Report

At the Heart of Discontent Measuring Public Violence in South Africa

Strike action and civilian protests have become increasingly commonplace in South
Africa. Although several institutions collect data on various forms of protest, the available information varies in quality, reliability, coverage and accessibility. The objective of this project is to enhance the understanding of the nature and extent of all forms of public violence taking place across South Africa to contribute to better initiatives that address their root causes. This paper sets out some of the preliminary findings from the project and provides initial considerations for ensuring appropriate responses to protest and strike action.