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URBAN LOCKDOWN LESSONS FOR SOUTH AFRICA: NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS FOR A GREEN AND EQUITABLE RECOVERY IN MUNICIPALITIES
The report advocates for the use of nature-based solutions (NBS) in South African municipalities to address the dual crises of COVID-19 economic devastation and climate vulnerability. It highlights that while national green recovery plans exist, they often require high skills and long lead times. In contrast, NBS—particularly urban tree planting and the removal of invasive alien plants—can provide immediate, low-skill employment for vulnerable populations while mitigating urban heat islands, managing flood risks, and improving public health. The document identifies significant barriers to implementation, including municipal funding shortages, difficulties in quantifying the economic value of natural assets, and rigid public procurement processes.
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Document type: Report
SAIIA strongly condemns xenophobic attacks, calls for leaders to step up to the plate
The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) expresses alarm over violence and vandalism in Tshwane, Johannesburg, and Ekurhuleni targeting people from other African countries. The organization argues that migrants contribute positively to job creation and innovation, and urges political leaders to cease rhetoric that singles out 'the other' as the cause of domestic socio-economic problems. SAIIA advocates for the prosecution of criminals, the restoration of order, and the implementation of civic education based on common humanity.
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Document type: Statement
Air quality and health impacts of ESKOM’s planned non-compliance with South African Minimum Emission Standards
The report finds that granting Eskom's requests for non-compliance with Minimum Emission Standards would lead to significant excess emissions of SO2, NOx, particulate matter, and mercury, resulting in an estimated 16,000 avoidable premature deaths across South Africa, with 3,100 of those in the Gauteng region.
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Document type: Research paper
The end of coal? Planning a just transition in South Africa
The report examines the economic, political, and environmental risks associated with a potential decline in South African coal production, drawing on stakeholder workshops and interviews to identify the institutional arrangements and policy mechanisms required for a just transition.
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Document type: Report
Water: Market Intelligence Report 2019
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.
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Document type: Report
Analysing South Africa’s 2014 election results
The 2014 South African elections saw the ANC retain power with 62.2% of the vote, though it experienced a real loss of 10.41% when controlling for registered voter growth. The DA increased its national vote share to 22.23%, consolidating its position as the official opposition, while the newly formed EFF secured 6.35% of the national vote and became the official opposition in Limpopo and the North West. The analysis highlights significant ANC losses in Gauteng and predicts highly competitive 2016 local government races in the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay.
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Document type: Policy brief
Implementing Sustainable Public Procurement in South Africa: Where to start
The report argues that South Africa's existing legal and policy frameworks, particularly those addressing social equity and industrial development, provide sufficient space to implement sustainable public procurement (SPP) without requiring new legislation. While the social pillar of SPP is well-established through Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) and preferential procurement, the environmental pillar is less formalized but gaining traction through renewable energy targets and subnational initiatives. The document highlights that government spending represents 29.1% of GDP, offering significant leverage for sustainable development. It identifies a decentralized procurement system that allows provinces and municipalities, such as the City of Cape Town and Western Cape, to run pilot projects. The report recommends aligning SPP with existing investment incentives and developing specific technical guidance to scale up 'green' procurement.
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Document type: Report
DRAFT REPORT 3rd GIBSA PARTNERS’ MEETING
The 3rd GIBSA Partners' Meeting, held in April 2009 in Tshwane, South Africa, brought together representatives from Germany, India, Brazil, and South Africa to discuss the emerging global political and economic order. Key discussions focused on the transition of power from West to East, the role of 'smart power' in international relations, and the challenges facing African states in exerting influence globally. The meeting also analyzed the rise of 'club governance' (such as the G20 and Heiligendamm Process) as a flexible alternative to traditional multilateral institutions like the IMF and World Bank, while emphasizing that Africa remains more of a 'field of action' than a proactive actor in international relations.
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Document type: Report
Non-Tariff Barriers to Trade in Southern Africa: Towards a Measurement Approach
The report identifies and quantifies non-tariff barriers (NTBs) along the Durban–Gaborone corridor, finding that these barriers account for 24.4% of round-trip heavy vehicle running costs. The most significant costs are attributed to South African toll roads, including direct fees and indirect costs from fuel consumption and downtime. Other identified NTBs include Botswana user charges, infrastructure deterioration, weighbridge delays, harbour permit costs, and border clearance procedures. The study suggests that these NTBs contribute approximately 1.83% to the final cost of sales, which, when modelled against South Africa's GDP, represents a potential national impact of R31.61 billion.
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Document type: Report
2011-da-kalyan-q1058-whether-the-dwa-has-charged-the-tswane-municipality-for-any-contraventions-of-the-nwa-at-the-rooiwal-sewage-treatment-works-6b4ecdc74c59f79e.pdf
This document is a draft written reply from the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to a National Assembly question (No. 1058) posed by Mrs. S V Kalyan (DA) regarding the Rooiwal sewage treatment works and the Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality's compliance with the National Water Act.
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Document type: Briefing
00206BBA608D200323172733
A statement from the South African Department of Environmental Affairs granting ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited (Pretoria Steel Works) a suspension of compliance time-frames for certain minimum emission standards under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004 for the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2030.
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Document type: Statement
Technical factsheet for sludge management
The document outlines how municipal wastewater treatment works (WWTWs) in South Africa can reduce energy consumption and carbon footprints through optimized sludge management. It details specific technical interventions in primary sedimentation, dewatering, thickening, and stabilisation, while providing a business case for biogas production and a framework of financing mechanisms for implementing these energy efficiency projects.
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Document type: Fact sheet
Jeug GIDS VIR NOODGEREEDHEID
The Youth Emergency Guide, developed by young South Africans (ages 13-25) in partnership with UNICEF and Youth@SAIIA, is a resource designed to build emergency preparedness and social resilience. It defines key concepts such as hazards, risks, and vulnerability, and provides practical steps for youth to identify local risks, develop personal emergency plans, and create early warning systems. The guide covers specific response strategies for floods, pandemics, storms, civil unrest, fires, and droughts, while emphasizing the importance of reliable information and youth leadership in community resilience and policy advocacy.
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Document type: Guide
UMHLAHLANDLELA WAKWA-UNICEF WOKULUNGISELELA IZIMO EZIPHUTHUMAYO
The document is a youth-led emergency preparedness guide for South Africans, focusing on identifying risks, creating response plans, and building community resilience against climate-related disasters, health crises, and social unrest.
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Document type: Guide
Youth EMERGENCY GUIDE
The Youth Emergency Guide is a youth-led resource designed to empower young South Africans to manage emergencies. It defines key concepts like hazards and social resilience, provides a step-by-step methodology for risk assessment and emergency planning, and offers specific response protocols for floods, wildfires, pandemics, and civil unrest. The guide emphasizes the importance of reliable information, community leadership, and systemic advocacy to prevent future disasters.
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Document type: Guide
TOKOMANE YA UNCEF YA HO THUSA BATHO HORE BA DULE BA LE MALALA-A-LAOTSWE NAKONG YA DIKETSAHALO TSA TSHOHANYETSO
The document is a comprehensive emergency preparedness guide for South African youth, focusing on building community resilience against climate-related disasters, health crises, and civil unrest.
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Document type: Guide
How to Implement Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Options
The document argues for prioritizing public transport in South African cities to reduce carbon emissions, which currently account for 25% of city emissions, and energy consumption, which accounts for 50%. It identifies barriers such as fragmented management, safety concerns, and apartheid-era urban planning. Proposed solutions include the creation of Transport Authorities, the implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems, and travel demand management strategies like congestion charging and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. A case study of Cape Town suggests that a 10% shift in commuters from private to public transport by 2020 could save 148 million gigajoules of energy and 9 billion tonnes of CO2 by 2024.
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Document type: Guide
LOW-CARBON MOBILITY CHALLENGE TOOLKIT
The Low-Carbon Mobility Challenge is a competitive event where teams navigate a city using low-carbon transport modes, with the winner determined by the lowest carbon footprint rather than speed. The toolkit outlines the conceptual framework, stakeholder engagement, team composition, and a detailed operational plan for organising the event. It emphasizes shifting users from private vehicles to public, shared, or non-motorised transport to meet South Africa's climate goals. The guide includes a ten-week work plan, safety protocols, and monitoring tools such as carbon calculators and experience logs to evaluate changes in participant behaviour.
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Document type: Guide