHare,University

ofPretoria’sCentreforHumanRightsandUJ’sSustainableEnergyand

TechnologyResearchCentre(SeTAR).

Giventhecomplexityoftheissueshumanityisdealingwithtoday,

includingtheeffectsofglobalisation,climatechange,migration,

technologyandtheriseofchauvinisminmanypartsoftheworld,

‘TD’asitiscommonlyreferredtotriestorecapturethewayin

whichancientscholarslookedatsocietyandlocatesthisapproach

inthecontemporaryera.

InMay2020,MISTRAreleasedaworkingpapertitled,‘Linking

TransdisciplinarityPracticetoSouthAfricanScience,Technology,

andInnovationPolicy’andthenhostedawebinaron‘TheNeedfor

aTransdisciplinaryApproachtoSouthAfrica’sCOVID-19crisis’on2

July2020.


13

PATRONAGE POLITICS DIVIDES US: A STUDY OF POVERTY, PATRONAGE AND INEQUALITY IN SOUTH AFRICAMISTRA’sapproachhasbeenoneofaddressingcontemporaryissueswithalong-term

viewasseeninthispublication,releasedduringthedepthsofwhatwecannowreferto

astheperiodof‘statecapture’,withaparticularfocusonlocalgovernment.Thiswasalso

writtenasanintegratedreport,editedbyMcebisiNdletyana,whowasheadofMISTRA’s

PoliticalEconomyfaculty,andindependentresearchersOupaMakhalemeleandRalph

Mathekga.

Thereportwasbasedonfivelocalstudies:Diepsloot,Gauteng;OverstrandMunicipalityin

theWesternCape;MhlontlointheEasternCape;andNketoanaandMaluti-a-Phofungin

theFreeState.Thereportwasacombinationofethnographicstudiesandconceptualissues

identified,whichacknowledgedthelimitationsoftheoreticalwritingsonpatronagepolitics.

Itproducedanumberofrecommendations,includingtheneedforpartiestofocuson

meritanddemocraticprocessesinthenominationofcouncillorsforelections;ensuring

thatpartycandidatesandmembersofthepublicgenerallyunderstandtheirrightsand

obligationsatlocallevel;addressingfactionalismandracial/ethnicmobilisationwithin

partiesandtheimpactofpartyfunding;andacountry-widecampaignagainstcorruption,

nepotismandtheenforcementofaccountability.Italsoemphasisedtheimportanceof

communicationsbetweenlocalauthoritiesandreducingdistancesbetweenwherepeople

liveandtheservicesbeingrendered.

ThispublicationwasoneofMISTRA’searliest

explorationsofkeyissuesinSouthAfrica’s

nation-buildingproject,andtheInstitutehas

returnedagainandagain–initspublications

andstrategicretreats–tothedifficultquestions

itraised.See,forexample,MISTRA’sbookon

SeekingtheEthicalFoundationsoftheSouth

AfricanNation,discussedonpage18.

Sinceitslaunch,thereporthasbeenusedbythe

AuditorGeneral’sOffice.

2013 2013 2013


14

NATION FORMATION AND SOCIAL COHESION: AN ENQUIRY INTO THE HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS OF SOUTH AFRICANSThisreportalsoemergedasanintegrated

product,basedonanumberofethnographic

studies,workingwithinasetofconceptual

andtheoreticalissues.ProfessorAndries

OliphantofUNISAwastheleadwriter,while

MISTRAstafferLeslieDikenihelpedonthe

editorialside.FieldworkwasdoneinHout

Bay,HangbergandImizanoYethuareasin

theWesternCape;FietasinJohannesburg;

KimberleyandRitchieintheNorthernCape;

andCatoCrest,UmlaziandChatsworthin

KwaZulu-Natal.FormerpresidentKgalema

Motlanthespokeatthelaunch,whichwas

hostedbytheNelsonMandelaFoundation.

Oneofthekeyinterventionsidentifiedwastheneedforanationalvisionandits

pursuitthrough‘socio-politicalcompacting’.ThisearlyrecognitionbyMISTRAofthe

importanceofsocialcompactingensureditsdirectinvolvementinsubsequentthinking

anddevelopmentofsocialcohesioninSouthAfrica.MISTRAhasplayedsucharole

throughoutitstenyears,includingtheworkdonethroughtheNationalPlanning

Commission(seepage55)andtheIndlulamithiScenario,interalia(seepage64).

Otherinterventionsrecommendedincludedaddressingtheeconomicobstaclestothe

emergenceofagenuinesenseofbelonging;buildingacommonhumanitythrough

practicalmeasuressuchasovercomingthespatiallegaciesofapartheid;infusingour

educationsystemwithanappreciationoftheplightofthevulnerable;andbuilding

relationsacrossracialandethniclinesthroughtheencouragementofmulti-lingualism.

Thereportplacedgreatemphasisontheencouragementofavaluesystemwhich

recognisesthehumanityinall,especiallymigrantstoSouthAfrica;combatscorruption;

upholdshonestyandencouragesthecelebrationofallsymbolsofSouthAfricasuchas

theflag,coatofarmsandpublicholidays.

ItemergedfromthisreportthatoneofthegapsinMISTRA’sresearchonnation

formationwasthevoiceofwhiteSouthAfricans.ThisledtotheMISTRApublication

Whiteness,Afrikaans,Afrikaners:AddressingPost-ApartheidLegacies,Privilegesand

Burdens,discussedonpage19.

20142014

MISTRA’S EXTENSIVE NETWORK UNIQUELY POSITIONS IT TO BRING TOGETHER VARIOUS SECTORS OF SOCIETY TO

BRAINSTORM DIFFICULT ISSUES IN A NON-PRESSURED ENVIRONMENT, FREE FROM THE CONSTRAINTS OF FORMAL,

MANDATED INTERACTION.


15

THE RISE AND DECLINE OF CHINA: SEARCHING FOR AN ORGANISING PHILOSOPHYEditedbyDrHesterduPlessis,whowasbythentheFacultyHead:Humanity

atMISTRA,itrepresentedoneofMISTRA’strulycivilisationalandinternational

researchprojects.ApartfromanumberoflocalChinaspecialists,italsohad

chapterswrittenorco-writtenbyProfessorGauharRazaoftheNationalInstitute

ofScienceCommunicationandInformationResourcesofIndia;DrDaoudaCisse

oftheCentreforChineseStudies,AlbertaUniversity;andDrYongjunZhaoofthe

GrongingenUniversityintheNetherlands.

ItwastrulytransdisciplinaryinitsapproachtounderstandingwhatmadeChina

tick:chapterwriterslookedatthecountrythroughhistorical,economic,political

andsociologicallenseswhiletryingtounderstandhowtheserelatedtothe

evolutionofbeliefsystems.Also,asNetshitenzhenotedinhisforeword,‘running

likearedthreadthroughthisbookarethemanifestationofSino-Africanrelations

datingbackmanycenturies’.

AleadingrolewasplayedbyPaulZilungiseleZulu,whoisfluentnotonlyinseveral

SouthAfricanlanguagesandSwedish(becauseofhisstudiesinUppsala)but

inMandarinaswell,havingcompletedhisPhDatBeijingUniversity.Heproved

invaluablewhenmembersoftheresearchteamwerehostedbytheInstituteof

AfricanStudiesatZhejiangNormalUniversitywherethedraftmanuscriptwas

sharedwithfellowscholars.

The2015launchofthereportwasaddressedby

AmbassadorDrFaizelIsmail,whohadbeenSouth

Africa’sPermanentRepresentative(2010–2014)to

theWorldTradeOrganization,andbyAmbassador

DrAnilSooklal,DeputyDirector-General:Middle

EastandAsia,DepartmentofInternational

RelationsandCooperations(DIRCO).

MISTRAsubsequentlyhelpedDIRCOhostthe

thinktanksessionoftheForumforChina/Africa

Cooperation(FOCAC)whichincludedarangeof

institutionsfromthecontinent,Chinaandthe

country.

2015

MISTRA FACILITATES A RANGE OF EVENTS IN ITS OWN NAME OR IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OTHER

INSTITUTES ON A WIDE RANGE OF TOPICS.


16

REIMAGINING BASIC EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA: LESSONS FROM THE EASTERN CAPELaunchedinOctober2017,inEastLondon,this

investigationwaseditedbyDrWendyNgoma

whowaswiththeWitsBusinessSchool;DrLogan

Govender,anindependentresearcherwhois

currentlywithUJ’sAliMazruiCentreforHigher

Education;andProfessorAnneMcLennanofthe

WitsSchoolofGovernance.

Locatingthestudyinoneofthemostpoverty-

strickenpartsofSouthAfrica,theresearch

projectsetouttoexaminetheimpactofpower

andpolitics,governanceandmanagement,

accountabilityandprofessionalismintransforming

thecountry’seducationsystemafter1994,which

requiredamalgamatingsixdifferenteducation

departments.

Thereportemphasisedthat‘policyreformisnot

systemchange’:thattransformationrequired

severalmeasuressuchasconnectingpoliticalandadministrativemandatesto

localcontexts,buildingcapacitytoeffectchangeandemphasisingimplementation

asmuchaspolicyreform.Teacherdevelopmentwassignalledasanurgent

priority.Otherinterventionsbroughttotheforewereenhancingadministrative

capacityinthevariousregionaloffices,aswellasincreasingthefocusonearly

childhooddevelopment(ECD).Thereportwasfrankinitsassessmentof‘political

unionism,’arguingthatsenioreducationappointeesmustrelinquishtheir

positionsinthetradeunions.Italsoarguedthat‘professionalunionism’couldbe

apositiveforceforthedeliveryofgoodqualityeducation.

Asafollowuptothereport,aroundtableonthe‘Challengesfacingbasic

educationinSouthAfricaandtheimpactofCovid-19’washeldon

19August2020.

2017

MISTRA’S EXPERTISE AND VALUE-ADD ENCOURAGE MANY IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS TO

COMMISSION THE INSTITUTE TO UNDERTAKE CONSULTANCY WORK ON A RANGE OF ISSUES OF

CONCERN TO POLICY-MAKERS.


17

THE PEDAGOGY OF MATHEMATICS IN SOUTH AFRICA: IS THERE A UNIFYING LOGIC? Thereleaseback-to-backoftworeportsfocusedoneducation

isanindicationoftheextenttowhichSouthAfricaneedstobe

addressingitscrisisineducation.Andthatneedisfeltmostacutely

inmathseducation.ThisreportwaseditedbyProfessorPaulWebb

oftheNelsonMandelaUniversityandProfessorNickyRobertsofUJ.

AswithMISTRA’sothereducationpublication,itassembledsome

ofthebrightestSouthAfricanmindsfocusedonnumeracyteaching

initsvariousforms.Itincludedinternationalcasestudiessuchas

theapproachesadoptedbyFranceandGermany(writtenbyFritz

HahneofStellenboschUniversity)andHungary(authoredbyIstvan

LenartofHungaryandAnnaRybakofPoland).

Amongstthestrongrecommendationsmadewastheneedfor

bothmothertongueand‘languageoflearningandteaching’tobe

utilisedtoensureimprovedteachingofmathematics,especiallyin

theearlyyearsofschooling.Thislinguisticdiversitywasoneofthree

pillarsidentifiedonwhichaunifyingpedagogyshouldstand.The

othertwowerethenatureofthemathematicsteachingenvisaged,

andthebuildingofpositivemathematicalandsocialidentities,i.e.,

mathsneededtobemade‘cool’.

SEEKING THE ETHICAL FOUNDATIONS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONInNovember2017MISTRAreleasedapublicationtitledSeeking

theEthicalFoundationsoftheSouthAfricanNation.Itwasbased

onaconferenceofthatthemeheldattheDevelopmentBankof

SouthernAfricainSeptember2016.TheprojectwasledbyIraj

Abedian,founderandCEOofPanAfricanInvestments;Professor

ItumelengMosala,whohasservedasViceChancellorofThe

TshwaneUniversityofTechnology(TUT)andiscurrentlysecretary

oftheZondoCommission;andMISTRAstafferJeffreySehume.They

werealsotheeditorsofthebook.

Mosalacapturedthecentralthemeswhenhewrotethat‘the

searchfortheethicalfoundationsoftheSouthAfricannationis

…thesearchforthefoundationsofjusticeinthepolitical,social,

economic,genderandenvironmentalspheres’.Contributors

includedBishopMalusiMpumlwana,JudgeYvonneMokgoro,

businessmenReuelKhozaandSiphoPityana,andthelateVuyo

Mahlathi.

Theongoingrelevanceoftheconferenceproceedingswascaptured

bytheChairoftheMISTRABoard,ProfessorSibusisoVil-Nkomo,

whenhewroteinhisprefacethat‘thediscussionsinthisbookcan

havenoendorneatanswers’.

2017 2017


18

WHITENESS, AFRIKAANS, AFRIKANERS: ADDRESSING POST-APARTHEID LEGACIES, PRIVILEGES AND BURDENSOneofthelacunaeinMISTRA’sresearchonnationformationand

socialcohesionwasthevoiceofwhiteSouthAfricans.Intrying

tounderstandhowtocreateaprogressivespaceforsuchvoices

MISTRAneededtodisentangletheoverlapsbetweenrace,ethnicity

andlanguagewhilerecognisingthat,incertaincontexts,allthree

cametogether.Thisallowedforaconferencetobeorganisedin

2015.Thereafter,thepublicationwasreleasedinAugust2018to

explorethreeseparate,but,attimes,intersectingthemes:

• Whitenesstodayinapost-apartheidsetting,whichincluded

presentationsbyProfessorMelissaSteynofWitsUniversity;Mary

Burton,whohadservedaspresidentofBlackSashformany

decadesandasacommissioneroftheTruthandReconciliation

Commission;andDrChristivanderWesthuizen,authorofWhite

Power.

• Whitesandtheeconomy,whichhadinputsfromBobbyGodsell,

formerCEOofAngloAmerican;CEOofSolidarity,DrDirkHermann;

ErnstRoetsofAfriforum;DrLynetteSteenveldofRhodesUniversity;

andXhantiPayi,anindependenteconomist.

• TheplaceofAfrikaans,whichsawpresentationsbydistinguished

journalistMathathaTsedu;ProfessorPeterDuvenageof

theUniversityoftheFreeState;ProfessorHeinWillemseof

theUniversityofPretoria;andProfessorNicoKoopmanof

StellenboschUniversity.

FormerpresidentKgalemeMotlantheopenedtheconference,which

wassymbolicallyheldintheWomen’sGaolonConstitutionHill.He

thankedMISTRAforhavingdaredtoprovideaplatformforallofusto

understandwhiteness,andsaid,‘buildinganinclusivesocietygrounded

inhigh-mindedconsciousnessofasharedhumanityisapossibility

worthpursuing’.Hisfoundationcontinuedthegroundworksetonthat

occasionbycontinuingtohostongoingdialogueswithavarietyofracial

groups.

THE PUBLICATION INTERROGATES AFRIKAANS AS PART OF THE DISCOURSE ON ‘WHITENESS’. IT ALSO EXPLORES

DIFFERENT IDENTITIES ASSOCIATED WITH AFRIKAANS AND CURRENT THINKING ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF

‘WHITENESS’, AS WELL AS DEVELOPMENTS WITHIN THE AFRIKAANS-SPEAKING COMMUNITY.

2018


19

TRADITIONAL LEADERS IN A DEMOCRACY: RESOURCES, RESPECT AND RESISTANCEAsDrMbongiseniButhelezi(ofWitsUniversity)andMISTRA’sDr

BethValewroteintheintroductorychaptertothispublication,

theresearchwasabout‘twotypesofgovernance–traditionaland

democratic…[which]havemutuallytransformedoneanotherto

looknothingliketheinstitutionsenvisagedinformallegislation’.

WithDrDineoSkosana(affiliatedtobothNorthWestUniversity

andWitsUniversity),theywereco-editorsofthisvolume,which

wasreleasedinMarch2019,whenaraftoflegislationimpactingon

traditionalleadershipwasmakingitswaythroughparliament.

ThecontributorsweredrawnintheinimitableMISTRAwayfrom

theranksoftraditionalleaderssuchasNkosiMweloNonkonyaand

NkosiPhathekileHolomiosa,activistssuchasDrAninkaClaasens

andSithandiweYeni,aswellasacademicsincludingProfessorPeter

DeliusandDrFaniNcapayi.Thechaptersinthebookareorganised

aroundthreemajorsitesofcontestintheareaoftraditional

authority:leadership,landandlaw.

Intheconcludingchapter,Skosanaarguesthattraditional

leadershipwillpersistsolongasthedemocraticsystemisnot

effectivelyestablishedinruralareas.Andwherethathashappened,

‘traditionalleadershavepositionedthemselvesasinfluencersof

politicallybindingdecisions’.Theirraisond’êtreremainstheirrolein

theadministrationofthelandwhichfallsundertheirpurview.

DeputyMinisterofCooperativeGovernanceandTraditionalAffairs,

ObedBapela,welcomedthebookatthelaunchon28February

2019attheNationalInstituteforHumanitiesandSocialSciences

(NIHSS),callingonMISTRAtoundertakefurtherresearchonbroad

policyapproachesinthisarea.Asubmissiononthecontinuum

betweenabsolutemonarchiesandrepublicanism,andtheir

manifestationsintheSouthAfricansetting,wasbeingfinalisedat

theendofthe2020/2021financialyear.

2019


20

MINTIRHO YA VULAVULA: ARTS, NATIONAL IDENTITIES AND DEMOCRACY IN SOUTH AFRICAThis451-pagetomehadalonggestationperiodintheMISTRA

womb.Whatwasmeanttohavebeenafocusedinquiryinto

therelationshipbetweenartsandnationaldevelopment–

somereferredtoitasthe‘missingchapterintheNational

DevelopmentPlan’,whichhadbeenlaunchedin2012–grewinto

thismultifacetedvolumethatisbothtransdisciplinaryandtruly

intergenerational.VeteranslikeMonganeWallySerote,JudgeAlbie

Sachs,ProfessorAndriesOliphant,BarryGilder,SandileNgidiand

ChristopherTillrubshouldersinthisbookwithyoungMISTRA

researchersDrHeidiBrooks,AnelileGibexegoandNjabuloZwane.

The16chaptersincludecontributionsbypractitionerssuchasAthi

MongezeleliJoja,whoisanartcriticandtheorist;visualartistThabo

Lehlongwa;writersRefiloeLepere,ReleboneRirhandzaeAfrikaand

RobertMuponde;MattMarlack,whohasabackgroundinmusic;

andacademicslikeDrAthambileMasolaoftheUniversityofPretoria,

ProfessorInnocentiaMhlambiofWitsUniversity,andDrZenzoMoyo,

alsoofMISTRA.MhlambiandNgidi,asco-editors,werethemidwives

ofabookwhichtookalmostadecadetoproduce.

Thisbreadthofcontributorsensuredthatthepublicationwasable

tolocatethecontemporarydevelopmentofSouthAfricanarts

withinthehistoricalfoundationsofanti-apartheidresistance,aswell

as‘guideandchallengedominantnotionsofdevelopment,identity

anddemocracy,andthepossibilitiestheyholdfornewbeginnings’,

inthewordsofthecontributors.Thepolicyrecommendationsmade

includegreatemphasisonthestatesupportingartiststoproduce

workthathelpsresolveeverydaysocio-economicchallengesin

SouthAfrica,andtheimportanceofdeliberatelyincorporating

youngpeopleintopolicy-makingprocesses.LeadingSouthAfrican

writerandactivistMandlaLangablessedthelaunchwithan

inspiringspeech.

Thecriticalroleoftheartsinfosteringnationalidentitywas

recognisedwiththerecommendationthatartsandculturepolicy

initiativesmustensurethatindigenousnationalcultures,sub-

culturesandsocialformationscontinueto(re)constitutethemselves

aroundnation-buildingandculturere-building.

MISTRA CARRIES OUT RESEARCH THAT ADDRESSES SOUTH AFRICA’S COMPLEX CHALLENGES, STRADDLING ISSUES OF NATION-FORMATION, ECONOMIC GROWTH,

SOCIAL EQUITY AND IT’S GLOBAL POSITIONING.

2021


21

22021

LAND IN SOUTH AFRICA: CONTESTED MEANINGS AND NATION FORMATIONCo-editorsKhweziMabasaandBulelwaMabasaopenthisvolume

powerfullywiththewords‘oneofthemajorpost-apartheidpolicy

failuresistheperennialandunresolvedlandquestion’.Onceagain

MISTRAmarshalledarangeofvoicestoaddressthelandquestion

withoutreducinglandtoacommodity,butratheracknowledging

thevaried,contestedmeaningoflandandhowtheserelateto

themessuchasidentity,citizenshipandsenseofbelonging.

TheresearchcohortwascomposedofactivistssuchasAndrew

Bennie,DrDavidMatsinheofAmnestyInternationalandacademics/

researchersincludingOxfordUniversity’sProfessorWilliam

Beinart,ProfessorDavidCoplanandProfessorPeterDeliusofWits

University,DrFaniNcapayiofUCT,DrQurayshaSolimanofUP,and

SithandiweYeniofUWC.Thechaptersreflectedthediversityofthe

contributions,rangingfromtheexperiencesofBrazilandPalestine

toZimbabwe,MozambiqueandAngola.

Authorsshowedhowmeaningfullocalcommunityparticipationin

landgovernanceanddecision-makingisavaluablecomponentof

land-basedcitizenship.Theyarguedthataunifiedtenuresystem

shouldbedevelopedthatrecognisesadiversesetoflandholdings.

Whilecontributorsnotedthattraditionalleadershipisrecognisedin

theConstitution,theycautionedthestateagainstallowingcitizens’

landtenureanddemocraticrightsintheformerbantustanstobe

subverted.

Itslaunchon24February2021wasaddressedbyMinisterof

Agriculture,LandReformandRuralDevelopment,ThokoDidiza.


22

22015

RESEARCH ON SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS AND POLITICAL RELATIONS

THE GREAT RECESSION AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR HUMAN VALUES: LESSONS FOR AFRICAThisMISTRAvolume,whichemergedoutofa30September

2015colloquiumhostedatLiliesleafFarm,remainsafoundation

workofMISTRAthinkingontheglobal,AfricanandSouthAfrican

economy.ThepublicationwaseditedbyVusiGumede,whowas

thenservingastheDirectoroftheThaboMbekiAfricanLeadership

Institute.Heco-wrotetheframingandconcludingchapterwithJoel

Netshitenzhe,MISTRAExecutiveDirector;theinitiativerepresented

aclosecollaborationbetweenthetwoorganisations.Contributors

rangefromformerpresidentThaboMbeki;formerStatistician

GeneralPaliLehohla;andeconomistsandthinkerssuchasIraj

Abedian,LumkileMondi,LorenzoFioramonti,DevanPillay,Arkan

Ekpo,JoelNetshitenzheandSamuelOloruntoba.

Giventhediversityofcontributors’backgrounds,itisunsurprising

thebookcoversavarietyofthemesintryingtounderstandthe

causesofthegravestcrisisintheglobaleconomysincetheGreat

Depressionofthe1930s.Theseincludeissuessuchastheimpact

ofsecular(orlong-term)stagnationineconomicgrowthandthe

financialisatonoftheglobaleconomy.Itwasunsurprisingthatthe

questionofthefutureoftheneoliberalorderwasplacedunder

themicroscopehere.Theauthorswereparticularlyinterestedin

whether,intheaftermathofthisglobalrecession,therewouldbe

newwaysofthinkingabouteconomicgovernancewithaspecial

focusonwhatthismomentportendedforAfricaasawhole.

Thebookwaslaunchedon10November2016ataneventwhere

ThaboMbekiissuedacalltoactionto‘changethecurrenteconomic

orderwhich,onaccountofthedisorder,inequality,exploitationand

disenchantmentthathavebecomeitsdefiningfeatures,mightlead

theworldintoatotalcollapse’.


23

THE EMERGENCE OF SYSTEMS OF INNOVATION IN SOUTH(ERN) AFRICA: LONG HISTORIES AND CONTEMPORARY DEBATESMISTRAhasproducedseveralreportspertainingtoinnovations,

alwayslocatingitsresearchintherelevantsocio-economicand

publicpolicycontext.Thisvolume,publishedin2016andeditedby

MarioScerriofTUT’sInstituteforEconomicResearchonInnovation

(IERI),benefitedfromthegeneroussponsorshipoftheDepartment

ofScienceandTechnologyandcloseinvolvementofsomeofits

seniorofficials.

Itwascomplimentedbyitsexternalreviewersforhavingtakennot

onlyahistoricalapproach,whichtracedtheevolutionofinnovations

inprecolonialsocieties,butalsoatransdisciplinaryapproach.The

latter,oftenreferredtoasthe‘MISTRAWay’,drewonexperts

fromarangeofdisciplines,includingProfessorShadrackChirikure

ofUniversityofCapeTown(UCT)’sArchaeologyDepartment,Dr

ErikaKraemer-MbulaandDrThomasPoguewhowerethenboth

oftheInstituteforEconomicResearch(IERI);DesireeSehlapelo

oftheDepartmentofWaterAffairsandForestry;ProfessorCollet

Dandara,apharmacogeneticsresearcheratUCT’sDepartmentof

Pathology,andProfessorRasiganMaharaj,founderofIERI,whoalso

holdsseveralpublicsectorpositions.Thevolumeisdedicatedtothe

memoryofFatimaFarraz,anenvironmentconsultantwhopassed

awayshortlyaftersubmittingherchapter.

ThepublicationwaslaunchedbyMinisterofScienceand

Technology,NalediPandor,attheNationalScienceForumon6

December2016.Intheirconcludingchapter,ScerriandMaharaj

highlighttheimportanceoffocusingonhumancapability,

institutionalcapacitywithintheinnovationssystem,andthe

encouragementofventurecapitaltoinvestintandemwith

maintainingandincreasingexpenditurefromthepublicpurse.

Theyalsoarguedthatsuchsystemsneedtobelocatedwithin

thenationalandregionaleconomyandsoshouldbealignedwith

strategiestodeveloptheeconomy.Theyendonahopefulnote,

writingthat‘buildingarobustandsustainablesystemofinnovation

remainspossible’,offeringaplausiblestrategyforcreatively

destroyinganinequitablepast,toolsforconfrontingcontemporary

contradictions,andadvancingforesight‘asameansofcollectively

definingabetterlifeforall’.

20162015


24

CHANGING ECONOMIC BALANCES AND INTEGRATION IN ‘AFRICA RISING’Launchedon5September2017atUNISA’sInstituteforGlobal

Dialogue,thispublicationwastheculminationofseveralworkshops

andcolloquiasince2015.EditedbyMISTRA’sDavidMaimela,the

researchcoveredfourkeythemes:anoverviewofAfrica’sown

empiresandtheirrelationtopreviousempires;thesearchfor

pan-Africanunity;aninterrogationofthedynamicswithinAfrica’s

regionalblocs;andanexaminationofthe‘Africarising’narrative.

ThestellarcastofchapterwritersincludedDrRawiaTawfikofCairo

University;ProfessorOluAjakaiyeandProfessorAfeikhenaJerome,

bothfromNigeria;andDrJudithFessehaiewhoservedinthe

ZambianpublicserviceandisnowbasedatUCT.Othercontributors

includedDrRalphMathekga,whowasbasedinMISTRAatthetime,

andDrPhilaniMthembuoftheInstituteforGlobalDialogue.

Oneoftheissuestheresearchteamaddressedwastheimplications

oftheascendancyofnewregionalhegemonsinAfrica.Thisconcern

arosefromthehistoricalevidenceshowingthatsuchchanges–

whichwouldrequirearealignmentinthepowerorder–mosttimes

ledtoviolentconflict.TheconclusionnotesthatwhileNigeriahad

surpassedSouthAfricaintermsofGDP,itwasimportanttokeepin

mindtheimpactofotherindicatorssuchashumancapability.

ThechapterbyDrFessehaie,focusedonthetripartitefreetrade

area,foreshadowswhathascometobeknownastheAfrican

ContinentalFreeTradeArea(AfCFTA).DrBetchaniTchereni,an

ex-MISTRAresearchernowattheUniversityofMalawi,concludes

hischaptersuggestingthatAfricacouldbeagamechangerinthe

globaleconomy‘ifitexercisesitsownagency,nolongeractingasa

policy-taker,butadriverofitsowndestiny’.

2017

MISTRA’S WORK IS DESIGNED WITH THE INTENTION OF IMPACTING ON POLICY-MAKING AND IN SO DOING

SEEKS TO BE A CHANGE AGENT IN SOCIETY. OUR WORK SEEKS TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE DEVELOPMENTAL

CHALLENGES FACED BY SOUTH AFRICA USING VARIOUS CHANNELS.


25

BEYOND IMAGINATION: THE ETHICS AND APPLICATIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY AND BIO-ECONOMICS IN SOUTH AFRICABeyondImaginationrepresentsthesecondmajorworkfrom

MISTRAonthethemeoftechnologicalinnovation.Editedby

MISTRA’sZamanzimaMazibuko(asshewasthen),thevolume

waslaunchedon11April2018attheCouncilforScientificand

IndustrialResearch.Itwasconcernedwithhownanotechnologies

andbiotechnologyintersectandimpact.Inlookingattheformer,

concernedwiththescienceofsmallparticles,itexploredthe

ethicsofissuessuchasgeneticmodificationandreconfiguringthe

arrangementofatoms.

DrShih-HsinChen(oftheNationalChianTungUniversity,Taiwan)

andDrThomasS.Woodson(ofStonyBrookUniversity,NewYork)

broughthome,despitethedifferencesbetweenSouthAfricaand

Taiwan,thatbothcountrieshadmadecommitmentscirca2015

todeveloptheirbioeconomies.Theydecriedthelimitedbudget

allocatedbySouthAfrica’sTechnologyInnovationAgency(TIA)in

comparisontothatofTaiwan,aswellasthenarrowfocusSouth

AfricahadadoptedcomparedtoTaiwan.

TherearetwochaptersdealingwithIndia.DrSwapanKumar

PatraofJawaharlalNehruUniversity(JNU),India,andProfessor

MammoMuchieofTUT,intheircomparativeanalysisofthetwo

countries,arguedthatthefocusshouldbeon‘technological

capability’buildingwhichencompassesphysicalinvestment,human

capitalandtechnologyitself,bestmeasuredbytheprovisionof

biotechnologygrants.Theotherchapter,byDrShashankS.Tiwari

(alsoagraduateofJNU,nowbasedintheUS)comparesthe

proliferationofstemcellresearchandtherapyinthetwocountries.

TheprojectteamcomprisedanumberofresearchersfromSA’s

NationalInstituteofOccupationalHealth,providinganindicationof

ourmoreimmediateneedsintheapplicationofthesetechnologies.

Inhispreface,ExecutiveDirectorofMISTRA,JoelNetshitenzhe,

arguesthat‘developingcountries,particularlyinAfrica,shouldpool

theirresourcesandexercisesovereigntysothepartnershipthey

forceaddresstheirinterests’.

2018


26

EPIDEMICS AND THE HEALTH OF AFRICAN NATIONSMISTRAlauncheditsreportonEpidemicsandtheHealthofAfrican

Nationson15July2019,ataceremonyattendedbyMinisterof

Health,DrZweliMkhize,sixmonthsbeforetheCOVID-19pandemic

hittheworld.Itsprescienceinconsideringzoonoticdiseases,i.e.

thosetransmittedfromanimalstohumans,hasbeenremarked

uponbymany.

EditedbyMISTRA’sZamanzimaMazibuko-Makena,andsponsored

bytheDST,theresearchtopichadbeenconceivedatatimewhen

Africanhealthsystems’vulnerabilityhadbeenexposedwiththe

outbreakofEbolaandcholera.BillH.Kinsey,oftheAfricanStudies

Centre,LeidenUniversity,Netherlandsarguesinhischapterfor

asyndemicframeworktodealwiththeburdenofsuchdiseases.

Whilenormallyasyndemicorsynergisticepidemicreferstothe

aggregationoftwoormoreconcurrentorsequentialepidemics,his

chapterhighlightstheneedtolocatethehealthchallengeswithin

thebroaderdiseasesofpovertyandpoorgovernance.

Nigeria’seffectivedealingwiththeoutbreakofEbolaisdealtwith

infascinatingdetailbyDrNathanielUmukoro,ofEdoUniversity,

Nigeria,whileBrigadierGeneral(Dr)KakaMudambouseshis

personalexperienceastheheadoftheSADCMilitaryHealth

Servicestolookatresponsestomalaria.MISTRAresearcherDr

BethValeisamongstcontributorswhoemphasisetheroleof

communityhealthworkersinthefrontlineagainstepidemics.Dr

SamuelAdu-Gyamfi,ofKwameNkrumahUniversityofScienceand

Technology,Ghana,looksattheexperiencesofRwandaandGhana

infundinghealthsystemswhileProfessorAlexvanderHeever,of

WitsUniversity,looksattheimplementationofthenationalhealth

insuranceinSouthAfrica.Theseandothersuchchapterstalktothe

possiblestrategiesforstrengtheningthehealthsystemsofAfrica.

MISTRA DOES NOT SIMPLY CONDUCT RESEARCH IN-HOUSE AND PRESENT THE FINAL OUTCOME – BOOKS

AND POLICY BRIEFS – TO DECISION-MAKERS. EACH RESEARCH PROJECT UNDERTAKEN CONSISTS OF A

PROJECT TEAM COORDINATED BY A FULL-TIME MISTRA RESEARCHER WHICH COMPRISES OF ACADEMICS, FIELD

EXPERTS AND POLICY-MAKERS AND PRACTITIONERS. THROUGH THIS APPROACH POLICY-MAKERS ARE

ENGAGED WITH THE RESEARCH THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS AND THUS THE RESEARCH ORGANICALLY

INTERACTS WITH THEIR OWN POLICY-DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES.

2019


27

BEYOND TENDERPRENEURSHIP: RETHINKING BLACK BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENTEditedbyMISTRA’sKhweziMabasaandindependentanalyst

AyabongaCawe,thisvolumehasbeenpraisedfortakingan

unflinchinglookatthechallengingquestionofachievingblack

economicempowerment.Launchedon28February2020,it

combinedahistoricalperspectivewithacontemporaryappraisal

ofthestateandeconomicempowermentnexus.Inlookingatthe

latter,italsobroughtinconsiderationoftheinformaleconomy,

empowermentofwomen,andtradeunions,aswellasinternational

experiencessuchasthatofEastAsia,IndiaandtheUS.

Blackeconomicempowerment(BEE)hastendedtobeassociated

solelywithblackbusinessesasbeneficiariesofstatetenders,hence

theterm‘tenderpreneurship’.However,lookingattheevidence

carefully,ZukoGodlimpiofUNISAandMeganRoseBryer(ofthe

CentreofSocialDevelopmentinAfrica,UJ)arguethattherewere

manyinstancesofsuccessfulblackbusinesseslongbeforethe

arrivalofthedemocraticstatein1994.Tenderpreneurshipitself

hascometobeassociatedwiththecorruptpracticesofatinyblack

elite,unwillingtosharethebenefitsofstatepatronagewithother

blackeconomicplayers.

Oneofthecriticalobservationsinthebookisthatthefacilitation

oftheemergenceofanindigenouscorpsoflargeentrepreneurs

inSoutheastAsiandevelopmentalstateswascloselylinkedtoan

industrialpolicy.SouthAfrica,ontheotherhand,hadtendedto

focusonshareholdinginestablishedcompanies.Further,thebook

alsoexaminesemployeeshare-ownershipasacriticalelementof

economicempowerment.

IndependentpoliticaleconomistSiyaBinizaexaminesthe

relationshipbetweenagrowingeconomy,whichwasthecasefrom

1994to2008,andthesuccessfulimplementationofBEE.Given

themacroeconomicinterventionspossibleinsectorslikemining,

energyandfinanceitwasnotsurprisingthatthegrowthperiod

wasmarkedbyLargernumberofBEEentrantsintothoseareas.Dr

ThabangSefalafalaofWitsUniversitybroughtintothestudythe

sorelyneededdimensionoflocalgovernmentandpatronage.

2020


28

THROUGH THE DURATION OF MISTRA’S RESEARCH PROJECTS A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS ARE HELD

INVOLVING A WIDER NETWORK OF EXPERTS AND POLICY-MAKERS TO TEST THE HYPOTHESES AND

OUTCOMES OF THE RESEARCH AT ITS DIFFERENT STAGES AND ENSURE THAT THE FINAL OUTCOME ADEQUATELY ADDRESSES THE POLICY-MAKING CHALLENGES. AT THE

END OF THE RESEARCH PROJECT A PUBLIC CONFERENCE IS HELD TO COMMUNICATE THE OUTCOME OF THE

RESEARCH AND TO BROADEN THE PUBLIC DISCOURSE.

AFRICA AND THE WORLD: NAVIGATING SHIFTING GEOPOLITICSBuildingonsomeofthethemesinthepreviousvolumesdedicated

tothecontinent,thisbooklocatedAfricaintheturbulenceofthe

geopoliticsoftheseconddecadeofthe2000s.EditedbyDrPhilani

MthembuandFrancisKornegayJr,bothofSouthAfrica’sInstitute

forGlobalDialogue(IGD),itattractedcontributionsfromsomeof

SouthAfrica’sforemostforeignpolicythinkerssuchasDrGarthle

Pere,foundingExecutiveDirectoroftheIGD;ElisabethSidiropoulos,

headoftheSouthAfricanInstituteforInternationalAffairs(SAIIA);

andProfessorGerritOlivier,formerSouthAfricanambassadorto

theUSSR,theRussianFederationandKazakhstan.

Someoftheinternationalcontributorsincluded,fromBrazil,DrErik

HerejkRibeiro,ProfessorGladysLechini,GuilhermeThudium,and,

fromIndia,ProbalGhoshandDrShankariSundararaman.

Inhischapteronthemultipledeterminantsofgeopoliticsand

Africa’splaceintheworld,JoelNetshitenzheinterrogatesthe

intersectionofeconomic,ideologicalandpsychologicalfactorsthat

haveshapedgeopoliticsinthehistoricalevolutionoftheglobal

politicaleconomy,andtheimplicationsofthisintersectionfor

Africa.Thestudyproceedsfromthepremisethatthecontinuities

anddiscontinuitiesofworldhistoryhaveshapedAfrica’sown

economicsandpoliticsandthatthecontinentisuniquelyplaced,in

the21stcentury,tochartitsowncourseintheglobalarena.

Intheirconcludingchaptertheeditorssetout‘apathwaytowards

strategicautonomy’forAfricabasedonreformingtheUnited

Nationsthroughasystemofregionalisationofglobalgovernance,

andaligningAfrica’spartnershipsthroughalignmentwiththe

AfricanUnion’sAgenda2063.

Thebookwaslaunchedon3February2020attheappropriately

namedFutureAfricaCampus,UniversityofPretoria.Theoccasion

wasblessedbyMinisterofForeignAffairs,NalediPandor,who

emphasisedthat‘...ifAfricaistoassertitselfasacontinentthat

appreciatesitselfasasignificantpartofaninfluentialglobalbloc,

ourworkinglobalinstitutionsandourAfricanUnionwillhaveto

altersubstantively.Wehavetendednottosettheagenda.We

wouldneedtodosoandtoachievethisthroughcoherentandco-

ordinatedplanningasAfrica.’


29

3LEAP 4.0: AFRICAN PERSPECTIVES ON THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTIONLaunchedon10December2020,thevolumewasjointlyedited

byMISTRA’sZamanzimaMazibuko-MakenaandProfessorErika

Kraemer-MbulawhobythenwasatUJ,andgenerouslysupported

bytheDepartmentofScienceandInnovationandStandardBank.

ItstitlereferstothenotionthatAfricacouldleapfrogfromits

currentstateoftechnologyintotheFourthIndustrialRevolution

(4IR).Mazibuko-MakenaandProfessorKraemer-Mbula,intheir

introductorychapter,critiquethenotionofthe4IRaspackagedand

presentedin2016byKlausSchwaboftheWorldEconomicForum,

pointingoutithasrootsintheEU’s‘FactoriesoftheFuture’and

especiallyGermany’s‘Industry4.0’.TheyalsodrawonKondratiev’s

‘longwaves’andSchumpeter’s‘creativedestruction’amongst

severalothertheoriestolocatethesocio-economicframework

withinwhichtechnologicaldevelopmenthastobesituated.

DrAlisonGillwaldofResearchICTAfricatakesthiscritiquefurther,

inlookingattheissuesaroundthedigitalrevolution,emphasising

theneedforuniversalaccess.ProfessorChidiOguamanamof

UniversityofOttawahighlightstheneedforindigenousknowledge

systemstoberespected,protectedandfosteredthroughinclusion

innationalinnovationsystems.

ProfessorMichaelGastrow’schapter,oneoffouronhuman

capabilityformation,highlightedthepossibilityoftheprevailing

inequalitiesinSouthAfricabeingfurtherdeepenedthroughthe4IR,

callingforaradicalreconceptualisationofeducation.Fourchapters

lookattheapplicationofadvancedtechnologiesinvarioussectors

–health,addressingenvironmentaltransgression,energyand

intellectualproperty.

Theeditorsconcludewiththehopethat‘withtherightpolicies

andinfrastructure,SouthAfricaandotherAfricacountriescan

turnthefuturisticsocio-technicalimaginariesinspiredbythe4IR

intodifferentimaginings–oneofopportunity,socialinclusionand

economicwellbeingforalloftheircitizens’.

2020

WITH THE RIGHT POLICIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE, SOUTH AFRICA AND

OTHER AFRICA COUNTRIES CAN TURN THE FUTURISTIC SOCIO-TECHNICAL IMAGINARIES

INSPIRED BY THE 4IR INTO DIFFERENT IMAGININGS – ONE OF OPPORTUNITY, SOCIAL INCLUSION AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING FOR

ALL OF THEIR CITIZENS.


30

32013

EXAMINATIONS OF POLITICAL ECONOMY OF MINING AND ENERGY

SOUTH AFRICA AND THE GLOBAL HYDROGEN ECONOMY: THE STRATEGIC ROLE OF PLATINUM GROUP METALSReferredtoasMISTRA’sPGMbook,thispublication–launchedin

August2013–islivingproofoftheInstitute’scommitmenttothe

long-termview.Atonelevel,thehydrogeneconomyisbecominga

criticalpartofthelong-termtransitiontoalowcarbonfuture.At

anotherlevelthereportplacedfirmlyontheagendaappreciation

ofSouthAfrica’sendowmentofmorethan80%oftheworld’s

platinum,atatimewhengreaterusesofthispreciousmetalwere

beingrealised.

TheprojectwasledbyThabangMakubire,anuclearscientistwho

wasinvolvedinthepebblebedmodularreactor(PBMR),andwho

sadlypassedawaytowardstheendoftheproject.Thisvolumeis

dedicatedtohismemory.

TherestoftheprojectleadershipincludedMISTRAstaffersDr

VelaphiMsimang,whowasheadoftheKESAfaculty,andRadhika

Perrot,WilsonManganyiandAyenderMakhuvela.Itbenefited

fromthegeneroussponsorshipoftheDepartmentofScienceand

TechnologyandXstrata.OtherchapterwritersincludedFatima

Ferraz,VitorFerreira,whohailsfromPortugal,andAdrianStone,

BrunoMevernandMamahlokoSenatlafromtheUniversityofCape

Town.TheprojectbenefitedfromclosecooperationwithHydrogen

SouthAfrica(HySA)aswellasinputsfromanumberofindustry

playerssuchasIrajAbedianandrepresentativesofAngloPlatinum.

Thelauncheventon31August2013wasaddressedby,interalia,

MinisterDerekHanekom,thenMinisterofScienceandTechnology,

KleanthaPillayofAngloPlatinumandMosibudiMangena,former

MinisterofScienceandTechnologyandMISTRABoardmember.

Involvementofthiswiderangeofstakeholdersensuredtheongoing

relevanceoftheresearchsubject,asattestedtobythePGM

Roundtables(seepage44)whichcontinuetothisday.Theproject

looksespeciallyattheworkonfuelcelltechnology,andatthe

sustainabilityofminingcommunities.Arisingfromthisproject,the

issueoftheestablishmentofaplatinumexchangeaspartofthe

JSEwaspursuedthroughfocussedresearch,includinginMISTRA’s

bookonASouthAfricanPGMExchange:PolicyRationalforFinancial

Beneficiation(seepage36).


31

20142013

UNCOMMON WEALTH: TRACING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AFRICAN MINING VISIONIn2014MISTRApartneredwiththeSouthernAfricanResearch

Watch(SARW),whichisaprojectwithintheOpenSocietyInstitute

forSouthernAfrica,tolookatthequestionofwhy,giventhat

Africaisblessedwithanabundanceofmineralresources,doesit

stillremain‘atthelowerlevelsofthedevelopmentladder’.The

reportfocusesontheSADCregionandhasfourchaptersonvarious

SouthernAfricancountries:Botswana(DrKhaulaniFichaniof

BotswanaUniversity);theDemocraticRepublicoftheCongo(DRC)

(DrTshombeLukamba,basedatNorth-WestUniversity);Zimbabwe

(writtenbyHarare-basedJamesMuzondiya)andSouthAfrica

(writtenbyMISTRA’sDrBerchaniTchereni).

LeadershipfortheprojectwasprovidedbyMISTRA’sDrMcebisi

NdletyanaandSARW’sDrClaudeKabemba.Amongstthe

observationsthereportmakesisthatthereneedstobegreater

transparencyandaccountabilityaroundtheminingsector,

especiallyaroundhowlicencesaregrantedandwhatrevenuesare

extractedbycompanies.ThiswasespeciallytrueoftheDRCand

Zimbabwe,complicatedbytheabsenceofup-to-dategeological

surveys.BotswanaandSAwerecommendedfortheiractions

aroundtheimplementationoftheAfricaMiningVision,butthe

reportalsoexpressedconcernaboutthepaceoftransformation.

Amongsttherecommendationsmadebythereportisthattherebe

amonitoringtool,suchasaMiningIndustryTransformationindex,

andthatcivilsocietyorganisationsshouldbeencouragedtoplayan

interventionistroleatthelevelofminingcommunities.


32

RESURGENT RESOURCE NATIONALISM? A STUDY INTO THE GLOBAL PHENOMENONResurgentResourceNationalismcameaboutbecauseofa2014

requestbytheSouthAfricanenergycompany,SASOL.Theterm

‘resourcenationalism’isdefinedbytheSouthernAfricanInstitute

forMiningandMetallury(SAIMM)asthe‘desireofthepeopleof

resource-richcountriestoderivemoreeconomicbenefitfromtheir

countriesandtheresolutionoftheirgovernmentstoconcomitantly

exercisegreatercontrolofthecountry’snaturalsectors’.

Thereportidentifiesanumberoffactorsascontributingtoan

increasingnumberoforganisationsandstatesconsideringgreater

controloftheirnationalresources.Thesefactorsincludeideology

andpolitics,whichencompassdebatesaroundexpropriation;

localcommunitydemandsaroundoftheimpactofminingonthe

environmentandthepeoplelivinginthearea;socio-economic

elementssuchasunemploymentandinequalityresultingin

governmentswantingtofindquick-fixsolutions;andtheneedto

reviewcontractualandlegislativeenvironmentsduetoanumberof

factorssuchastheoriginalcontractsbeingpoorlywrittenup,etc.

Thelasthadbeenstimulatedbythecommoditiesboomwhichsaw

thepriceofnaturalresourcesriseformostofthefirstdecadeofthis

century.

ThereportwaseditedbyMISTRA’sDrMcebisiNdletyanaandDavid

MaimelaandhaschaptersonAfrica,LatinAmerica,theMENA

region,EuropeandAsia.

MISTRA’S SPECIAL PROJECTS ARE RESEARCH PROJECTS THAT DO NOT FALL WITHIN OUR PRIORITY RESEARCH

PROJECTS BUT HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED INTERNALLY OR THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS BECAUSE OF THEIR

STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE.


33

EARTH, WIND AND FIRE: UNPACKING THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF DISCOURSE ON THE GREEN ECONOMYThisvolume,jointlyeditedbyMISTRA’sDrVelphaiMsimangand

RadhikaPerrot,andDrLynnKriegerMytelkaoftheUnitedNation

University’sINTECHandUniversityofOttawa,Canada,haslaidthe

basisformuchofMISTRA’sworkonthegreeneconomy.Itexamines

issuesfromsustainableenergytothemineralenergycomplexthat

hasgivenrisetolocalandsector-specificissues.

Thebookconcludeswitharangeofpolicychoicesand

recommendations.Thesearebasedonanintegratedmixof

policyinstrumentstomitigateemissions,andtopromotethe

developmentofalow-carboneconomythroughsustainableenergy

technologiesandlow-carboninnovationsacrosssectorsofthe

economy.

Apartfromtheeditors,chaptercontributorsincludedSaliemFakir

andManishaGulatioftheWorldWildlifeFund-SouthAfrica;Dr

MarieBlancheTingofSussexUniversity;ProfessorEdisonMuzenda

andTJPilusaofUJ;DiranSoumaniofWitsBusinessSchool;and

FumaniMthembe.DrMingwasbasedatMISTRAforamonthfor

thecompletionofherresearchforherchapter.

Thereportwaslaunchedin2015andfedintotheSouthAfrican

government’spreparationsfortheParisclimatetalksofthatyear.

ItwassponsoredbytheEnvironmentAffairsGreenFundhousedin

theDBSAandtheFES.

2015


34

THE FUTURE OF MINING IN SOUTH AFRICA: SUNSET OR SUNRISE? MISTRA’sTheFutureofMiningwaslaunchedon12December

2018,ataneventaddressedbyMinisterofMineralResources,

GwedeMantashe.TheprojectwassupportedbytheDepartment

ofScienceandTechnology,AngloGoldAshantiandAngloAmerican.

EditedbyMISTRASeniorResearcherDrSalimahValiani,the

chapterwritersincludedarangeofexpertsfromlabourandcivil

society.TheseincludedHamedaDeedatofCOSATU’Sresearch

armNaledi;DrHibistKassaoftheDevelopmentAlternativeswith

WomeninaNewEra(DAWN);andNesterNdebeleofWomen

AffectedbyMiningUnitedinAction.Contributorsalsocamefrom

otherresearchinstitutessuchasDumaGqubuleofCEDT,DrRoss

HarveyofSAIIAandDrShingiriraiMutangaoftheAfricaInstitute.

AcademicsinvolvedincludedDrCrisponChingunoofSolPlaatje

University,ProfessorSonwabileMnwanaofFortHareandProfessor

LorenzoFioramontiofUP.

ProfessorSibusisoVil-Nkomoinhisprefacepointedoutthatthe

researchwasinspiredbytherealisationthat‘whiletheSouth

Africanminingindustryperformsrelativelywellonmanytechnical

indicators,itsmanagementofthebroadersocialissuesleavesmuch

tobedesired’.Thetransdisciplinarynatureoftheprojectcanbe

seenfromthevariousperspectivesbroughtintotheresearch:some

chaptersbuiltonMISTRA’sresearchintotheAfricanMiningVision

2030(seepage32)andSA’sMiningCharterwhileHarveylookedat

howthe4IRcouldhelpgreentheminingindustry.DrKassafocused

onhowartisanalandsmall-scaleminingcouldbeformalised;

ProfessorMnwanaaddressedtheissueofcontestationaroundthe

landquestion,MISTRA’sMabasaandDrChingunospokeabout

tradeunionsinthissectorandDrValianiandNdebelebroughta

feministperspectivetotheindustry.Theanchorchapterofthe

book,TowardsMiningVision2030byJoelNetshitenzhe,proceeds

fromtheunderstandingthatmining‘hasacriticalcontribution

tomake,givenitshistoricalroleintheevolutionofSouthAfrican

society,theendowmentsthatthecountrycommandsandthe

THIS PUBLICATION WAS THE CULMINATION OF A RESEARCH PROJECT EXPLORING CONTEMPORARY

DEBATES ON THE EVOLUTION AND FUTURE OF MINING IN RELATION TO PUBLIC POLICY. FUTURE

OF MINING ASKS FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS ABOUT THE SECTOR’S RESTRUCTURING WITHIN

THE CONTEXT OF A TRANSFORMED DOMESTIC AND GLOBAL POLITICAL ECONOMY.

2019


35

2019

positionthesectoroccupiesinthesocio-economicdynamics

ofSouthAfricansociety’.Itcallsonthecollectiveofpartnersin

mining–privatecompanies,workers,miningcommunitiesandthe

state–todevelopalong-termvisionforthesectorandoutlinesthe

scaffoldingaroundwhichsuchavisioncouldbeframed.

Atthecoreofallthesecontributions,concludesValiani,isthe

questionofdefiningstewardship:doweneedtoensurethat

mineralwealthremainsforthenextfewgenerationsor‘doesit

entailworkinguprenewableandnon-renewableresourcessuch

thatnewsystemsofproductionreducepoverty,hardshipand

inequality?’

A SOUTH AFRICAN PGM EXCHANGE: POLICY RATIONAL FOR FINANCIAL BENEFICIATIONEditedbyDrIrajAbedian,thisvolumewasreleasedin2019and

builtonthefindingsofMISTRA’sPGMresearchproject.Itwasmade

possiblebyatripartitearrangementinvolvingAbedian’sPan-African

InvestmentResearchServices,theJSEandMISTRA.Itcontinuesto

addressthequestion,giventhatSouthAfricaaccountsformore

than80%andZimbabwe11%ofknownPGMreserves,ofhow

SouthAfricacanuseitspositiontothebenefitofitscitizenryand

thatoftheSouthernAfricanregion.Thepublicationwaslaunched

atacolloquiumheldattheJSEin2018partiallysponsoredbythe

DepartmentofScienceandTechnology.Anumberoftradeunions,

corporates,governmentdepartmentsandstateentitieswere

involvedinit.

ThereportwritersincludeanumberofMISTRAstafferssuchas

ThembaMoleketi,NjabuloZwaneandDuduetsangMokoele,

TrudiHartzenbergoftheTradeLawCentreaswellasindependent

researchersDrNealeBaartjies,LyndallMujakachiandKensane

Hlongwane.


36

Inhisintroduction,Abedianemphasisedtheimportanceoflinkage

developmentthinking,wheregrowthanddevelopmentinawell-

endowedsectorspilloverintotherestoftheeconomy.Thereport

goesintotheSouthAfricanexperienceofcommoditiesexchanges

andrecommendsthatthePGMsectoravoidsthemarketingboard

route,arguingthatacommodityexchangeshouldbe‘amarket-

basedcommercialenterprisethatprovidesaplatformforprice

discovery’.MISTRAandtheprojectleaderarecurrentlyengaginga

numberoforganisationstorealisethisobjective.


37

4 ACOALITION GOVERNMENT

MISTRAhasundertakenaresearchprojectaimedatexploringSouthAfrica’suncertainpoliticalandelectoralfutureswhenitcomestothecontinuousdominanceordeclineoftheAfricanNationalCongress(ANC)–andtheparty’sabilitytoconstitutesingle-partymajoritygovernmentintothefuture.

Inrecentelections,theANChasalternatedbetweencontinuousdeclineandmodestrecovery.Oppositionpartieshaveunevenrecordsofdelivery;theyvacillateintheirabilitiestosupersedetheANC.ThesefactorssuggestthatSouthAfricamayfaceafutureoffragileelectoralmajoritiesandaperiodofpoliticalandgovernanceinstability.Thisistheterraininwhichcoalitiongovernmentsflourish.SouthAfricathereforeneedstolearnaboutcoalitiongovernmentfrombothinternationalinsightsandtrackrecords,anditsownevolvingexperience.

MISTRA’sDirectorofResearch,ProfessorSusanBooysen,isheadinguparesearchteamofleadingscholarsofcoalitionpoliticsinSouthAfricaandbeyond.Theyarecreatinganin-depthresearchreport,withacutelessonsforSouthAfricaonhowtoapproachcoalitionpolitics.

TheInstituteaimstopublishthereport,asaneditedvolume,aheadofSouthAfrica’snextroundoflocalgovernmentelections.

RESEARCH WORK IN PROGRESS


38

B CYOUTH AND THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICA

MISTRAisundertakingaPriorityResearchProject(PRP)ontheroleofyouthinSouthAfrica’snationaldevelopment.Theprojectseekstoexplorethestructuralandpolicyissuesimpactingonyoungpeople,andwaysinwhichpolicyhasconstructedyouthidentity.Theresearchreportwillincorporatearangeoftopicsrelatedtothehumandevelopmentneedsofyouth,whilepositioningyoungpeople–intheirvariousrolesaspoliticalactors,economicparticipants,leadersandshapersofidentityandcommunity–asactiveagentsinthedevelopmentprocess.

TheresearchteamisledbyProfessorArianedeLannoyfromUCT,ProfessorMaloseLanga,WitsUniversity,andDrHeidiBrooks,MISTRASeniorResearcher.TheresearchprojectwillseektohighlighttheimportantroleoftheyouthinshapingandinformingpolicyinachangingSouthAfrica.Itwilldosobyincorporatingtheinsightsandresearchofscholarsandpractitionerswhodrawontheexperiencesofyouth,aswellasbyincludingyoungpeoplethemselves.

A LOW CARBON FUTURE FOR SOUTH AFRICA

ThisprojectexploresthepossibilitiesforajusttransitiontowardsalowcarboneconomyinSouthAfrica.Itaimstobroadenthediscourseonthesubject,andidentifytheopportunitiesfor,andimpedimentsto,makingthetransitionfair,affordableandsocio-economicallyviable.

AjusttransitionintoalowcarboneconomywouldaddressSouthAfrica’simperativesforsocialandecologicaljusticeandequity,whilereducingrelianceoncarbon-intensiveindustries.Deliberationsonthejusttransitionarelikelytointensifyinthenextfewyearsinlightoftheurgencybroughtaboutbyclimatechange,wideningsocio-economicinequalityandtheprecariousfutureofwork.ThetimingofthisprojectspeaksdirectlytotheappointmentofthePresidentialClimateChangeCo-ordinatingCommission,whichistaskedwithadvisingonSouthAfrica’sclimatechangeresponse.

ThepublicationwillaimtohighlighttheintricaciesinvolvedwithajusttransitionintheSouthAfricancontext,andtoguideandinfluencepolicyreform.DrSaliemFakir(AfricanClimateFoundation)andMISTRA’sDrNqobileXabaheadtheresearchteam,whichconsistsofscholars,practitionersandspecialistsinvariousrelevantfields.Mostofthesehaveinvolvedacademicsandresearchers,aswellaspractitionersandpolicy-makersinthepublicandprivatespheressoastoensurenotonlyanexchangeofideas,butalsothetranslationoftheseintopracticalaction.


39

Ten Years of Strategic Reflections: Retreats, Roundtables and Conferences

42

Ten Years of Facilitating Social Partnerships 54

Ten Years of Events addressed by MISTRA’s Executive Director

57

Ten Years of Global Ranking 60

Ten Years of Consultancies and Commissioned Research

62

Ten Years of Fostering Talent: MISTRA’s Internship Programme 2011–2021

69

TENYEARSOF MAKING AN IMPACT

MISTRA’s extensive network uniquely positions it to bring together various sectors of society to address difficult issues in a non-pressured environment, free from the constraints of formal, mandated interaction. Over the past ten years MISTRA has organised scores of events, roundtables, conferences and strategic retreats.

TENYEARSOF STRATEGIC REFLECTIONS:retreats • roundtables• conferences


42

Strategic retreats take place over a few days under so-called Chatham House rules, namely that the contents of a meeting can be made public provided that the source of any information, viewpoint or quotation cannot be identified. The retreats are effective in bringing together leaders from government, the private sector and civil society to unpack issues of mutual concern.

Over the years MISTRA has convened the following strategic retreats, among others.

STRATEGIC RETREATS

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND RETREAT: SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (SAFA) Duringthe2013/14financialyear,MISTRAfacilitatedSAFA’sstrategicplanningprocessinthewakeofthe

launchofourpriorityresearchproject,TheArt,PhilosophyandScienceofFootballinSouthAfrica.The

objectivesoftheretreatweretoentrenchadeeperconsensusandappreciationofthedirectioninwhich

SAFAwouldliketogo,discussthestrategicchallengesfacingtheorganisationandidentifyrealisticsteps

forward.

RETREAT: DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION (DPME) – SA/EU-POVERTY AND INEQUALITY POLICY DIALOGUE In2016,MISTRAwascommissionedtofacilitateahigh-levelpolicydialogueinordertodebateand

disseminatepolicyrecommendationsfromfiveresearchpapers:‘InterrogatingtheDriversofInequality’;

‘MobilityandtheMiddleClass’;‘TheVulnerableintheLabourMarket’;‘PossiblePolicyInterventionsto

DealwithStructuralInequality’;and‘SocialCohesionandInequality’–thelasthadbeendevelopedby

MISTRA.Thedialoguewasutilisedasaplatformforunboundeddiscussion.

PGM EXCHANGE STRATEGIC RETREATOneofthekeyrecommendationsfromMISTRA’sresearchprojectontheglobalhydrogeneconomy

wastoinvestigatetheappropriatenessandfeasibilityofestablishingaPlatinumGroupMetals(PGM)

ExchangeinSouth(ern)Africa.Astrategicretreatwashostedfrom2–3February2018.Thishadthedual

functionofbringingtogetherauthors,whowerealsokeystakeholders,tofinalisefirstdraftsoftheir

chaptersforMISTRA’snextpublicationonthissubject.

RETREAT ON SASOL AS A NATIONAL CHAMPIONIn2014,MISTRAbroughttogetherleadersofSasolandrelevantgovernmentdepartmentstoexaminethe

rolethatthecompanycanplayinnationaldevelopmentandaddresstheconstraintstoamutuallybeneficial

partnershipwiththestate.Theseincludepolicycertainty,ajusttransitiontoalow-carbonfuture,andclarity

oninternationaloperations.MISTRAalsohelpedtoinitiatediscourseinSasolonthehydrogeneconomy.

2018

2013

2014

2016


43

ROUNDTABLE: INTERROGATING METHODOLOGIES ON LABOUR STATISTICS InApril2012MISTRAheldaroundtablediscussionfocusedon

interrogatingmethodologiesforlabourstatisticsinSouthAfrica.

Thisinitiativearoseoutofahighlycontroversialdebateinthemedia

betweenAdcorp,StatisticsSA(StatsSA)andacademicsaround

themethodologyemployedbyAdcorpinitscritiqueofStatsSA’s

quarterlylabourforcesurvey(QLFS)employmentestimates.The

objectiveoftheroundtablewastofacilitateacooperativespacefor

deliberationsaroundthemethodologiesemployedbyeachparty

andtoascertainwheredivergenceoccursinthefigurespresentedto

thepublic.Furthermore,theroundtablesoughttoidentifyareasof

cooperationandconvergenceforthefuture,aswellastobringsome

clarityontheissuesofeconomicactivity,employment,thesizeofthe

informalsectorandlabourstatisticsintothepublicdomain.

ROUNDTABLE: INEQUALITY WITH PROFESSOR RICHARD WILKINSON InJuly2012,MISTRAandWitsGraduateSchoolofPublic&

DevelopmentManagementheldaSkyperoundtablewithProfessor

RichardWilkinson,UniversityofNottinghamMedicalSchool,UK.

ProfessorWilkinsonisco-authorofTheSpiritLevel:WhyMore

EqualSocietiesAlmostAlwaysDoBetter.ThetopicoftheWilkinson

roundtablewas:‘InWhatWayDoesInequalityMattertoSouth

Africa?–LessonsfromGlobalExperiences’.

MISTRA facilitates a range of roundtable discussions in its own name or in partnership with other institutes on a wide range of topics of relevance to policymakers. The topics for these roundtables arise either from the Institute’s research programme or from discussion and consultation with partners in the policymaking and research communities.

ROUND- TABLES

2012JOINT ROUNDTABLE: ROLE OF NATIONAL DEFENCE IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN DEVELOPMENTAL STATE InAugust2012,theInstituteconvenedajointroundtablewiththe

DefenceReviewCommitteeon‘TheRoleofNationalDefencein

theSouthAfricanDevelopmentalState’.TheSouthAfricanDefence

Reviewof2012wasapolicyreviewconductedbyapanelofexperts

andchairedbyretiredpoliticianandformerMinisterofDefence,

RoelfMeyer,toimproveontheshortcomingsoftheprevious

review.

JOINT ROUNDTABLE: MISTRA-KAGISO TRUST CONVERSATION ON EDUCATION MISTRAandKagisoTrustjointlyconvenedaconversationon

‘ModelsofChangeforSouthAfricanSchooling’inOctober2012.

TheKagisoTrustrunstheBeyersNaudéSchoolDevelopment

Programme(BNSDP)inanumberofprovinces.TheTrustengaged

MISTRAtoassessitsmethodology,achievementsandpotential

problems.TheprojectwasledbythelateGraemeBloch,aMISTRA

staffmemberatthetime.


44

JOINT MISTRA/TUT ROUNDTABLES: WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (USA) TheMapungubweInstitute,inpartnershipwiththeDepartmentof

PublicManagementattheTshwaneUniversityofTechnology(TUT),

convenedaseriesofroundtablediscussionswithrepresentativesof

theStateofDelaware(USA),andDelawareUniversityinFebruary

2013.Theroundtablediscussionsformedpartofaninitiativeto

establisha‘ConsortiumPartnership’,whichwillincludeother

national,continentalandinternationalstakeholders.TheDelaware

delegationwasledbySenatorChrisCoons,JeffBullock(Secretaryof

theStateofDelaware),JohnPastor(DirectorofInternationalTrade

fortheStateofDelaware)andfacultymembersfromtheUniversity

ofDelaware.

ROUNDTABLE WITH DR GREG OLSEN: SPACE EXPLORATION InMarch2013,MISTRA,inpartnershipwiththeUniversityof

Johannesburg(UJ),hostedaroundtableonspaceexplorationwith

cosmonautDrGregOlsen.DrOlsenisanAmericanentrepreneur,

engineerandscientist,who,inOctober2005,becamethethird

privatecitizentomakeaself-fundedtriptotheInternationalSpace

Station.DrOlsenwastheco-founderandchairofSensorsUnlimited

Inc.,acompanydevelopingoptoelectronicdevicessuchassensitive

near-infrared(NIR)andshortwave-infrared(SWIR)cameras.Dr

Olsenspokeabouthistriptoouterspaceandalsoaddressedthe

themeoftheroundtable:‘DotheOpportunitiesOfferedbySpace

ExplorationJustifytheInvestment?’RespondentstoDrOlsen

includedProfessorTshilidziMarwala,thenDeputyVice-Chancellor:

Research,Innovation,PostgraduateStudiesatUJandFellowofthe

MapungubweInstitute;andCeciliaHaak,InfrastructureEngineerat

theSquareKilometreArray(SKA).

2013JOINT ROUNDTABLE WITH THE SOUTH AFRICAN RESERVE BANK: GROWTH, JOB CREATION AND FINANCIAL STABILITY WITH GUNTER PAULI InMay2013,MISTRA,inpartnershipwiththeSouthAfricanReserve

Bank,hostedProfessorGunterPauliforaone-dayworkshopon

thetheme‘Growth,JobsandFinancialStability’.Theworkshop

consideredwaystoexpandcompetitiveopportunitiesinthe

realeconomy,includingmining,manufacturingandagriculture.

ProfessorGunterPauliisaworld-renownedinnovatorwhose

entrepreneurialactivitiesspanbusiness,culture,science,politics

andtheenvironmentundertherubricoftheBlueEconomy.The

discussionwasbasedonactualcasesthathavebeenimplemented

indifferentpartsoftheworld,whichcanofferSouthAfricaexciting

optionsforinclusiveandsustainablegrowth.

ROUNDTABLE ON THE CRISIS IN THE NGO SECTOR: CRITICAL REFLECTIONS ON CIVIL SOCIETY InJune2013,MISTRAandtheWitsGraduateSchoolofPublic&

DevelopmentManagement(P&DM)jointlyhostedaroundtable

onthecrisisintheNGOsector.Theroundtablebroughttogether

activiststoreflectonthecrisis,andspeakersincludedPiroshaw

Camay(Director,Co-operativeforResearch&Education–CORE),

ZaneleTwala(ExecutiveDirector,BridgeLinkingInnovatorsin

Education),ReverendMautjiPataki(SecretaryGeneral,SACouncil

ofChurches)andPaulGraham(formerExecutiveDirector,Idasa).

Deliberationscentredonthecrisisinthesector,bothintermsof

focusandresourcing.


45

ROUNDTABLES WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (USA) AND DELAWARE UNIVERSITY Asafollow-uptotheFebruary2013visittoSouthAfricabythe

delegationfromDelaware,MISTRAtookpartinaroundtablehosted

bytheUniversityofDelawareon1November2013.Theroundtable

discussedawide-rangingsetofissueswithaspecialfocuson

strategiesforreducinginequalityintheUSandSouthAfrica,

andbuildingpartnerships,especiallygiventhelimitedsuccessof

internationalpartnerships.Theroundtablewasalsoaddressedby

MsAlexandraDavis,aseniorUDstudentwhospentsixweeksin

SouthAfricaattachedtoMISTRA.

JOINT ROUNDTABLE WITH THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (PARI) AND THE FRIEDRICH EBERT STIFTUNG (FES): GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE On 16September2013,MISTRA,PARIandFESbroughttogether

apanelofmajorAfricanandAsianscholarsandthoughtleaders

tosharetheirviewsandexperiencesonthefortunesofpost-

independencegovernments.Panellistsincluded:JoelNetshitenzhe,

ExecutiveDirector(MISTRA);EghosaOsaghae,Professorof

ComparativePoliticsandVice-ChancelloratIgbinedionUniversity;

Eun-JeungLee,ProfessorattheInstituteofKoreanStudiesat

FreieUniversitat,Berlin;KetsoGordhan,formerAdvisorinthe

Presidency;andFerialHaffajee,thenEditorofCityPress.Under

thethemeof‘WhyGovernmentsWork:WhythePublicService

Matters’,panellistsexploredwhysomestateshavesucceededmore

thanothers,andwhatlessonscanbedrawnfromthesetriumphs

andfailures.

2014ROUNDTABLE: THE LEGACIES OF NELSON MANDELA, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR AND MAHATMA GANDHI: A HUMANITARIAN APPROACH TO SERVICE DELIVERY InFebruary2014,MISTRA,inpartnershipwiththeUniversityof

Pretoria’sCentreforScholarship,convenedaroundtableon‘a

humanitarianapproachtoservicedelivery’.Theroundtablesought

toexamineseveralkeyissuesrelatingtopublicservice,drawing

onthelegacies,valuesandstrategiesofNelsonMandela,Martin

LutherKingJnrandMahatmaGandhi.Thepanelcomprised

ProfessorLelandWarefromtheUniversityofDelaware;Sello

Hatang,ChiefExecutiveOfficeroftheNelsonMandelaFoundation;

andProfessorDilipMenon,asocialandculturalstudieshistorian

andtheMellonChairinIndianStudiesattheUniversityofthe

Witwatersrand.

HARAMBEE AND MISTRA LEARNING EXCHANGE ON YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENTOn25and26March2014,MISTRA,inpartnershipwithHarambee

(anNPOaddressingyouthunemployment),hostedanevidence-

basedlearningexchangeonyouthunemploymentinStellenbosch.

Theexchangewasaimedatcreatingaplatformtopropelpractical

actionandpolicytoeffectivelyfacilitatefirst-timeemployment,with

thenecessaryscaleandstrategicimpact.

MISTRA’sExecutiveDirector,JoelNetshitenzhe,presentedin

theopeningsessiononthemacrosocialimplicationsofyouth

marginalisationandpoliciesrequiredtomitigatethisscourge.The

secondsessionwasfacilitatedbyDrMcebisiNdletyana,MISTRA

researcher,andDavidMaimelawhodeliveredapresentationthat

focusedonyouthattitudes,practicesandexperiencesaroundwork-

seekingandintheworkplace.


46

ROUNDTABLE: INNOVATIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA InJune2014,MISTRA,inpartnershipwiththeSouthAfrican

ReserveBank,theDepartmentofScienceandTechnology(DST)

andSasol,hostedaroundtablewithProfessorGunterPauli,entitled

‘InnovationsinSouthAfrica:RealisingthePotentialforJobCreation’.

ThiswasafollowuptothesuccessfulroundtablewithProfessor

PauliinMay2013,jointlyhostedbyMISTRAandGovernorGill

MarcusofSARB,whichintroducedtheconceptoftheBlueEconomy

toindustrialists,bankersandleadingcivilservants.

ROUNDTABLE: CUBA InJuly2014,MISTRAhostedaroundtableattheUniversityof

Johannesburgonthelogicbehindthesocial,economicand

politicalchangesinCubaoverthepreceding10years.Thiswas

tocoincidewiththeanniversaryofCuba’sNationalDay(25July).

TheAmbassadorofCuba,CarlosFernandezdeCossío,ledthe

discussion.

2015ROUNDTABLE: THE ROLE OF INTELLECTUALS IN THE STATE-SOCIETY NEXUSMISTRA,inpartnershipwithLiliesleafheritagesite,jointlyconvened

aroundtableon‘TheRoleofIntellectualsintheState-Society

Nexus’on4March2015.

Theroundtablesoughttoexploretheroleofintellectualsin

unfoldingsocialchange.Participantsdiscussedwhetherthe

prominenceofintellectualinputintothestrategicdirectionof

societywasauniquecharacterofthephaseofresistanceandthe

earlyperiodoftransition,andwhetherthecurrentsituationis

reflectiveofthe‘normalisation’ofsociety.Theroundtableledtoa

MISTRApublicationofthesametitle.

JOINT ROUNDTABLE WITH THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON INNOVATION (NACI): ENERGY CHOICE AND SOUTH AFRICAN INNOVATIONSOn17July2015,MISTRAandtheNationalAdvisoryCouncilon

Innovation(NACI)hostedtwoparallelroundtablesonEnergyChoice

andSouthAfricanInnovations.

TheEnergyChoiceroundtableexaminedtheenergyoptionsand

institutionalcapacityavailabletobolsterSouthAfrica’selectricity

supplyandloweritsenergydemand.ParticipantsdiscussedSA’s

identificationofnuclearandshalegasasviableenergychoice.

TheInnovationsroundtablecoveredtheevolutionofSouthAfrican

systemsofinnovationfromthepre-colonialeratothepresent.

Ittookabroadviewoftheconceptofsystemsofinnovationto

captureinstitutionalaswellastechnologicalchangeandinnovation.

Thisapproachenablesthegroundingofsystemsofinnovationin

relevanteconomic,political,culturalandhistoricalcontexts.

Speakersincluded:SirMarkWalport(ChiefScientificAdviser,United

KingdomGovernment),KevinNassiep(NACICouncilMember),

TshilidziRamuedzisi(ChiefDirector:Planning,Departmentof

Energy),DrDavidFig(BiowatchSA),WrenelleStander(Sasol),Ellen

Davies(WWF),JeffreyBarbee(AllianceEarth)andProfessorTobias

Bischof-Niemz(CSIR).

JOINT AFRICA-CHINA THINK TANK FORUM: CHINA AND AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES ZhejiangUniversity,China,togetherwithMISTRAandSouth

Africa’sDepartmentofInternationalRelationsandCooperation

hostedwhatwastermedaplatformfordialogue:ameetingon9

and10September,inPretoria,todiscusstheimplicationsofthe

AfricanUnion’s2063Agenda,aswellasnewwaysofstrengthening

China’sandAfrica’sdevelopmentinitiativesandbilateralrelations.

Representativesof50Africancountriesparticipated.


47

ROUNDTABLE: CHINA RESEARCHInApril2015,aspartofthepeerinteractionsrequiredforMISTRA’s

publicationonTheRiseandDeclineandRiseofChina,membersof

theresearchteamsharedtheirinitialfindingswithscholarsatthe

InstituteofAfricanStudiesatZhejiangNormalUniversityinChina.

Aworkshopwasconvenedon13Apriltoprovidecritiqueofseveral

chaptersoftheMISTRAPRP.

MISTRA’sdelegationconsistedofDrAbbaOmar;DrHesterdu

Plessis,MISTRAFacultyHead:Humanity;JeffreySehume,MISTRA

researcher;DrPaulSeleTembe,StellenboschUniversity;and

KevinBloom,journalist.ThehostdelegationinChinaincluded

AmbassadorShuZhan(formerChineseAmbassadortoRwanda);

ProfessorLiuHongwu(IASZNUDirector);ProfessorHuTieqiu

(legalismscholar);ProfessorGeYonghai(Chineseliteraryclassics);

ProfessorLiYuqui(Sino-Africanphilosophy);ProfessorZheng

Wenzhe(Economist);ProfessorZhouZhifa(Confuciancivilisation

scholar).

ROUNDTABLE HOSTED BY THE FRIEDRICH-EBERT-STIFTUNG (FES), BRUSSELS AND BERLINMISTRA’sExecutiveDirectorandDirectorOperationswereinvited

bytheFEStovisitBrusselsandBerlintobriefrelevantinstitutions

aboutthesituationinSouthAfricaandtodeveloppartnerships

withaviewtoresearchcollaborationandpossiblenewfunding

opportunities.

Between23and29September2015,aMISTRAdelegationtookup

thisinvitationtoaddressroundtablesinbothcities.Theyalsomet

representativesofthinkstanksandresearchinstitutesineachcity,

theSouthernAfricadeskoftheEU’sforeignrelationssection,the

headoftheGermanSDP’sInternationalRelationsDepartmentand

thechairoftheSADCParliamentaryCommitteeintheBundestagas

wellasSouthAfricanambassadors.

ROUNDTABLE: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AUDIT On3September2015,theInstitute,inpartnershipwiththe

AuditorGeneralofSouthAfrica(AGSA)andtheSouthAfricanLocal

GovernmentAssociation(SALGA),hostedadiscussiononrecent

LocalGovernmentAuditResults.Theaimoftheroundtablewasto

provideanopportunityforvariousstakeholders–academics,public

andprivatesectoremployees,studentsandothers–toengagewith

andunpackthetrendinlocalgovernmentauditresults.

TheroundtabletookplaceattheUniversityofJohannesburg.

Thefollowingspeakersgavepresentations:KimiMakwetu(CEO,

AuditorGeneralSouthAfrica);XolileGeorge(CEO,SouthAfrican

LocalGovernmentAgency);DrMcebisiNdletyana(Political

EconomyFacultyHead,MISTRA);DrVinoNaidoo(SeniorLecturer,

DepartmentofPoliticalStudies,UCT);PhindileNtliziywani

(Researcher,CommunityofLawCentre,UWC);andNokuthula

Shongwe(SeniorManager,MunicipalFinance(CoGTA)KwaZulu-

Natal).

ROUNDTABLE: WHITENESS On5November2015,MISTRAconvenedaroundtablediscussionon

‘Whites,Afrikaans,Afrikaners:AddressingPost-ApartheidLegacies,

PrivilegesandBurdens’.

TheroundtablecontinuedMISTRA’sresearchworkandbook

releasedinAugust2014,titledNationFormationandSocial

Cohesion:AnEnquiryintotheHopesandAspirationsofSouth

Africans.Thevoiceofwhiteswasoneofthegapsidentifiedin

thatreport;thiswasusedasastartingpointfortheroundtable

discussiononwhiteness.


48

ROUNDTABLE: MILLENNIAL DIALOGUE Aroundtablewasheld,inpartnershipwiththeFoundationfor

EuropeanProgressiveStudies(FEPS),theGlobalProgressiveForum

(GPF)andtheFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES)on20May2016at

theWitsClub.Thediscussionwasinformedbyaresearchstudy

commissionedbyFEPSandtheGPFaimedatobtainingabetter

understandingofyouthattitudestowardspoliticalparticipationin

threeAfricancountries:Senegal,MozambiqueandSouthAfrica.The

roundtablewasalsoaimedatlaunchingSouthAfrica’sMillennial

SurveyResults,andpresentingkeyfindings.

ROUNDTABLE: BLACK INDUSTRIALISTS IN THE GREEN ECONOMY InJune2016,MISTRA,inpartnershipwiththeFriedrich-Ebert-

Stiftung,hostedaroundtableon‘TheRoleofBlackIndustrialistsin

theGreenEconomy’attheDevelopmentBankofSouthernAfrica

(DBSA).Thediscussionfocusedonoptionsforimplementingsome

ofthemajorinsightsfromtheMISTRApublication,EarthWindand

Fire.PanellistsincludeddirectorsfromtheDepartmentofTrade

andIndustryandtheDepartmentofEnvironmentalAffairs,the

ManagingDirectorofKnowledgePele,arepresentativeoftheWorld

WideFund,andthegeneralmanageroftheSouthAfricanGreen

IndustryAssociation.

ROUNDTABLE: THE SOCIAL PROFILE OF YOUTH On28June2016,MISTRA,inpartnershipwithStatisticsSouthAfrica

(StatsSA),hostedaroundtableontheStatsSAReportontheSocial

ProfileofYouth(2009–2014).Thethemeoftheeventwas,‘Has

SouthAfricaMissedtheDemographicDividend?SocialProfileof

YouthandImplicationsfortheCountry’sDevelopment’.

Theroundtable’sobjectivesweretointerrogatethewidersocial

statusofyoungpeopleinSouthAfricaandtheimplicationsofthat

statusforSouthAfrica’sdevelopmenttrajectory.Theclosedsession

wasattendedbytheStatisticianGeneral;SecretaryoftheNational

PlanningCommission;ManagingDirectoroftheYouthDevelopment

InstituteofSA;CEOoftheCouncilonHigherEducation;MISTRA

Chairperson,ProfessorSibusisoVil-Nkomo;andothersenior

representativesofvariousgovernmentdepartments,civilsociety

organisationsandacademicinstitutions.

2016


49

TENYEARSOFWORKONPLATINUMGROUPMETALSANDTHEHYDROGENECONOMYIn the wake of its 2014 PGM report MISTRA was drawn into the arena of developing policies for PGM beneficiation.

As a follow up to the publication, MISTRA instituted the Annual PGM Roundtable. These are discussed in more detail below, where it becomes evident that, over the years, the roundtables have covered a broad range of topics, including fuel cell development for application in both stationary and mobile applications, the case for a PGM metals exchange, and sustainability initiatives that will ensure mining communities thrive beyond mining activity.

Theroundtableseriesresultedinasecondreport–Partnershipsfor

PGMBeneficiationthroughtheHydrogenEconomy:AReportonthe

MISTRAAnnualRoundtables2016–2019–whichprovidesameta-

analysisofthediscussionsatthePGMannualroundtables.

AnotheroutcomefromtheinitialHydrogenEconomyreportwas

ongoinginvestigationintotheappropriatenessandfeasibility

ofestablishingaPGMExchangeinSouth(ern)Africa.MISTRA

undertookextensiveconsultationatstrategicretreatsand

colloquiums,withbothdomesticandinternationalstakeholders,

aboutthepracticabilityofestablishingtheproposedMetals

Exchange.TheInstitutethen,inpartnershipwithPan-African

InvestmentandResearchServices(PAIRS)andtheJohannesburg

StockExchange(JSE),launchedapublicationentitledASouth

AfricanPGMExchange:PolicyRationaleforFinancialBeneficiation,

on25November2019.

TheDepartmentofScienceandInnovationhasbeenapatronof

MISTRA’sPGMbeneficiationprojects.Stakeholderswhohavealso

beeninvolvedintheroundtableseriesincludetheDepartmentsof

TradeandIndustry,MineralResourcesandEnergy;theIndustrial

DevelopmentCorporation;HydrogenSouthAfrica(HySA)

Programme;andminingcompaniesincludingAngloPlatinum,

ImpalaPlatinumandRoyalBafokengPlatinum.


50

2016FIRST ROUNDTABLE ON PLATINUM GROUP METALS (PGM) AND FUEL CELL APPLICATIONS On28September2016,MISTRAinpartnershipwithFriedrich-Ebert-

Stiftung(FES)SouthAfrica,hostedtheinauguralroundtableon

PlatinumGroupMetals(PGM)&FuelCellApplications.Theaimof

theroundtablewastoexploredevelopmentsinthisindustry,expand

marketdemandforPGMsandadvancepolicyforPGMbeneficiation.

Thisfirstroundtablefocusedonfuelcellsapplicationsinvarious

marketssuchasresidential,industryandtransportation.Input

includedpresentationsfromtheDepartmentofTradeandIndustry,

SibanyeGold,DepartmentofScience&Technology,HydrogenSouth

Africa(HySA)Programme,ImpalaPlatinum(Implats)andAnglo

AmericanPlatinum(Amplats).

2017SECOND ANNUAL PGM ROUNDTABLEMISTRAhosteditssecondAnnualPGMRoundtableon8November

2017.Usinghydrogenfuelcellsasacasestudy,themeetingprobed

thefundamentalquestionofhowSouthAfrica’sPGMendowment

couldpositionthecountryandtheregionattheforefrontofthe

globalPGM-basedindustrialsector.

Theroundtablewasintendedtoreviewandassessimplementation

ofstrategiesforthePGMvaluechain–includingfuelcelltechnology

initiatives–inordertoextractmaximumpossiblegainforSouthAfrica.

2018THIRD ANNUAL PGM ROUNDTABLEMISTRA’sthirdPGMRoundtablewasheldon27September2018

attheGallagherConventionCentreinMidrand.Ittookforwardthe

discussionsonfuelcelltechnologyunderthetheme‘Whatneeds

tobedone,bywhom,bywhenandhow?’Thediscussionswereon

demand-sidemanagement,particularlycultivatingamarketforPGM-

basedfuelcells,includingruralelectrificationandotherareasfor

opportunity.Supply-sidemanagementopportunitiesandchallenges

infuel-cellmanufacturingwerealsodiscussed,includingtheprogress

oftheHydrogenSouthAfrica(HySA)centresofcompetenceofthe

DepartmentofScienceandTechnology(DST);originalequipment

manufacturers(OEMs)–companiesthatproducepartsand

equipmentthatmaybemarketedbyanothermanufacturer);andthe

initiationofPGM-basedSpecialEconomicZones(SEZs)andIndustrial

DevelopmentZones(IDZs)–geographicallydesignatedareassetaside

forspecificallytargetedeconomicactivities.

2019FOURTH ANNUAL PGM ROUNDTABLEMISTRAhostedtheFourthAnnualPlatinumGroupMetals(PGM)

Roundtableon25November2019.Thefocusoftheroundtablewas

PGMbeneficiation,inrelationtothemanagementofthedemand-

andsupply-sideforPGM-basedfuelcells.

TheroundtableincludedthelaunchofMISTRA’slatestresearch

reportonPGMs,entitled:ASouthAfricanPGMExchange:Policy

RationaleforFinancialBeneficiation.

TheresearchwasundertakenbyMISTRAinpartnershipwiththeJSE

andPAIRS,inconsultationwithPGMvaluechainstakeholders.The

publicationexploresthefeasibilityofestablishingaPGMExchange

inSouthAfrica.

Thediscussionbroughttogetherproducersandotherindustry

leaders,membersofnationalandprovincialgovernmentand

academicstoengageonhowthecountrycandevelopPGM

beneficiationthroughthedevelopmentofafuelcellindustry,as

identifiedintheIndustrialPolicyActionPlan(IPAP).

2020FIFTH ANNUAL PGM ROUNDTABLETheFifthAnnualPGMroundtablewasheldon5November2020,

underthetheme‘BuildingaPGMIndustrySocialCompactfor

SouthAfrica’ anddiscussionwasaimedatfacilitatingthecentral

coordinationofPGMactivitiesinthecountry.

TheroundtablealsoincludedalaunchofMISTRA’sbookleton

PartnershipsforPGMBeneficiationthroughtheHydrogenEconomy.

Thepublicationoffersameta-analysisofthediscussionsatMISTRA’s

PGMAnnualRoundtablesfrom2016to2019.


51

ROUNDTABLE ON SOUTH AFRICA’S TRANSITION TO A LOW-CARBON ECONOMY MISTRA,inpartnershipwithFESSouthAfrica,hostedaroundtableonSouthAfrica’stransitiontoalowcarboneconomyon27October2016.

Thiswasapost-launcheventinthewakeofMISTRA’sEarth,WindandFire(EWF)researchprojectreferredtoearlier.Contributorsatthe

roundtableincludedrepresentativesfromtheDevelopmentBankofSouthernAfrica’sGreenFund,OxfamSouthAfrica,theUnitedNations

EnvironmentProgramme,andtheCEOsofSaryaPowerandBlackIndustrialists(Pty)Ltd.

2016

2017

2018

ROUNDTABLE: MISTRAY (YOUTH) ‘VOICES THAT CURL’ FOR WOMEN’S MONTH On31August2017,MISTRAy(Youth)hostedaWomen’sMonthevent,titled‘VoicesthatCurl’.Theeventwasaimedatengagingissuesof

genderandjusticethroughthearts;showcasingthecreativeandpoliticalvoicesoffemale/femmeartists;creatingnewmodesofpublic

dialogueongenderpoliticsbyengagingmusicandartistry;andexploringtheroleofcreativeworkinreckoningwithSouthAfrica’sgender

injustices.

ROUNDTABLE: SOUTH AFRICA’S POST-COLONIAL DEMOCRATIC TRAJECTORY On9October2019,MISTRAhostedaroundtablediscussiononSouthAfrica’spost-colonialdemocratictrajectory.Theaimofthemeetingwas

todiscusstheresearchthatMISTRAwasundertakinginresponsetoaspecialcallputoutbytheOpenSocietyFoundationforSouthAfrica

(OSF-SA),tohelpitundertakearesearchprojectonunderstandingSouthAfrica’spost-colonialdemocratictrajectory.

TheprojectwasintendedasacomparativeanalysisofSouthAfrica’s25yearsofdemocracyagainsttheMozambican,AlgerianandIndian

experiencesofpost-colonialdemocraticgovernance.TheresearchwasaimedatexaminingwhetherSouthAfrica’scurrentdemocratic

trajectoryisexceptionaland/orcomparabletootherpost-liberationexperiences.

Researchfindingswerepublishedinareportlaunchedon15October2020,entitledUnderstandingSouthAfrica’sDemocraticTrajectory:A

comparativeanalysisofpost-colonialsocieties.


52

Against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, MISTRA organised a few roundtables in 2020 to bring its core research work to bear on the experiences under the pandemic. Three of these are:

1ROUNDTABLE ON EPIDEMICS AND THE HEALTH OF AFRICAN NATIONS MISTRA hosted a webinar on 29 April 2020 based on its publication, Epidemics and the Health of African Nations, launched in July 2019. The book contains policy recommendations relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic as it examines the interrelationship between disease and political and socio-economic contexts. Proposals include adopting a syndemics approach to tackling epidemics in Africa, i.e. taking into account the socio-economic and political contexts within which diseases occur and responses are fashioned. Based on a few case studies, the book also explores experiences in, and options for, universal healthcare in African countries, as well as the role of frontline health workers in South Africa’s epidemic preparedness.

2020

2ROUNDTABLE ON THE NEED FOR A TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH TO SOUTH AFRICA’S COVID-19 CRISISOn 2 July 2020, MISTRA hosted a webinar on ‘The Need for a Transdisciplinary Approach to South Africa’s COVID-19 crisis’. The webinar was a follow-up to MISTRA’s working paper, published in May 2020, entitled, ‘Linking Transdisciplinarity Practice to South African Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy’, and also took forward the ideas in the publication, The Concept and Application of Transdisciplinarity in Intellectual Discourse and Research.

The discussion was led by Dr Hester du Plessis, former MISTRA staffer and Associate Researcher in the Office of the Dean of Humanities, University of Pretoria; Dr Jeffrey Sehume, Speech Writer in the Office of the Deputy President David Mabuza; and Professor Tally Palmer, Director of the IWR & ARUA Water Centre of Excellence, Rhodes University.

3ROUNDTABLE: BASIC EDUCATION AND COVID-19MISTRA hosted an online roundtable on the ‘Challenges Facing Basic Education in the Context of COVID-19’ on 19 August 2020, as a follow up to its publication, Reimagining Basic Education in South Africa: Lessons from the Eastern Cape.

The objective of the roundtable was to discuss the way forward for basic education during COVID-19 and beyond; examine the challenges, possibilities and future for basic education in the context of the pandemic; and ways in which teachers, learners, families and the state might best respond.


53

Besides the impact that MISTRA makes through core research work in influencing strategic thinking and policy-making, the Institute also uses its unique convening power to ensure exchange of views among social partners. Below we cite just three examples for illustration, with other commissioned studies and events listed on page 58.

TENYEARSOF FACILITATING SOCIAL PARTNERSHIPS


54

2013MISTRA AND THE DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, MONITORING AND EVALUATION (DPME) IN THE PRESIDENCY SinceMISTRAestablisheditsconsultancyandcommissionedresearch

servicesin2013,ithasbeencommissionedtoundertakeseveral

projectsbytheDPME.TheearlyworkwiththeDPMEentailedpeer

reviewofreports.In2013,theInstitutewascommissionedtoreview

allthepapersproducedtowardstheDPME’s20-YearReview.This

ledtotheInstitutebeingapproachedtodraftandreviewsomeof

thepaperstowardsthesubsequent25YearsofDemocracyreview

in2019.Theworkincludedenhancingthepapers,aswellasmaking

recommendationsforthestructureofthereports.Inthesameperiod,

MISTRAwasrequestedtopeerreviewtheDepartment’sNational

EvaluationPolicyFramework(NEPF).Furtherreviewsweretofollow,

includingareviewoftheVoluntaryNationalReview(NVR),which

reportstotheUnitedNationsonSouthAfrica’sprogressinachieving

the2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopment.In2020,MISTRA

peerreviewedanassessmentoftheworkoftheNationalPlanning

Commissionsinceitsestablishment,withafocusontheNational

DevelopmentPlan.

Between2014and2015MISTRAwascommissionedbytheNational

PlanningCommission(NPC),throughtheDPME,toundertakeafull

studyonsocialcompacts.TheNationalDevelopmentPlan(NDP)

identifiedtheimportanceofcompactinginsolvingproblemsin

society.MISTRAwasinauniqueposition,givenitsresearchonnation

formationandsocialcohesion,tounpackkeyelementsoftheNDP.

In2015,MISTRAalsopartneredwiththeUniversityofCapeTownto

draftpapersandleadtheconversationon‘PovertyandInequality

PolicyDialogue’.TheprojectwaslocatedintheDPME’sProgramme

toSupportPro-poorPolicyDevelopment(PSPPD),fundedbythe

EuropeanUnion(EU).Thisworkwasfollowedbyanotherinitiative

thatsoughttocuratepolicypaperstowardsthe2018JobsSummit.

MISTRA’sfindingsfromalltheaboveprojectshassinceinformedother

majorinitiativessuchastheIndlulamithiScenarios.

MISTRAiscurrentlyleadingaprojectthatissponsoredbyAnglo

AmericaninsupportofthedevelopmentofaPresidentialMacro-

SocialReport(MSR).Theinitiativeisaculminationofthe25Years

ofDemocracyConferencethatwasconvenedin2019byMISTRA

inpartnershipwiththeUniversityofJohannesburg(UJ),andthe

Presidency.Thatconferenceaimedatsharingresearchtofacilitate

reflectivenationaldiscourseonthenation’sevolvingdemocracy.

201420 YEARS OF DEMOCRACY CONFERENCE In2014,theInstituteorganisedthe

successful20YearsofDemocracy

Conference,inpartnershipwiththeThabo

MbekiLeadershipInstitute(TMALI)and

withthefinancialsupportoftheFriedrich-

Ebert-Stiftung(FES).Theconferenceaimed

atexploringthetheoreticalperspectives

underpinningthestateofSouthAfrica

intwodecadesofdemocracyand,most

importantly,prospectsforthefuture.The

conferenceculminatedinapublication

thatcoversthefollowingthemesofthe

conference:reflectionsonhistorical

momentsandtheSouthAfricanpolitical

economy;values,nationformation

andsocialcompacting;innovationand

transdisciplinaryknowledgeforaction;

andbuildingacapabledevelopmentstate.

Thepublicationthuscontainsinputsfrom

awiderangeofprominentSouthAfrican

andinternationalthinkers,practitioners

andactivists.Someinputsareintheform

ofpreparedpapers,whileothersaredrawn

fromtranscriptsofpresentationsand

speechesdeliveredattheconference.


55

2012DEPARTMENT OF SPORT, ARTS AND CULTURE (DSAC)In2012MISTRAwastaskedwithprovidingcontentsupportforthe

KliptownSocialCohesionSummitwhichculminatedintheNational

SocialCohesionStrategy.Asaresult,whenthethenDepartment

ofArtsandCulture(DAC)soughttoconveneaSocialCompacting

Convention(ultimatelyheldinFebruary2020),itwasnaturalfor

MISTRAtobecommissioned.Onthebasisoftheworkdoneon

IndlulamithiScenarios,combinedwiththeNPC’ssocialcompacts

research,theInstitutefacilitatedasocialcompactingprocess

throughresearch,stakeholderconsultationsanddialoguebetween

keyroleplayersaboutsocialcohesion.Theaimwastoobtainabroad

consensusontherolethatdifferentsectorswillplayinpromoting

socialcohesionandnation-building;andobtainagreementonthe

spiritandtheletterofthesocialcompactanditsbindingforceonall

sectors.

Thesocialcompactsresearchreportincludedanumberofcase

studiesfromEurope,South-eastAsiaandAfrica.Thefindingsfrom

thestakeholdermappingexercisedeterminedthestakeholdersto

beprioritised,whichwerecitizensdrawnfromcivilsociety,business,

youth,government,labour,media,women,peoplewithdisabilities

andtraditionalauthorities.Theseprioritieswerefurtherpresented

attheSocialCompactingConventionheldon6and7February2020

atSaintGeorgeHotel,Irene.Duringthetwo-dayevent,stakeholders

reachedconsensusonthesocialcompactanditsbindingforceonall

sectors.MISTRAhandedoveraprogrammeofactiontobefollowed

bytheDepartmentinitseffortstopromotecompactsinSouth

Africa.

2020/21THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LABOUR COUNCIL (NEDLAC) Duringthe2020/21reportingperiod,MISTRA,inpartnershipwith

theInternationalLabourOrganisation(ILO),ledaresearchstudythat

aimedtoinvestigatewhetherNEDLACisfitforpurpose.Theprocess

entailedinterviewingexperts,influencersandotherstakeholdersto

getanunderstandingoftheirviewsandexpectationsofNEDLAC.

Findingsfromtheresearchwereoutlinedintwostorylinesdrawn

fromahigh-levelanalysisofinsightsfromkeystakeholders,

combinedwithrelevantliteraturewithoptionsforNEDLAC.Thetwo

optionswerepresentedtotheGovernanceTaskTeamofNEDLACin

2021,alongwithseveralrecommendationstowardstheamendment

oftheNEDLACActandotherkeystrategicdocumentsofthe

Secretariat.


56

MISTRA, through its Executive Director, Joel Netshitenzhe, has addressed a range of conferences. Below are listed just 32 of the total number of conferences attended (20 local; 4 on the African continent; 8 international conferences).

TENYEARSOF EVENTS ADDRESSED BY MISTRA’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR


57

2011July:UJPovertyColloquium,

‘Addressingchallengesofpoverty’,

Johannesburg,SA

September: SAHistoryOnlineANCCentenaryConference,

Johannesburg,SA

2013February: COSATUChrisHaniInstitute,‘ALulamomentforSouth

Africa?’,Johannesburg,SA

May:PanAfricanParliament,

‘TowardsAgenda2063:APan-African

renaissanceinthenext50years?’,

Midrand,SA

October:UniversityofColumbia,

PixleykaIsakaSemeLecture,New

York,USA

August: Mininglekgotla,‘Strategies

toaddresschallengesfacingthe

miningindustry’,Johannesburg,SA

20152015, 2016, 2017, 2020

6thTanaHigh-LevelForumon

SecurityinAfricaonSecurity,

Themesincluded:Natural

ResourceGovernanceinAfrica,

AfCFTAandPan-Africanism

&AfricainGlobalSecurity

Agenda,BahirDar,Ethiopiaand

byZoomin2020.

2012March: RussiaAcademyofSciences,

‘ThefutureofAfrica:Thestruggleof

newandoldactors’,Moscow,Russia

2014July: UNEcosoc,‘Sustainabledevelopment:Fromsilosto

integratedpolicy-making’,NewYork,

USA

August:FinancialandFiscalCommissionConference,‘Role

ofinter-governmentalfiscal

relations(IGFR)institutionsin

decentralisation’,CapeTown,SA

August:Mininglekgotla,‘Strategies

toaddresschallengesfacingthe

miningindustry’,Johannesburg,SA

September:UnitedNationsUniversity-Wider,‘Inequality

measurement,trends,impactsand

policies’,Helsinki,Finland


58

2018March:UNESCOSouthernAfrica,‘Nationalliberationmovements

intheSADCregion:Regional

dimensionsandlinkages’,Windhoek,

Namibia

July: BRICSNetworkUniversity,‘Opportunitiesandchallengesin

usheringanewglobalorder:Role

oftheBRICSNetworkUniversity’,

Stellenbosch,SA

October:TheInternationalPlatinum

GroupMetalsAssociation(IPA),

‘MISTRA’sMining2030visionand

howSouthAfrican’sminingpotential

canbefullyunlocked’,Muldersdrift,

Johannesburg,SA

2020February:DACSocialCompact

Convention,‘Pillarsofasocialcompact’,

Centurion, SA

September:NelsonMandelaUniversity

AnnualYouthConvention,’Young

peopleasagentsofownandcollective

development:Innovation,digitaldivide,

socialjusticeandentrepreneurship

-traversingcontradictions’,webinar

December:NEDLAC25thAnnualSummit,‘Socialcompactingfor

economicrecoveryinthetimeofCovid-

19:pointerstothefuture’,webinar

December:MISTRAAnnualLecture,

‘CanSouthAfrica’scivilisationofnational

democracysustainitself?’,Universityof

Johannesburg,Johannesburg,SA

2016October:ChineseAcademyofSciences,

WorldSocialistForum,‘Reflectionson

globalrealitiesandthepossibilitiesof

socialjusticeinthecurrentage’,Beijing,

PRC

November:TheAssociationofBlackSecuritiesandInvestment(ABSIP),

‘Economictransformationforsocial

change’,Johannesburg,SA

November: DepartmentofScience

andTechnology(DST)–ScienceForum,

‘Theroleofsocialscienceandcritical

reflectioninshapingSouthAfrica’sand

Africa’sfuture’,Tshwane,SA

2019February: ConferenceEconomicOutlook

2019,GIBS(GordonInstituteofBusiness

Science),Johannesburg,SA

April: LimpopoProvincialCriticalThinking

Seminar,‘Roleofgovernmentinadvancing

theNationalDevelopmentProgramme’,

LimpopoProvince,SA

May:IndependentPhilanthropyAssociationSAevent,‘Openingremarkson

philanthropy,CyrilRamaphosaFoundation

Offices.Johannesburg,SA

December:Anglo-AmericanStrategysession,

‘Macro/Political/EconomicAnalysisofSouth

Africaandwhereweareintheminingspace’,

InandaClub,Johannesburg,SA

2021February:NEDLACLabourSchool,‘ReflectionsontheEconomic

ReconstructionandRecoveryPlan’,

Johannesburg,SA

2016, 2017, 2018

FoundationforEuropeanProgressiveStudies(FEPS)Progressive

Agendaconsultations,‘Prioritisingpeopleandplanet:Anewagenda

forglobalprogress’,Roundtablesleadingtodraftingandadoptionof

documentonBrussels(Belgium),CapeTown(SA)&Toronto(Canada).


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TENYEARSOF GLOBAL RANKING

BACKGROUND TO THE GLOBAL GO TO THINK TANK INDEX

Over the past 8 years, MISTRA has consistently been included in the annual Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme’s (TTCSP) Global Go To Think Tank Index, an initiative launched by the Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania, in the USA.


60

MISTRA’S RANKINGJustthreeyearsintoitsestablishment,MISTRAgainedglobal

recognitionbybeingranked10thBestNewThinkTankGloballyin

the2013and2014IndexReports.Sincethen,ithasconsistently

beenamongthetopthinktanksinitscategory.

In2018and2019,despitetheexpansioninthenumberandtype

ofthinktanksestablishedinAfrica,AsiaandLatinAmerica,MISTRA

maintaineditsrankingat37thintheTopThinkTanksGlobally

withAnnualOperatingBudgetsofLessThanUSD5million,and

regionally,amongsttheTop50ThinkTanksinSub-SaharanAfrica.

MISTRAparticipatedinseminarson‘TheImportanceofThinkTanks’

and ‘TheRoleofWomeninThinkTanksandPolicyAdvice’.Both

eventsbroughttogetherthinktankexecutives,scholarsandpolicy-

makersfromover540institutionsinover87countries.

Forthe2020annualindex,MISTRAwasranked36amongsttheTop

ThinkTankswithAnnualOperatingBudgetsofLessThan$5Million

USD,andamongsttheTop51ThinkTanksinSub-SaharanAfrica.

Inadditiontobeingrankedinthesetwocategories,MISTRAwas

recognisedinthecategory:BestPolicyandInstitutionalResponseto

COVID-19foritsresearchpublicationon EpidemicsandtheHealth

ofAfricanNations.MISTRA’sSeniorResearcherandeditorofthe

book,ZamanzimaMazibuko-Makena,presentedanoverviewofthe

researchattheseminaron‘WhyThinkTanksMatter’.

Whiletheindexessentiallyusesasubjectivemethodologyrelying

onmobilisedsubmissionsfrompeers,itisanimportantglobal

initiativethatdrawsattentiontotheroleofthinktanksandtheir

contributiontopublicpolicyandcivilsociety.Theindexalsoserves

toincreasethevisibility,roleandinfluenceofthinktanks,profiling

individualorganisationsandtheiruniquecontributionstopolicy-

making.Theinitiativefacilitatestransnationalandtransdisciplinary

networkingofcentresofpublicpolicyexcellenceacrosstheworld.

Eachyear,theindexrecognisesthetop150globalthinktanks

throughaprocessofpeerranking,whichresultsinthereleaseof

anannualGlobalGoToThinkTankIndexReport.Sinceitsinception

in1989,theindexhasbeenconsideredthemostcomprehensive

rankingoftheworld’stopthinktanks.

Thinktankorganisationsareassessedacrossfivegeneralcategories:

theworld,byregion,bycountry,byareaofresearchandby

achievement.Categoriesarefurtherdividedintoresearchareas

suchas:SecurityandInternationalAffairs;InternationalEconomic

Policy;ImpactonPublicPolicy;Advocacy;andEnvironment,Energy

andResourcePolicy.Inaddition,thinktanksareassessedinrelation

togovernmentaffiliationandpoliticalpartyaffiliation.


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TENYEARSOF CONSULTANCIES AND COMMISSIONED RESEARCH


62

In addition to the broad national initiatives stated in the preceding sections, MISTRA has also taken up a number of other projects that were commissioned by the private sector, government and other non-government actors. The list below describes some of the Institute’s consultancies projects up to 2020.


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INDLULAMITHI SCENARIOS MISTRAhasbecomeknownforitsexpertiseinthespecialisedfieldofscenariosresearch.Thisresearchapproachisaimedatelicitingstrategicthinkingaboutbothcurrentandfuturecircumstancesbywayofdevelopingdifferentpossiblefuturescenarios.TheInstitutehasundertakenanumberofscenariosexercisesforvariedprivateandgovernmentclients.Oneoftheseprojects,IndlulamithiScenarios,hasbecomeoneofMISTRA’smajorongoingcommitments.

INCEPTIONIn2017,agroupofrepresentativesfromgovernment,labour,academia,

businessandotherstakeholderscametogethertoestablishIndlulamithi

SouthAfricaScenarios2030asabasisforstrategicreflectiononchange,

centredonalong-termviewofSouthAfrica.Thiswasamulti-stakeholder

projectwithMISTRAbeingtheleadresearchpartner.TheSouthAfrican

Scenarios2030receivedoverwhelmingsupportfromboththemediaand

thepublic.

IMPACTThesubsequentgrowthofIndlulamithihasbeenorganicandhas

extendedbeyondscenariodevelopmenttoencompassotherpillars,

includingmonitoring,tracking,modellingandevaluationtools,anda

frameworkforsocialcompacting.

Todate,theproject’sworkhasbeenextendedfarandwide.Theresearch

andscenarioshavefeddebatesoneconomic,national,regionaland

institutionalstrategies,beenusedbyvariousinstitutions(bothpublic

andprivate)asplanningtools,andalsobeenincludedinkeyinstitutional

reports.

Theleadershipteamisexaminingtheneedtoembarkonanotherscenario

planningprocess(IndlulamithiSouthAfricanScenarios2035).TheMISTRA-

ledscenariosresearchwillrunparalleltothesocialcompactingworkwhich

isaspin-offfromthefirstscenarios.Thenewscenarioswillalsoaddressany

limitationsinthepreviousexercise.

2018


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THE INDLULAMITHI SOUTH AFRICA SCENARIOS 2030 INITIATIVE IS AN ONGOING PROJECT THAT HAS IDENTIFIED

TWO KEY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED: WHAT WOULD A SOCIALLY COHESIVE SOUTH AFRICA LOOK LIKE? AND TO WHAT

DEGREE IS IT ATTAINABLE BY 2030?

2019


65

Client and Project Title Brief Description Timeframes

Afrilics: Innovation Theaimwastoassessandcomparelow-carbonenergydevelopmentsinAfrica

inanefforttounderstandthefactorsthatpromotetheiradoptionindifferent

contexts.

2014

City of Johannesburg (CoJ): Mayoral Lekgotla

MISTRAassistedwiththeidentificationofthecity’sprioritiesbytracingback

thevariouscommitmentsmadeinitsGrowthandDevelopmentStrategy,as

wellasin‘StateoftheCityAddresses’bytheExecutiveMayor.

2014

Department of Public Service and Administration (DPSA): Strategic Planning

TheDPSASeniorManagement,afterengagingwiththeMinisteroftheDPSA,

drafteda2015/2020StrategicPlanwhichtheywishedtohavealignedwiththe

NDP.ThedepartmentappointedMISTRAtoassessthedocumentandprovide

feedback.

2014

National Union of Mineworkers (NUM): Organisational Renewal

MISTRAwasappointedtoconductastudyintendedtoinformthe

organisationalrenewaloftheNationalUnionofMineworkers(NUM).

2015

Resource Watch (Open Society): Resource Nationalism in Africa

ThestudytrackedtheimplementationoftheAfricanUnion’sMiningVision

2050andalsoexaminedmeasuresthatAfricancountrieshaveintroducedto

realisethisvision.

2015

SASOL: Resource Nationalism Thiswasaqualitativestudywhichlookedattheresurgenceofresource

nationalismanditsmanifestationinpublicpolicy.

2015

South African Football Association (SAFA): Strategic Planning and Retreat

SAFAhadidentifiedaneedtoentrenchadeeperconsensusabout,and

appreciationof,thedirectioninwhichSAFAwouldliketogo,thestrategic

challengesitwouldfaceifdoingso,andthetasksofthemoment.

2015

Gauteng Provincial

Legislature: ANC Caucus (Theme: Policy Audit)

MISTRAundertookastudyintoAfricanNationalCongress(ANC)policiessince

the2010NationalGeneralCouncil(NGC)upto2015.

2015

Yellowwoods – Harambee HarambeeYouthEmploymentAcceleratorisaninitiativeofYellowwoods.It

hasachievedadmirablesuccessasaneffectiveyouthemploymentfacilitator.

MISTRAwasengagedtoconductalearningsessiontoshareempirical

knowledgeandinsightsbetweenkeyorganisationsinvolvedingatheringand

analysingdataonyouthemploymentinSouthAfrica.MISTRAisapartnerin

thisproject.

2015

National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS): Masterplan Framework for the Establishment of Heritage Hubs

TheNationalInstituteforHumanitiesandSocialSciences(NIHSS)

commissionedMISTRAtodraftaconceptdocumentthatwouldserveasa

basisforamasterplanframeworkfortheestablishmentofheritagehubsin

SouthAfrica.

2017


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SASOL: Pragmatism and Corporate Citizen Responsibility: Sasol’s Position in a Developmental South Africa

MISTRAwascommissionedbySasoltoassistinpositioningthecompanyasa

partnerwithitsstakeholders–particularlygovernmentatnational,provincial

andlocallevels–aswellascommunityorganisations.

2017

World Expo 2025 WorldExposareglobaleventsthatarestagedeveryfiveyearsbyabid-winning

nation.Theyservetocelebratecultural,technologicalandinnovativewonders

fromparticipatingcountries.MISTRAwasappointedbyaprivatesector

consortiumtolookatthepossibilityofGautenghostingtheWorldExpo2025.

2017

Gauteng Office of the Premier: Strategic Planning

MISTRAfacilitatedatwo-dayworkshopfortheOfficeofthePremierof

GautengProvince.Theaimoftheexercisewastodeterminewhetherthe

strategicplanthatwasdraftedfortheGautengCityRegionwouldaddressthe

challengeswithintheprovince.

2017

FES: Scenarios for a Low Carbon Economy

Phase 1:MISTRA,togetherwiththeFriedrich-Ebert-Stiftung(FES),has

undertakennewinitiativestotakeforwardtheoutcomesofitsresearchproject

ontheGreenEconomy,Earth,WindandFire.

Phase 2:MISTRAfacilitatedadiscussionaroundthepossibilitiesforatransition

toalow-carboneconomy,withthesupportoftheFES.Theaimwastoidentify

thevariablesthatmustbetakenintoaccountinordertodevelopscenarios

forthistransition.MISTRAthenrankedthevariablesaccordingtocertaintyor

likelyimpacttodevelopKeyDrivingForces(KDFs).

Phase 3:ThethirdphasesawMISTRAexpandingontheKDFsandusingthem

asthebasisforstorylinesthatwouldleadtodraftscenarios.

2017–2019

Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Exchange

MISTRA investigatedtheappropriatenessandfeasibilityofestablishinga

PGMExchangeinSouth(ern)Africa.Thereport,editedbyIrajAbedian,was

launchedin2019inpartnershipwiththeJohannesburgStockExchange(JSE).

Ongoing

Total Utility Management (TUMS): Beyond Public Private Partnerships (PPPs)

MISTRAlookedatcreatinganunderstandingofPPPsasamechanismforthe

deliveryofservices.ItusedthistoassesstheperformanceoftheTshwane

UtilitiesManagementSystem(TUMS)againsttwoPPPcasestudies:Gauteng

e-TollsandtheGautrain;andtoassesswhethersomethingbeyondPPPscanbe

imagined–usingtheTUMScasestudyasanassessmenttool.

2018

SASOL MISTRAwascommissionedbySasoltoassistinassessingthecompany’s

relationswithitsstakeholders.Inadditiontothis,MISTRAwasaskedto

facilitateengagementsbetweenrelevantofficialsasameansofimproving

relationsandestablishingtrustbetweenSasolandthestate.

2018

Argon Securities ArgonSecurities,anowner-managedinvestmentmanagementcompany,

initiatedapartnershipwithMISTRA.Argonwaskeentofacilitateresearchto

informdecisionstakenbythecompany’sclientele.

2018


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Concentric Alliance (CA) MISTRAwasapproachedtoassistonaprojectthathadbeencommissioned

bytheChamberofMines.TheCAhadbeentaskedwithengagingwith

stakeholdersandprovidingadvisoryservicesonwhatmightbedoneto

addresslegacyissuesintheminingsector.

2018

Dialogue Facilitation between the European Union (EU) and South Africa

Tocreateacommonunderstandingofthesustainabilitytransitionimplicitin

theNationalDevelopmentPlan(NDP)2030.

2018

Thebe Foundation ThebecommissionedMISTRAtoconductresearchonitscurrentoperating

context;thisresearchwas,inturn,toinformThebe’sstrategicreview

process.Attheonset,fourareaswereidentified:politicaleconomyandpolicy

discourse;communitydevelopment;thestateofsociety;andemergingissues.

2019

AngloGold Ashanti Thereportcoveredpolitical,economicandsocialconsiderationsatbotha

genericleveland,briefly,inrelationtoeachofthecompany’sjurisdictions:

SouthAfrica,Tanzania,Ghana,Mali,Guinea,BrazilandColombia.

2019

Aluwani Capital Partners: 2019 Elections

MISTRAfacilitatedaconversationaimedatanalysinghowSouthAfrica’s

2019electionswouldimpactoninvestorsandworkersandwhetherthenew

administrationwouldbeabletogrowSouthAfrica’seconomy.

2019

ABSA: 2019 Elections MISTRAfacilitatedapost-electionroundtablediscussionforABSAexecutives,

focusingonfactorsthatfedintotheelectionresults,includingyouthvoting

patternsandexpectations.Thebriefingalsocoveredgovernmentprioritiesfor

thenextfiveyears.

2019

United Nations (UN) Common Country Assessment in South Africa

TheUNrequestedMISTRAtosupportitsreviewandupdateoftheUnited

NationsCommonCountryAssessmentinSouthAfrica.

2020

Open Society Foundation, South Africa (OSF-SA): Understanding South Africa’s Democratic Trajectory

MISTRAwascommissionedbyOSF-SAtoundertakeastudytitled

‘UnderstandingSouthAfrica’sDemocraticTrajectory:Acomparativeanalysis

ofpost-colonialsocieties’.Theaimoftheresearchprojectwastofindand

interpretevidencerelatingtowhetherSouthAfrica’sdemocratictrajectoryis

exceptionaland/orcomparabletootherpost-liberationexperiences.

2020


68

MISTRA is committed to promoting the development and growth of young graduates through its internship programme.

TENYEARSOF FOSTERING TALENT: MISTRA’sInternshipProgramme2011–2021


69

Established shortly after MISTRA was founded, the internship programme is still regarded as an important part of the Institute’s commitment to assisting young people seeking to gain experience in research organisations. Through the programme, MISTRA offers young graduates a 12–18-month experience in one of its three directorates: Research, Operations and Consultancy Services – and in many instances, crossover experience between the directorates to provide a holistic work experience.

Theprogrammeaimstoenablesuccessfulapplicantstotake

uppositionsatMISTRAiftheybecomeavailableduringthe

programme,orelsewhere.

Since 2011, no less than 27 young people with various professional interests have passed through the programme. Ofthese27interns,MISTRAhasretainedthree,withsomeofthe

othersbeingofferedprojectworkoncontractoncompletionof

theirinternship.

Theprogrammehasbeenfundedbyvarioussources.MISTRA

hasprovidedthefundinginmostcasesand,inothers,external

organisationshaveofferedadditionaltrainingandfunding.For

example,theDepartmentofTradeandIndustry/ItukiseProgramme

wasimplementedbyDeloittewithMISTRAastheimplementing

agency.Inthepasttwoyears,theprogrammewassupportedbythe

PhembaniGroup.


70

Thenumberofinternshipsofferedperyearisbasedonbudgetaryconsiderations.

The 27 Internships between 2011 and 2021 were based in the following units:

• Thefirstinternshipprogrammebeganin2011whenSarraounia

SamuelsjoinedMISTRA,firstasavolunteerandthenlaterasan

Intern:PoliticalEconomy.

• In2012/2013fourgraduateswereappointedforaperiodof12

months:LindaZwane,MollyGilder,MosidiMatlhabegoanaand

TebogoMatsimela.

• Inthe2013/2014period,MISTRAhadfivegraduateinterns,

fundedbytheDTIthroughitsDTI/ItukiseProgramme:Asanda

Luwaca,EustonWesso,TshwareloMdluli,ThulaniMdlaloseand

DzunisaniMathonsi.

• Anewintakeofinternsforthe2015/2016yearincluded:

KhangweloTsivhase,PatienceSalane,MmabathoSebotsa,Pearl

SesokoandSedirengLerakong.

• In2016/2017MISTRA’sbudgetallowedfortwointerns:

SiphokaziMdidimbaandSolomonThoka.

• Thefollowingyear,in2017/2018,theInstituteagainhadtwo

interns:TemosoMashileandMlungisiMankhanya.

• In2018/2019,forathirdyear, MISTRAtookontwointerns:

NjabuloZwaneandWandileNgcaweni.

• Overthenextyears(2019/2020and2020/2021), MISTRA

receivedfundingforitsprogrammefromPhembani,andfour

internswereappointedtotheprogramme:NtsoakiGwaelane,

KeabetsweMogosoane,LeratoMahlanguandMphoMotsepe.

Theprogramme,fundedbyPhembani,wasextendedto15months

asaresultoftheCOVID-19pandemic.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Sarraounia Samuels:DerivativesSettlementsSpecialist,Absa

Asanda Luwaca:Researcher:Health,HumanSettlementsand

WaterandSanitationPortfolioCommittees,ANCParliamentary

Caucus

Patience Salane:DeputyDirector:ResearchandAdvisoryServices,CityofJohannesburg

Solomon Thoko:Researcher,CouncilforScientificandIndustrialResearch(CSIR)

Siphokazi Mdidimba:EditorialProjectManager,Human

SciencesResearchCouncil(HSRC)

Khangwelo Tshivhase:MunicipalOutreachCoordinator,

IndependentElectoralCommission(2019)

Mmabatho Sebotsa:FreelanceCommunicationsConsultant

Njabulo Zwane:JuniorResearcher,MISTRA’sFacultyof

Humanity(inthisrolefortwoyears)

Wandile Ngcaweni:JuniorResearcher,MISTRA’sFacultyof

PoliticalEconomy(inthisroleforfouryears)

Dzunisani Mathonsi:ConsultancyServicesOfficer,MISTRA(in

thisroleforfiveyears)

7 6 5 5 4POLITICAL ECONOMY

HUMANITY

KESA OPERATIONS INTERNS

CONSULTANCIES


71

Governance 74

Staff 78

Communications and Outreach 79

Funding and Resources 82


72

Governance 74

Staff 78

Communications and Outreach 79

Funding and Resources 82

ORGANI-SATION:THEMARCH2020–2021REPORTINGPERIOD


73

MISTRA’s governance model entails a mix of strategic leadership, fiduciary responsibility and all-round accountability.

MembersofourCouncilofAdvisorsandBoardof

Governorsarerepresentativeofadiverserangeof

professionals,specialistsingovernanceandresearch,and

figuresinthebusinessandpublicsectors.

MISTRAwasestablishedasaSection21(non-profit)

companyinFebruary2010intermsoftheSouth

AfricanCompaniesAct.TheInstituteisgovernedbya

MemorandumofIncorporation,whichisincompliance

withtheCompaniesAct.

InNovember2010,theInstitutewasgrantedPublic

BenefitOrganisation(PBO)statusbytheSouthAfrican

RevenueService,allowingittoissuetax-deductible

receiptstodonors.TheInstituteisalsoregisteredasa

Non-ProfitOrganisation(NPO).

COUNCIL OF ADVISORS MISTRA’s Council is an advisory body and meets twice a year.TheCouncilconsistsof10highlyrespectedSouthAfricans.

Asacommittee,members:

• actasanadvisoryreferencegrouponthebroaddirectionof

theInstitute’swork;

• individuallyandcollectively,contributetotheInstitute’s

broadstrategicresearchagenda;

• collectivelyandindividually,reflectandadviseonstrategic

issueswithintheresearchagendaoftheInstitute;

• promotetheprofileoftheInstitutedomesticallyand

internationally;

• contributetoinstitutionaldevelopmentandresource

mobilisation;and

• assistinbuildingpartnershipswithinSouthAfricaand

internationally.

TheMembersoftheCouncilare:

• GeraldineFraser-Moleketi(Chairperson)

• OyamaMabandla(DeputyChairperson)

• AbdulMinty

• AdrianEnthoven

• JennyCargill

• LuliCallinicos

• MathathaTsedu

• ReuelKhoza

(withBoardChairpersonProfSibusisoVil-Nkomo,ExecutiveDirector

JoelNetshitenzheandDirectorOperationsOscarvanHeerden–

forpartof2020/21–andlaterYacoobAbbaOmarasex-officio

members).

1GOVERNANCE


74

MembersofMISTRA’sCouncilofAdvisorsclockwisefrombottom

left:AbdulMinty;JennyCargillandLuliCalinicos;OyamaMabandla

(DeputyChair)andJoelNetshitenzhe;LuliCalinicosandAdrian

Enthovern;GeraldineFraser-Moloketi(Chair)


75

BOARD OF GOVERNORSTheBoardofGovernorswasestablishedinJuly2010andinitially

consistedof24SouthAfricanswithexpertiseinareasrelevanttothe

Institute’swork.Inthe2013/14reportingperiod,theBoardagreed

toreduceitsmembershipto18andin2019itagainreducedits

numbersto13.

MISTRA’sBoardofGovernorsmeetsthreetimeseveryyear.

TheBoardofGovernors:

• providesguidanceonthebroaddirectionoftheInstitute’s

workbyapproving,monitoring,andevaluatingthestrategic

plansoftheInstitute;

• contributestotheInstitute’sbroadstrategiccontent;

• exercisesoversightongovernancemattersrelatingtothe

operationsoftheInstitute,includingapprovalofcorporate

governanceprinciplesaswellashumanresourcesand

compensationpolicies;

• actsasthepublicfaceoftheInstituteonstrategic

governancematters;

• contributestobuildingdomesticandinternational

partnerships;

• receivesreportsfrommanagementandtakesstrategic

decisionsonmattersofgovernance;

• exercisesoversightwithregardtothemanagementofthe

fundsoftheInstitute,includingapprovalofinvestment

policies,budgetsandfinancialstatements;

• ensuresappropriatesystemstomanagerisks;and

• contributestofund-raisinginitiatives.

TheMISTRABoardMembersare:

• ProfessorSibusisoVil-Nkomo(Chairperson)

• JoelNetshitenzhe(ExecutiveDirectorandViceChairperson)

• AndriesNel

• ClaudelleVonEck

• Jean-MarieJullienne

• KgabeleSolomonMapaila

• MaloseKekana

• MosibudiMangena

• OscarvanHeerden(ex-officiouptoNovember2021)

• YacoobAbbaOmar(ex-officiomemberfromJanuary2021)

• PatriciaHanekom

• PeterVundla

• ShireenMotala

• TanyaAbrahamse

• TshilidziRatshitanga

During2020,MISTRAregretfullylostoneofitsBoardmembers,Dr

VuyoMahlati,andwewishtoonceagainthankherforhersterling

contributiontotheInstituteandtoextendourcondolencestoher

familyandassociates.


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BOARD COMMITTEESTheBoardhasappointedfivesub-committeestosupportthe

fulfilmentofitsmandate,namely:

Strategy CommitteeThiscommitteeservesastheBoardofGovernor’sexecutive

committee,taskedwithprovidingstrategicguidanceandsupport

totheInstitute’smanagementbetweenmeetingsofthefull

BoardofGovernors.

Audit and Risk CommitteeThiscommitteeperformsfunctionsdeterminedbytheBoard

ofGovernors,includingtheannualfinancialaudit,andthe

developmentandimplementationofpoliciesforasystematic,

disciplinedapproachtoevaluatingandimprovingrisk

management,controlandgovernancewithintheInstitute.

Remuneration and Nominations CommitteeTheRemunerationandNominationsCommitteeassiststhe

Boardinsettingandadministeringhumanresourceand

remunerationpolicies.Italsoprocessesnominationsfor

appointmentstotheBoardanditssub-committees.

Social and Ethics CommitteeThiscommitteeisthesocialconscienceoftheorganisation.Itis

responsibleforensuringthatMISTRAconductsitselfresponsibly

insocial,commercialandenvironmentalarenas.

Investment Committee TheInvestmentCommittee’smandateistodevelopand

implementasustainabilityplanforMISTRA.Thecommittee

providesoversightoftheinvestmentofshares,cashandother

assetsoftheInstitute.

MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE (MANCO)TheManagementCommittee(MANCO)istheexecutivestructure

responsiblefortheday-to-dayrunningoftheInstitute.

TheCommitteeconsistsoftheExecutiveDirector,Director

Operations,DirectorResearch,DirectorProjectManagement,

FinanceManagerandCompanySecretary/HumanResources.

MISTRA’sExecutiveDirectorhasoversightoftheManagement

Committee.


77

MISTRA STAFF: 2020–2021MISTRA’s Management Team• Joel Netshitenzhe:ExecutiveDirector• Oscar van Heerden:DirectorOperations(uptoNovember2020)

• Yacoob Abba Omar: DirectorOperations(appointedJanuary2021)• Susan Booysen:DirectorResearch• Xolelwa Kashe Katiya:DirectorProjectManagement

• Lorraine Pillay:FinanceManager

• Gloria Britain:CompanySecretary/HumanResources

FACULTIES Political Economy Faculty• Khwezi Mabasa:SeniorResearcher• Amuzweni Ngoma:Researcher• Wandile Ngcaweni:JuniorResearcher

KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT FACULTY• Zamanzima Mazibuko-Makena:SeniorResearcher• Duduetsang Mokoele:Researcher(uptoOctober2020)• Nqobile Xaba: Researcher(appointedJanuary2021)• Anelile Gibixego: AssistantResearcher

HUMANITY FACULTY• Heidi Brooks:SeniorResearcher• Zenzo Moyo:Researcher• Njabulo Zwane: JuniorResearcher

CONSULTANCY SERVICES • Dzunisani Mathonsi:ProjectsOfficer

• Towela Ng’ambi: ConsultancyOfficer

OPERATIONS• Magati Nindi-Galenge:ResourceMobilisationOfficer

• Noma Moyo:InformationandCommunicationTechnology

Manager

• Rose Maleke Ngwato:OfficeAssistant

• Sindiswa Gasela: FinanceOfficer/HRAdministrator

• Siphokazi Sigenu: CommunicationsOfficer

• Terry Shakinovsky:PublicationsCoordinator• Thabang Moerane:OfficeAdministrator

INTERNS • Ntsoaki Gwaelane:Humanity

• Keabetswe Mogosoane:PoliticalEconomy

• Lerato Mahlangu:KnowledgeEconomyandScientific

AdvancementFaculty

• Mpho Motsepe:Communications

2STAFF


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3COMMUNICATIONSAND OUTREACH

MEDIA MISTRAproducedadiverserangeofpublicationstoimpact

continuouslyonpublicdiscourseonawiderangeofissuesrelevant

tostrategicpolicy.Itsoutputincludedworkingpapers,newsletters,

speechesandpapers,whichwerepublishedonitswebsite,aswell

asitspublishedvolumesofresearchreports.MISTRAstaff,bothin

theirpersonalcapacitiesandonbehalfofMISTRA,alsoregularly

contributedarticlestothemediaandparticipatedinmediaforums

onawiderangeofissues.

WORKING PAPERSDuringthefinancialyearMISTRApublishedthefollowingworking

papers,whichcanallbefoundonourwebsite.

• 7May2020:‘LinkingtransdisciplinaritypracticetoSouthAfrican

science,technologyandinnovationpolicy’,DrHesterduPlessis

• 2November2020:‘WhyAfricannaturallanguageprocessing

now?AviewfromSouthAfrica#AfricaNLP’,DrVukosiMarivate

• 4December2020:‘ThepotentialofFourthIndustrialRevolution

technologiestotransformhealthcare:Thequestionofaccessfor

themarginalised’,ZamanzimaMazibuko-Makena

• 7December2020:‘Actsofculture:Searchingforanational

SouthAfricanidentityinthecontextofarts,cultureandheritage

diversity’,ProfessorAndriesOliphant

• 10December2020:‘Traditionalleadershipintheeraofmulti-

partydemocracy:AfocusonSouthAfrica’,ProfessorLungisile

Ntsebeza

• 8January2021:‘Artsandculturepolicy:Movingbetweenpast

andpresenttowardsthefuture’,MatthieuMaralack

• 8January2021:‘China’sBeltandRoadInitiative:Navigating

ageopoliticallandscapeimpactedbyCOVID-19’,DrPhilani

Mthembu

• 18January2021:‘Landismorethanfarming:Formerlabour

tenants’viewsonlandexpropriationwithoutcompensation’,

SithandiweYeni

• 25January2021:‘Securingtheland:Fromcustomaryland

tenuretoregisteredtitledland?’ProfPeterDeliusandProf

WilliamBeinart

WEBSITEDuringthereportingperiod,MISTRA’swebsitecontinuedtoserve

asitsmaintoolforcommunicatingwithitsstakeholdersonany

developmentsintheorganisation.Ourwebsitevisitsandpageviews

fromlocalandinternationalstakeholderstotalledapproximately

10 000 unique visitorsforthefinancialyear.


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ANALYTICS: MAPUNGUBWE INSTITUTE (MISTRA) ALL WEBSITE DATA

Audience Overview

All Users 100.00%Users Mar1,2020–Feb28,2021

Overview

Users

May2020 July2020 September2020 November2020 January2021

1,500

1,000

500

Users

10,283New Users

10,283Sessions

14,161 New Visitor Returning Visitor

12.5%

87.5%

Number of Sessions per User

1.38Pageviews

39,553Pages / Sessions

2.79

Avg. Session Duration

00:02:38Bounce Rate

52.43%

NEWSLETTERMISTRAissuedatotalofsixnewsletterstoitsdatabaseof7000 subscribers.ThenewsletterinformsMISTRA’spartnersaboutthe

Institute’sresearch,strategicreflections,publishedpapersand

othernews.

SOCIAL MEDIA.On28February,MISTRAhad2,261 LikesonFacebook, 6,660 FollowersonTwitterand405 ConnectionsonLinkedIn.Oursocial

mediapresencecontinuestogrowandenablestheInstituteto

generateincreasedawarenessoftheMISTRAbrand,itsresearch

andstrategicreflections.

MISTRAhasmaintainedalevelofpublicvisibilitythrougharangeof

mediainterventionsacrossbothprintandelectronicmedia.MISTRA’s

mediaengagementduringthe2020/21financialyearfocusedmainly

ontheroleofthinktanksduringacrisis;MISTRA’stenthanniversary;

policyrecommendationsandfindingsfromEpidemicsandtheHealth

ofAfricanNations;aswellasopinionpiecesandanalysesofunfolding

socio-economicdevelopmentsasaresultoftheCOVID-19pandemic.

Theopinionpiecesandtheanalysestookplacemainlyonthemedia

platformspresentedonthefollowingpage.


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PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION STATUSMISTRAhadbeenaccordedthestatusofaPublicBenefit

Organisation(PBO)bySARS,andthisallowsittoissueaSection18A

certificatewhichenablesdonorstoclaimtaxbenefits.MISTRAhas

alsobeenawardedaBEEFacilitatorstatus.

4FUNDING AND RESOURCES

ABSA

ACSA

Ahanang

AngloAmerican

Anglo Coal

AngloGoldAshanti

AngloPlatinum

AspenPharmacare

Audi

Aveng

Baswa

BathoBatho

BelelaniGroup

Brimstone

ChancellorHouse

ChineseEmbassy

CocaCola

DareneFoundation

Discovery

DepartmentofScienceand

Innovation

DevelopmentBankofSouthern

Africa(DBSA)

EnchaHoldings

Exxaro

FirstRandFoundation

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

FuloCapital

GoldmanSachs

HarithGeneralPartners

IDECO

IrishAid

KumbaIronOre

Matemeku

MitupoInvestments

Mitochondria

MuvoniTechnologyGroup

Naspers

NationalLotteriesCommission

NIHSS

OlofPalmeIC

OppenheimerMemorialTrust

OptimumCoal

OSISA(SouthAfrica)

PeuGroup

PhembaniGroup

PowerLumensAfrica

RoyalBafokengHoldings

SafikaHoldings

Sanral

Sasol

SexwaleFamilyFoundation

Shell SA

StandardBank

TransnetFoundation

VolkswagenSA

Wiphold

Xstrata

YardCapitalDevelopmentTrust

BobbyGodsell

GeraldineFraser-Moleketi

RogerJardine

Jean-MarieJulienne

AlbertinaKekana

JPLandman

LincolnMali

LiphosaMatodzi

ReasonMabandla

RenosiMokate

JackieMphafudi

ThabaMufamadi

ThandiNdlovu

TrueSparkInvestment

MathewsPhosa

RobinsonRamaite

CyrilRamaphosa

TshilidziRatshitanga

SonjaSebotsa

MikeTeke

MfundiVundla

PeterVundla

UBUHoldings

VhonaniMufamadi

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MISTRA DONORSWewouldliketoextendourprofoundappreciationandgratitude

toallourdonors.Withoutyoursupportoverthepast10yearswe

wouldnothavebeenabletocarryoutourcoremandateoflong-

term,strategicresearchtoadvanceSouthAfrica’sdemocracyand

assistinfindinglastingandeffectivesolutionstothechallengesour

countryisfacing.

DONORS SINCE MISTRA’S INCEPTION IN 2010


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CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CURRENT DONORSCorporate DonorsAngloPlatinum*

BelelaniGroup

Discovery

GoldmanSachs

HarithGeneralPartners*

MountainRush§

NstimbintleMining§

PhembaniGroup

FuloCapital^

SafikaHoldings*

StandardBank

SimekaHoldings*

SishenIronOreCompany(Pty)Ltd*

Yellowwoods*

Local Foundations and TrustsOppenheimerMemorialTrust(OMT)*

IndividualsBarryGilder

GloriaBritain

JPLandman

SonjaSebotsa

TshilidziRatshitanga

andotherswhoprefertoremainanonymous

PartnersUniversityofJohannesburg

Yellowwoods

* ContributedR500000ormore

§Dividendsreceived

^BeneficiaryShareholding

GRANT INCOME RECEIVED FROM 2010–2020Year Grant Income

2010/11 7,596,302.00

2011/12 15,857,027.00

2012/13 19,121,623.00

2013/14 16,842,508.00

2014/15 17,814,936.00

2015/16 17,922,027.00

2016/17 21,073,986.00

2017/18 16,750,810.00

2018/19 14,633,311.00

2019/20 17,841,636.50

2020/21 9,445,112.00


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FINANCIAL STATE-MENTSYEARENDED28FEBRUARY2021


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MAPUNGUBWE INSTITUTE FOR STRATEGIC REFLECTION (MISTRA)(Registrationnumber2010/002262/08)

AnnualFinancialStatementsfortheyearended28February2021

GENERAL INFORMATIONCountryofincorporation

anddomicile SouthAfrica

Natureofbusinessand

principalactivities Research

Registeredoffice FirstFloor

CypressPlaceNorth

WoodmeadBusinessPark

142WesternServiceRoad

Woodmead,Johannesburg

2191

Postaladdress PostNetSuite586

PrivateBagX29

GalloManor

2052

Auditors NyamezelaIncorporated

CharteredAccountants(S.A.)

RegisteredAuditors

CompanySecretary GloriaAnnBritain

Companyregistrationnumber 2010/002262/08

INDEX AuditandRiskCommitteeReport 41

Directors’ResponsibilitiesandApproval 42

Directors’Report 43

IndependentAuditors’Report 44

StatementofFinancialPosition 47

StatementofComprehensiveIncome 48

StatementofChangesinEquity 48

StatementofCashFlows 49

AccountingPolicies 50

NotestotheFinancialStatements 52

Thefollowingsupplementaryinformationdoesnotformpartofthe

financialstatementsandisunaudited:

DetailedIncomeStatement 55

LEVEL OF ASSURANCEThesefinancialstatementshavebeenauditedincompliancewith

theapplicablerequirementsoftheCompaniesAct71of2008.


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Physical address: First Floor, Cypress Place North, Woodmead Business Park,

142 Western Service Road, Woodmead, Johannesburg, 2191

Postal Address: PostNet Suite 586, Private Bag X29, Gallo Manor, Johannesburg, 2052

Tel: +2711 518 0260 Fax: +2711 518 0266

Email: [email protected] Web: www.mistra.org.za

since its inception in 2010, the mapungubwe institute for

Documents