Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all, and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. SDG16 is an engine for progress and an enabling tool for all other Goals. Sustaining peace and development invariably requires meeting the various targets under Goal 16. Freedom from Violence in Africa is an initiative to establish a collaborative research network that brings together researchers from across the African continent focusing on evidence-based and human-rights-based approaches to the problem of violence. In addition to its ongoing research, the Initiative comprises a number of more practical projects aimed at policymakers or international organizations. Some of these are collaborative exercises (for example convening a group to discuss new international standards), some are more akin to research exercises. In all of them, we are motivated by a desire to bring evidence-based rigor to policy debates about core human rights or public health issues. For further details, see our Current and Recent Projects. The core projects of the Initiative will be co-located between the Institute for International and Comparative Law in Africa (University of Pretoria), the Centre of Governance and Human Rights (University of Cambridge), and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights.
University governance structures, processes and requirements are addressed through the Institutional Statute. Chapter 5 focuses on the University Council as the highest governing body and its requirements such as membership and elected representation. The Student Representative Council is the highest student governance structure at the University of Pretoria, and is active across all facets of student life. Its activities are informed by the institutional Policy on Organised Student Life. The Institutional Policy on Community Engagement outlines the approach to engaging with stakeholders through curricular and extra-curricular activities, and across the functions of teaching, learning and research. Consistent with the Institutional Policy on Community Engagement, the Hatfield City Improvement District (CID) is a not-for-profit and multistakeholder entity, focusing on enhancing the physical and social environment of Hatfield, over and above the services provided by the municipality. The company whistle-blowing policy focuses on addressing bribery, corruption and fraud. Academic freedom is embedded within the Institutional Code of Ethics. Audited financial information is published annually, UP provides specific advice to government, which informs policy and practices. For example, the SDG Policy Support Initiative is hosted by UP’s SDG Hub, and was set up to support accelerated achievement of the SDGs. A range of programmes are offered through the business school and faculties to support policy- and law-makers. Examples include the Universities Engineering 4.0 development which focuses on human-centred smart technology in partnership with different government entities (CSIR and SANRAL). The SA SDG Hub also conducts research in collaboration with government. Hosting neutral platforms as “safe spaces” for different political stakeholders is of strategic importance to the University. It has been demonstrated through hosting the Presidents of France and South Africa for discussions on COVID-19 vaccine development in Africa.
The Code of Ethics For Scholarly Activities identifies key values that characterise the University of Pretoria. In doing so, it highlights the rights and responsibilities of individuals that should apply in the various relationships they encounter within the academic environment in which they function. It also highlights endeavours to eliminate unacceptable practices, such as abuse of power within the academic environment, discrimination and sexual harassment. The University of Pretoria undertakes scholarly activities that promote the search for and the creation, conservation and transfer of knowledge in an ethical manner. Where reference is made to teaching and learning and research in this Code of Ethics, reference to community engagement is implied.
Our university has an elected representation in government in accordance with section 32 of the Higher Education Act of 1997. The amended University of Pretoria Statute of 2018 which was published in the government gazette of 21 December 2018 with the approval of the Minister of Higher Education and Training ensures this representation. The aim is to introduce a new Statute for the University of Pretoria to give effect to any law or guidelines relating to the University of Pretoria and to promote the effective and responsible management and governance of the University in respect of matters not expressly prescribed by any law.
We are committed to ensuring that our student's voices are heard and as such we recognize student unions. The Student Representative Council (SRC) is the highest student governance structure at the University of Pretoria. SRC is the highest student governance structure at the University of Pretoria. We exist to serve students to the best of our ability and be there for students as they strive towards academic success. We are a body by the students for the students and seek to work in unison with all students regardless of background, creed, or circumstance.
The Strategic Plan 2025 vision is for the University of Pretoria to be Africa's leading research-intensive university, recognized internationally for its quality, relevance, and impact, developing people, creating knowledge, and making a difference locally and globally. The purpose of the Community Engagement Policy is to provide principles and a governance framework for integrated community engagement at the University of Pretoria that is aligned to the strategic priorities of the University; promotes quality assurance, risk management, and financial sustainability; creates new knowledge; ensures ethical conduct, and can serve as a basis for more operational procedures and decisions to be made.
At the University of Pretoria, we are committed to sharing our skills with the local, regional, and national government in the form of giving expert advice.
Two researchers from the SA SDG Policy Support Initiative and SA SDG Hub, based at the Albert Luthuli Leadership Institute, assisted The Policy and Research Services Unit within the Presidency participated in a report identifying the powers of national and provincial governments as set out in Schedule 4 and 5 of the Constitution. The SA SDG Policy Support Initiative has entered into a partnership with The Presidency of the Republic of South Africa and the GIZ to act as a mechanism that brings together academia and policymakers to improve the use of evidence-based policymaking. See Joint Call for Proposals here.
Prof Holtzhausen (School of Public Management and Administration (SPMA)) is providing guidance on the whistleblowing policy framework for the Province and is serving on the National Governance Pillar revising the Anti-Corruption Strategy to provide inputs to the President.
SARS instituted a “Tax Gap and Revenue Recovery Programme” as a continuation of the work of the Davis Tax Committee (DTC) which was appointed by the Minister of Finance in 2013 to assess South Africa’s tax policy framework and its role in supporting the objectives of inclusive growth, employment, development, and fiscal sustainability. As the Chair of the BEPS Sub-committee, Prof Annet Oguttu (Department of Taxation) was responsible for drafting the “DTC BEPS tax gap report in light of OECD’S BEPS Action 11 for SARS’ tax gap revenue recovery programme”. The report was submitted to the Commissioner of SARS in 2021. See “Statement by SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter at a media briefing held on Tuesday 5 May 2020” in para 19. Read more.
During 2020 all leadership development programmes presented by the SPMA for the public sector were designed for online facilitation and roll-out. Examples of short-courses or continuing education programmes presented by the SPMA 2020/2021 include delivery of Management Development Programme (national and provincial government departments), the Leadership Development Programme to various municipalities (including Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality), and development and delivery of Leadership Development Programme for the Auditor General of South Africa (2017/2020). Details of the Management Development Programme (as an example) can be found here.
The Department of Economics presented a short course in Time Series Analysis to two groups of 10 delegates from the Department of Mineral Resources (31 July – 6 August 2020; 7 August – 14 August 2020). The Department also presented training workshops for SARB and Treasury Researchers and policy officials: “Solving and Estimating Macroeconomic Models with Regime Switches” and “Scenario Analysis for Central Bankers. Details of the course here.
The Unit for Street Homelessness (Theology) drafted the current Tshwane Policy on street homelessness and also accompany its implementation through critical engagement and ongoing evidence-based research. It supported the draft of the Gauteng Policy on Street Homelessness and made specific inputs into a possible national policy framework for street homelessness. The Unit also participated in the National Homeless Network drafting a National Homelessness Manifesto.
The Centre for Child Law has partnered with the National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) in the South African Human Rights Commission to carry out desktop and field-based research. They develop a monitoring mechanism for the independent oversight of Secure Care Centres which falls under the mandate of the Department of Social Development. This study is a follow-up from the Global Study on Children Deprived of Liberty that the Centre was a part of and was launched in 2019. The NMP will utilize the monitoring mechanism to regularly monitor secure care centres that provide care and support to children in conflict with the law who have been sentenced.
The Centre for Faith and Community is creating and/or collaborating in various platforms to research, discuss and advocate on critical challenges: With various other institutions, (including those based overseas) they seek to build the capacity of churches and religious institutions to deal with issues of migration, particularly transnational migration. Its Urban Studio programme focuses on 6 geographical sites in the City of Tshwane, seeking to document local narratives, build the capacity of local stakeholders, and inform policies, practices, and plans that affect the futures of these neighborhoods. Click here to read more.
Read more about Goal 16 on UN website
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