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This practice note outlines the legal proceedings in the High Court of South Africa (Gauteng Division, Pretoria) regarding Case No. 51765/2017. The City of Cape Town is seeking a declaratory order stating that a section 34 determination under the Electricity Regulation Act is not necessary to establish a new power plant for the city. The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is applying to be admitted as amicus curiae to address issues concerning the transition to renewable energy and the environmental impacts of coal-fired power stations.

This case study details a Supreme Court of Appeal decision regarding the interaction between the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act 28 of 2002 (MPRDA), the Land Use Planning Ordinance 15 of 1985 (LUPO), and the National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA). The court ruled that the MPRDA does not override municipal land use regulations under LUPO, but it declined to rule on the relationship between the MPRDA and NEMA due to a technicality involving the repeal of specific listing notices.

The City of Cape Town argues that mining rights granted under the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) do not exempt a holder from obtaining land use authorization under the Land Use Planning Ordinance (LUPO). The City contends that municipal planning is a constitutionally reserved local government function and that the Department of Mineral Resources (DME) does not make land use decisions when granting mining permits.

This document is an answering affidavit filed by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) in the High Court of South Africa. NERSA opposes an application by the City of Cape Town, which seeks to allow Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to generate and sell electricity without a section 34 determination from the Minister of Energy, or alternatively, to have section 34 of the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) declared unconstitutional.

This document is an affidavit filed by Shaun Kraut, a Senior Legal Administrative Officer in the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, in a High Court case involving the City of Cape Town, NERSA, and the Minister of Energy. The affidavit outlines government measures to increase electricity generation capacity outside of Eskom, including draft regulations to allow municipalities to procure power from independent power producers and specific Ministerial Determinations for new capacity based on the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2019.

This guide outlines the criteria and risk assessments for mining activities within high-importance biodiversity priority areas. It establishes a rigorous set of filters and a risk-averse approach to determine if mining is an optimal land use compared to the preservation of critical ecosystems and water resources.

KPMG provided a limited assurance report confirming that the City of Cape Town's proposed Green Bond framework and nominated projects conform to the Pre-Issuance Requirements of the Climate Bonds Standard V2.1. The bond focuses on refinancing existing projects, with 92.8% of proceeds allocated to water infrastructure and 7.2% to low-carbon transport (specifically electric buses). While most projects are aligned with Phase 1 water criteria, some are aligned with draft Phase 2 criteria and will be verified post-issuance. The report also highlights the city's response to a climate-change-induced drought through Level 4 water restrictions.

This case study describes a resource efficiency project facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) between Protea Chemicals and Dekro Paints to recycle expired solvents, diverting them from hazardous landfills.

This case study describes how the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) facilitated the collection and recycling of electronic waste (e-waste) from Duferco Steel Processing and FS Smit by connecting them with Cape E-Waste.

This document consists of appendices to a report by GreenCape, detailing stakeholder engagement records, workshop structures and outcomes, and technical data regarding water requirements and economic values in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) of the Western Cape.

This case study by GreenCape examines an electric vehicle (EV) pilot project conducted by the City of Cape Town (CCT) between 2020 and 2022. The project compared five BMWi3 EVs with five internal combustion engine (ICE) VW Golf GTI vehicles within the CCT Traffic Services department to evaluate the business case for municipal fleet electrification.

The City of Cape Town is implementing the Faure New Water Scheme (NWS), a large-scale water reuse project designed to produce drinking-quality water from treated wastewater. As part of a broader New Water Programme aiming to add 300 million litres of water per day by 2030, the Faure NWS will utilize a multi-barrier advanced purification process to enhance the city's water resilience and reduce the risk of severe water restrictions.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines financing options for small-scale embedded generation, primarily solar photovoltaic (PV) and lithium-ion battery storage, for commercial, industrial (C&I), and agricultural businesses in South Africa. It analyzes the trade-offs between outright purchase, commercial debt, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and leasing models, while detailing available tax incentives and the impact of the energy crisis on sector growth.

This reference guide by GreenCape provides water and wastewater businesses and investors with a framework for entering the South African public water sector. It details the institutional landscape, planned infrastructure spending in metropolitan and Western Cape municipalities, procurement legislation, and platforms for technology trialling.

This technical factsheet outlines energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities in sludge management for South African wastewater treatment works. It highlights that sludge treatment can account for 35% of a plant's energy use and suggests optimizations in sedimentation, dewatering, and stabilization (particularly anaerobic digestion for biogas). It also details various financing mechanisms, such as grants and energy performance contracts, to help municipalities improve regulatory compliance and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This industry brief by GreenCape explores the economic and environmental opportunities of diverting waste foundry sand (WFS) from landfills in South Africa, specifically focusing on the Western Cape and the City of Cape Town. It details how WFS can be repurposed as a secondary raw material for industries such as brickmaking and road construction, provided that strict legal classifications and hazard management protocols are followed.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the financial viability of using battery energy storage systems (BESS) for tariff arbitrage in the Western Cape, South Africa. It focuses on leveraging time-of-use (TOU) tariffs to reduce energy costs by charging batteries during off-peak periods and discharging during peak periods, particularly as the decline in loadshedding has left many existing BESS installations underutilised.

This industry brief by GreenCape provides guidance for businesses in the Western Cape on installing behind-the-meter (BTM) solar PV systems to reduce electricity costs and improve energy security. It details financial viability factors, pricing benchmarks for 2025/26, various financing models including Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), and the role of municipal feed-in tariffs and national tax incentives in South Africa.

This case study examines how Mediclinic deployed on-site solar PV at its Durbanville Hospital using a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) to achieve decarbonisation goals without upfront capital investment.

This document is a reference sheet providing contact details for officials, a list of official documents and presentations, and a glossary of abbreviations related to the groundwater application process in the Western Cape region of South Africa.