The Open Society Foundation for South Africa (OSF-SA) promotes open society values by supporting institutions and civil society organizations that work in the areas of criminal justice, media, education, human rights, and democracy building. OSF-SA collaborates with and aims to further several continent-wide initiatives, such as the African Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad).

OSF-SA has worked with international and South African NGOs to increase public participation in governance, to promote accountability and to combat corruption. The foundation has supported projects on gun control, violence against women, child victimization, sex workers, and youth offenders. It has funded initiatives on resolving community conflicts and monitoring domestic violence legislation and youth-at-risk programs. OSF-SA has also supported the development of independent media and worked to increase access to information, particularly for marginalized rural communities. The foundation has also provided support for HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention campaigns.