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The report analyzes how the Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated existing fragilities in South Africa's waste sector, particularly for informal waste reclaimers and small businesses. It highlights the negative impact of low oil prices on recycled plastic demand and the failure of government relief loans to reach small enterprises. The document argues for the urgent, inclusive implementation of mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations to ensure financial sustainability and the integration of informal workers into the circular economy.

The document examines the challenges South African municipalities face as residential rooftop solar PV adoption grows, specifically focusing on the loss of revenue used to cross-subsidize low-income households. It highlights a significant lack of system registration, with an estimated 75% of households failing to inform municipalities of their installations. The paper argues that appropriate tariff design and transparent communication are essential to balance the interests of prosumers and utilities. To support this, the authors introduce a simulation-based electricity decision-making tool developed by Stellenbosch University to help policymakers visualize the complex interactions between tariffs, consumer behavior, and grid stability.

The Life After Coal Campaign argues that the Draft Regulations Amending the Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity, 2011 are redundant and legally inconsistent. They contend that the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) does not require Ministerial approval for municipalities to establish electricity capacity, and that such regulations create unnecessary barriers to the urgent transition to clean energy. The document highlights the severe health, environmental, and economic harms of South Africa's coal-dependent energy sector and criticizes the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019 for unjustifiably constraining renewable energy while permitting new coal and gas capacity. The campaign recommends that if the regulations proceed, they must include requirements for environmental and health impact assessments, transparent public consultation, and financial support for under-resourced municipalities.

The Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) is seeking funding from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) to prepare a national Water Reuse Programme (WRP) in South Africa. The country faces a projected 17% water deficit by 2030, exacerbated by climate change. The proposed WRP consists of two main components: the establishment of a national water reuse programme office to support municipalities in project preparation and the creation of a blended finance solution using project bonds to establish water reuse as a new asset class. The project preparation phase will include technical and climate impact assessments, the design of financial architecture, and gender and social studies. The total indicative cost for the full programme is estimated between USD 3 billion and 5 billion, with a request for USD 153.4 million in GCF funding.

The document details a resilience-building project in the Witsand informal settlement, where GreenCape, ThinkWifi, and community leaders co-designed solar street lights that provide both area lighting and internet connectivity. This initiative utilizes an Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) approach to provide interim services in an area characterized by a lack of formal tenure and inadequate basic services. The project aims to improve safety, close the digital divide, and foster local economic empowerment, particularly in the context of South Africa's load shedding challenges.

The document details Shoprite's strategy to mitigate the impacts of load-shedding and rising electricity tariffs through a three-pronged energy efficiency approach. Using the Shoprite Constantia store in Cape Town as a primary example, the report highlights the implementation of a 440kWp grid-tied solar system, LED lighting retrofits, and solar-powered refrigerated trailers. These interventions have led to significant reductions in utility costs, diesel consumption, and electricity usage. The broader program has expanded to 19 sites, with plans to reach 25, reflecting a long-term strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance adaptive capacity against economic and environmental shocks.

The City of Cape Town (CCT) implemented a circular procurement policy for its wheelie bins, requiring them to be made from 50% HDPE recyclate with a 10-year minimum lifespan. Since November 2014, this initiative has diverted approximately 1,132 to 1,156 tonnes of HDPE from landfills, saving between 1,053 and 1,121m3 of landfill airspace. The programme has generated cost savings of R9 to R10.1 million through lower unit prices and an additional R6.7 million via a bin-exchange scheme where the contractor provides one free bin for every 65kg of condemned material. The project has created 13 permanent and 18 part-time local jobs and reduced Scope 2 CO2 eq emissions by 1,708 tonnes. By sourcing materials locally and securing end-markets for recyclers, the CCT has reduced its vulnerability to global commodity price volatility and supply chain disruptions.

The report identifies significant economic potential in diverting waste from landfills in South Africa, particularly in the Western Cape. Key opportunities are highlighted in the organics, plastics, e-waste, and construction sectors, driven by dwindling landfill airspace, rising disposal costs, and emerging regulations like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and the Carbon Tax Act. The Western Cape is positioned as a greentech hub, with the City of Cape Town generating the majority of the region's waste and offering the highest market value for beneficiation.

The report examines the South African urban water sector, highlighting a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030. It identifies significant investment opportunities in the agri-processing sector (estimated at R6 billion) and the municipal sector, including wastewater reuse (theoretical potential of R50 billion) and biogas/energy efficiency projects. The document details the regulatory landscape, including the National Water Act and municipal by-laws, and discusses barriers such as low water tariffs, capacity constraints in municipalities, and public perception of reclaimed water.

The report describes South Africa's plastics economy as a linear "take-make-waste" model characterized by high dependency on virgin fossil-fuel-based materials and a weak waste management system. It highlights that plastic packaging is a major leakage hotspot, with over 50% of converted plastics having a lifespan of less than three years. While a recycling sector exists, it is heavily reliant on an under-supported informal waste sector and is vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices. The document argues that recycling alone is insufficient and advocates for a circular economy approach involving the elimination of problematic plastics, mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the adoption of the South African Plastics Pact to achieve specific 2025 targets for recyclability and recycled content.

The research examines the systemic nature of corruption and rent-seeking in South African metropolitan municipalities. It contrasts two distinct governance models: Cape Town's 'growth machine,' which leverages land rights and property development for established interests, and Nelson Mandela Bay's 'clientelist' regime, which relies on procurement and personnel rents to sustain patronage networks. The author argues that while growth machines may produce better overall development outcomes, neither model effectively serves the urban poor.

The document details a partnership where Siyavana Solutions refurbishes end-of-life fuel pumps from Shell service stations to be resold back to Shell. This industrial symbiosis project diverted 16 tonnes of waste from landfills, including pumps, hoses, and computer boards, while generating up to R5 million in additional revenue and creating 9 permanent jobs.

Virgin Active reduced water usage in its Western Cape branches by 62% through a R24 million investment in technological and behavioural interventions, including low-flow fixtures, greywater treatment, and the closure of high-use facilities. These measures resulted in monthly municipal savings of R1,243,496 and a total payback period of 20 months.

The report examines the South African utility-scale renewable energy market, focusing on the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and the 2018 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It highlights the transition from a coal-dominated energy mix toward wind and solar, detailing the economic impact of the REIPPPP, emerging opportunities in municipal procurement and project refinancing, and the role of the Western Cape as a greentech hub.

The South African waste sector is transitioning toward a resource-efficient economy driven by legislative changes and increasing landfill costs. While disposal remains dominant—with 90% of waste landfilled according to 2011 data—significant opportunities exist in the Western Cape for the beneficiation of organics, e-waste, plastics, and builder's rubble. The report highlights the City of Cape Town as a primary hub for these opportunities due to its high waste generation and the highest landfill gate fees in the country. Key drivers include the implementation of Industry Waste Management Plans (IndWMPs) and provincial organic waste diversion targets, while barriers include low household separation rates and the high cost of hazardous waste licensing.

The report identifies significant investment opportunities in South Africa's urban water sector across four markets: commercial and industrial, residential, new property developments, and municipalities. It highlights a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030, with severe shortages expected in Gauteng, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape. In the Berg River management area, this deficit could cost the region over R146 billion and 650,000 jobs per year by 2040. Key opportunities include water-efficient technologies, wastewater reuse, desalination, and non-revenue water reduction. The report also details the regulatory environment, including the National Water Act and municipal by-laws, and emphasizes the Western Cape's role as a greentech hub.

The After School Game Changer (ASGC) is a strategic coordination model in the Western Cape, South Africa, designed to prevent youth violence by enhancing the quality and accessibility of afterschool care. Rather than a single program, it acts as a mechanism to align government departments, NGOs, and the City of Cape Town to provide academic, sporting, and cultural activities for learners in low- and no-fee schools. The report argues that the ASGC functions as a violence prevention tool by disrupting risky behaviors through the social ecological model, focusing on individual, relationship, and community-level interventions. Key achievements include increasing the number of registered learners to 134,380 in 2017/18, though the report notes a lack of budget transparency and a need for better reporting on how the intervention specifically addresses violence risk factors.

The Berg Water Management Area is a constrained system where water requirements are projected to exceed yield by 2019. A hydro-economic analysis indicates that by 2040, the water supply deficit could cost the region over R146 billion and nearly 650,000 jobs annually, with the City of Cape Town bearing the highest opportunity costs. The report identifies systemic failures in current top-down planning and financing, recommending the establishment of a Regional Water Utility and the use of multi-criteria decision tools to prioritize 'smart' water use over first-come, first-served allocations.

This guide outlines the application process for businesses seeking to invest in the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), emphasizing a requirement for 'greentech' ventures and a multi-agency evaluation process.

The document analyzes water demand in the Berg WMA, highlighting that climate change will increase the water requirements of key crops like grapes, stone fruit, and citrus. It identifies a significant future water supply deficit, particularly in the municipalities of Swartland, Stellenbosch, and Drakenstein, and argues that the low economic 'value per drop' of agriculture compared to urban use will make securing additional water allocations difficult. The report recommends crop switching to low-water, high-value alternatives and investing in water efficiency technology to mitigate these risks.