Email from MISTRA

As we enter the second half of 2026, we reflect on how MISTRA is contributing to ongoing conversations about inequality, governance, democracy, foreign policy, leadership, local government and Africa's developmental prospects.

Between April and June, MISTRA executives and researchers participated in various policy dialogues, academic forums, stakeholder consultations and international engagements. These events strengthen MISTRA's networks across government, academia, civil society and the international community, as well as showcase our commitment to developing ideas that support South Africa's long-term development.

This edition highlights a high-level roundtable reflecting on the outcomes of the G20 Summit and exploring what these outcomes mean for South Africa. Also, MISTRA participated in a roundtable chat with IMF’s Senior Resident Representative for South Africa, Tidiane Kinda, which outlined the opportunities and obstacles faced by South Africa’s economy.

As South Africa marked the 30th anniversary of our constitution, MISTRA held a public webinar on the place of traditional leadership within our constitutional democracy. In this period, MISTRA also launched our latest publication Africa and the Thucydides Trap: Strategies for a World in Transition, which examines power transition in international politics from an African perspective.

Some other highlights from the last quarter include:

April 2026

Associate Researcher: Political Economy, Ronewa Sadiki, joined discussions examining socio-economic trends in Gauteng and their implications for policy development and inclusive growth at a Gauteng City-Region Observatory (GCRO) dialogue.

Members of MISTRA's Political Economy Faculty and the Senior Researcher, Machete Rakabe, attended a symposium jointly hosted by The Presidency and the University of Johannesburg Business School on Black Economic Empowerment and Its Discontents: The Past, the Present and the Future.

Executive Director, Joel Netshitenzhe, attended the Yellowwoods and This Day Social Impact Leaders Gathering, which brought together leaders from civil society, business and development organisations to reflect on social impact initiatives and collaborative approaches to addressing South Africa's development challenges.

Senior Researcher: Humanity, Na’eem Jeenah, participated as a panellist in an online discussion hosted by TRENDS Research and Advisory South Africa on the implications of the Middle East conflict for Southern Africa.

Director of Research Sandy Africa participated in a Social Justice Initiative anti-corruption dialogue, contributing perspectives on governance, accountability and institutional reform.

Na’eem Jeenah, presented to the Social Justice Initiative Donors Group on the forthcoming 2026 Local Government Elections. He discussed governance challenges, democratic participation and opportunities for systemic interventions that strengthen local government institutions.

Researcher: Knowledge Economy and Scientific Advancement (KESA), Lwanda Maqwelane, attended the launch of the International Panel on Inequality at the University of the Witwatersrand, which seeks to advance global research and policy dialogue on inequality and inclusive development.

Na’eem Jeenah contributed to discussions on pathways towards resilience amid growing geopolitical uncertainty at the Thabo Mbeki Foundation's Commons Seminar Series roundtable on The Impact of the Middle East Crisis on Africa's Stability, Growth and Development Prospects.

Na’eem Jeenah was also interviewed by postgraduate students from Roskilde University in Denmark as part of a research project examining South Africa's foreign policy towards Palestine.

May 2026

Joel Netshitenzhe addressed the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union (SACTWU) Open School on leadership capacity building.

Researcher: Political Economy, Khutso Makua, attended the National Rural Development Indaba convened by the Department of Land Reform and Rural Development, which focused on strategies to advance rural development, agricultural productivity and inclusive economic opportunities in rural communities.

Sandy Africa attended a conference hosted by the Centre for Advanced Scholarship and partner organisation Konrad Adenauer Foundation at the University of Pretoria on Africa's security challenges in a Turbulent World.

Research Intern Ayanda Ndletyana attended the inauguration of the Public Service Education and Training Authority (PSETA) – University of Johannesburg Research Observatory, which seeks to strengthen research and evidence-based policymaking within the public sector.

Director Operations, Dr Yacoob Abba Omar and Na’eem Jeenah participated in a Gauteng City-Region Observatory webinar titled Finding Our Rhythm: Pathways and Futures for the Gauteng City-Region, which explored the MISTRA-drafted long-term development scenarios and strategic choices facing Gauteng as South Africa's economic hub.

Na’eem Jeenah was a guest speaker at the Department of Higher Education and Training's Future Professors Programme, hosted by the University of Johannesburg. His presentation examined the role of narrative, ideas and leadership in advancing social transformation.

Lwanda Maqwelane attended the inaugural Resources Futures in Africa Opportunity Partner Convening in Pretoria, which explored the future of Africa's resource economies, sustainability transitions and opportunities for inclusive development.

Lwanda Maqwelane also attended the Contemplating African Agency & Action dialogue at the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct, which brought together scholars and practitioners to reflect on African-led responses to development, governance and innovation challenges.

Dr Yacoob Abba Omar and Associate Researcher: Humanity, Njabulo Zwane, participated in the World Bank Group consultation on its forthcoming Country Partnership Framework for South Africa, which focuses on employment creation, support for small and medium enterprises, and priorities for future collaboration with government and development partners.

June 2026

Dr Yacoob Abba Omar presented at the South Africa–Switzerland Democracy Dialogue, convened by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in collaboration with the Embassy of Switzerland, which explored democratic governance, institutional resilience and contemporary global challenges facing democratic societies.

Joel Netshitenzhe, Sandy Africa, and Na’eem Jeenah met with representatives from the Institute for Political and International Studies and government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to discuss collaboration between the two organisations.

Na’eem Jeenah made a presentation to the Annual Symposium on Migration and Social Cohesion co-hosted by the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation, the Wits School of Governance, and the International Organisation for Migration.

MISTRA launched its publication, Africa and the Thucydides Trap: Strategies for a World in Transition at the end of April. This volume, co-edited by Prof Bhaso Ndzendze (of the University of Johannesburg), Prof Scarlett Cornelissen (of Stellenbosch University ), and MISTRA’s Dr Laurence Caromba, examines power transitions in international politics from an African perspective. The publication draws on history, international relations theory, and current geopolitical trends, with contributions from researchers across South Africa and the rest of the world.

Watch a recording of the launch event

Read the Table of Content and Preface

View the Policy Brief

Buy the Book

Also available at various local bookshops.

In May, MISTRA hosted a high-level roundtable reflecting on the outcomes of the G20 Summit and what this means for South Africa.

This roundtable forms part of MISTRA’s ongoing research programme examining South Africa’s role in global economic governance. It builds on our Phase 1 analysis, which undertook a comparative assessment of the Global South cycle of G20 presidencies and the 2025 G20 declarations, identifying key areas of convergence, divergence, and unresolved policy tensions. The event brought together a select group of stakeholders to explore strategic pathways for South Africa in the post-G20 context.

Read the keynote address by Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr David Masondo

Also in May, MISTRA sat down with the International Monetary Fund’s Senior Resident Representative for South Africa, Tidiane Kinda, civil society organisations and other research partners for an exclusive roundtable event about the IMF’s Article IV Consultation.

During this session, we engaged in a meaningful discussion about the findings from the IMF’s Article IV Consultation Report, exploring new developments and policy recommendations and unpacking how these are constraining and/or aiding our economy’s ability to create much needed jobs and achieve its true growth potential.

Read Article IV

Thirty years after South Africa adopted its democratic Constitution, one of the many questions that remain unanswered is around the place of traditional leadership within a constitutional democracy. This is especially true when it comes to land, accountability, and the lived experiences of rural communities.

Despite constitutional recognition, uncertainty about the role and powers of traditional authorities continues to shape how land is governed, how decisions are made, and how rights are experienced on the ground. MISTRA held a public webinar that brought together critical voices to unpack this topic and to suggest what must change in the years ahead.

Watch the Webinar Recording

Read Joel Netshitenzhe’s speech

MISTRA and the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in South Africa co-hosted two events on coalition governance in Cape Town in February.

These brought together policymakers, researchers, political practitioners, legal experts, diplomats and civil society representatives from South Africa and the Netherlands for an in-depth discussion comparing coalition governance in both countries.

Download the Briefing paper

Sandy Africa participated in the National Conference on Foreign Policy and Brazil's International Insertion, hosted by the Federal University of ABC (UFABC) in Brazil. The conference brought together scholars and practitioners to examine Brazil's evolving role in global affairs and perspectives on international cooperation from different regions of the world.