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The report examines the critical pressures facing South African agriculture, including resource scarcity, climate change, and socio-economic inequality. It highlights the interdependence of food, water, and energy systems, warning that current trends in soil degradation, water over-abstraction, and biodiversity loss threaten long-term productivity. The document calls for a shift toward sustainable farming practices, improved land-use planning, and coordinated governance to protect the natural resource base while feeding a growing population.

The document highlights a drastic increase in unauthorized sand mining in South Africa's rivers and estuaries, driven by low entry barriers and high demand from the construction industry. In the eThekwini jurisdiction, sand extraction rates exceed natural replenishment, leading to riverbank erosion, sinking water tables, and the denudation of beaches. The author argues that current governance is hampered by weak enforcement, insufficient capacity of Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs), and regulatory ambiguity between the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) and environmental authorities. The brief recommends halting riparian and estuarine mining in favor of sustainable alternatives and enhancing the capacity of national and provincial authorities to enforce Environmental Management Plans (EMPs).

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2013/14 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). Key trends include a 12.26% increase in registered EMIs and a significant rise in reported environmental incidents. While industrial sectors like cement and refineries show improved performance due to proactive inspections, biodiversity crimes—particularly rhino poaching—remain a critical concern despite heavy court sentences. The report also highlights legislative updates, judicial precedents regarding the 'polluter pays' principle, and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement and prosecutors.

The study assesses 62 mining applications in Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal to determine if EAPs are following the six core principles of the Mining and Biodiversity Guidelines (MBG). It finds significant gaps in adherence, particularly regarding the use of biodiversity information and best practice environmental impact assessments. The report highlights a performance gap between larger and smaller EAP consultancies and argues for the urgent formal registration and regulation of EAPs under a professional body like EAPASA to ensure sustainable development and protect water and food security in South Africa's grasslands.

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.

The document argues that African countries must integrate an ecosystem-based approach into economic planning to protect natural assets from pressures like population growth and extractive industries. It advocates for the use of ecological accounting and natural asset pricing to quantify the economic value of ecosystems, which often exceeds the value of their conversion for mining or farming. The brief recommends a multi-level governance system—combining national interdisciplinary coordination with local community co-management—and the adoption of innovative financing like Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) and Blue Carbon frameworks. It emphasizes the need for rigorous environmental impact assessments (EIAs) and scientific spatial mapping to guide conservation priorities and regulate development in sensitive areas.

The report evaluates a ZAR 1.1 billion education programme by Anglo American Platinum in South Africa's Limpopo and North West provinces. Using a mix of qualitative field visits and quasi-experimental methods, the study finds that while individual learners benefited from specific interventions, the overall programme had no statistically significant positive impact on school-level National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass rates. Crucially, the research identifies a 'proximity to mine' effect, where schools located within 50 km of platinum mines actually show a negative correlation with mathematics and science pass rates, potentially due to high learner enrolment in technical subjects without adequate resources. The study concludes that the small positive effects of corporate social investments were outweighed by the negative externalities of the mining operations themselves.

The document examines the socio-economic instability of South Africa's platinum belt, specifically following the 2012 Marikana tragedy. It argues that the 'oscillating migrant labour' system persists because of a 'double balance' in the national elite bargain, where the ruling ANC and traditional authorities maintain insecure communal land tenure to ensure a steady supply of cheap labour. The author contends that corporate social investment (CSI) and Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) are insufficient to address these structural issues due to coordination failures and the exclusion of 'informal' migrant settlers. The paper recommends reforming land tenure legislation, prohibiting traditional authorities from operating as corporations, restricting politically connected elites from BEE transactions, and implementing more humane, shorter migration work cycles.

The report details a period of transition for South Africa's energy efficiency sector. While new building codes (SANS 10400) and tax incentives (Section 12L) aim to institutionalize efficiency, the market for domestic solar water heaters has seen a decline and consolidation following the cessation of various Eskom subsidies. Conversely, the LED lighting and embedded generation sectors, particularly solar PV, show signs of growth and increasing price competitiveness.

The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2014-15 details the activities of South Africa's 'Green Scorpions' (EMIs). It reports a 19.8% increase in registered EMIs to 2,294 and highlights a rise in criminal dockets by 8.5%. The report identifies illegal hunting and unlawful commencement of listed activities as the most prevalent crimes. It also documents specific industrial inspections, biodiversity enforcement focusing on rhinoceros and cycads, and the implementation of capacity-building programs for law enforcement and judicial officers.

The 2014 Blue Drop Report indicates a decline in national drinking water management performance, with the average score dropping from 87.6% in 2012 to 79.6% in 2014. While microbiological compliance remains high, chemical compliance and water loss management are identified as critical areas for improvement across various provinces.

The 2014 Green Drop Progress Report, published by GreenCape, provides a national overview of wastewater treatment performance in South Africa. It utilizes the Progress Assessment Tool (PAT) to track the Cumulative Risk Rating (CRR) of municipal, public, and private wastewater treatment plants, highlighting a general trend of increasing risk across the sector between 2013 and 2014.

The report outlines the South African regulatory landscape for construction, highlighting the role of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act and SANS 10400-XA in driving energy efficiency. It identifies the commercial property sector as the primary driver of green building certifications, while noting significant opportunities for 'greening' the social housing sector in the Western Cape through alternative building technologies (ABTs) and improved thermal performance standards. The document also details the role of the NHBRC in approving ABTs and the Western Cape Provincial Government's Green Economy strategy.

The South African waste economy, valued at R15.3 billion, is transitioning from 'end of pipe' to 'cradle to cradle' solutions under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. While the recycling rate stands at 19.6%, the sector faces significant hurdles in municipal procurement, feedstock security, and legal authorisation backlogs. In the Western Cape, municipalities like Cape Town, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch are pursuing waste-to-energy and organic waste treatment to address critical landfill airspace shortages, with some landfills estimated to have less than 3 years of capacity remaining.

The report analyzes the South African green building sector, detailing the regulatory environment governed by the National Building Regulations and SANS 10400. It highlights the growth of the commercial green building market, the adoption of alternative building technologies (ABTs) in social housing, and specific strategic initiatives in the Western Cape to promote a green economy.

The report details a transition in South Africa's energy efficiency landscape, marked by the introduction of new building codes (SANS 10400) and mandatory quality testing for solar water heaters. While the high-pressure solar water heater market is consolidating after a peak in 2011 and the low-pressure sector is described as 'virtually extinct', the embedded generation sector, particularly solar PV, is showing growth as it approaches price parity with Eskom retail pricing. Financial incentives are shifting from Eskom-funded rebates, which have been largely cancelled, toward tax deductions under Section 12L.

The South African waste economy is valued at R15.3 billion, representing approximately 0.51% of GDP. While the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEM:WA) has shifted the sector toward 'cradle-to-cradle' solutions, developers face significant hurdles, including complex municipal procurement processes, long legal authorisation backlogs, and difficulties in securing long-term feedstock agreements. In the Western Cape, limited landfill airspace—with some sites having less than three years of capacity—is driving a need for decentralized waste-to-energy and recycling projects.

The report details South Africa's transition toward renewable energy, highlighting the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Procurement Program and the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP). It examines four market segments: utility-scale projects, the Small Projects Bidding Programme, Eskom's Standard Offer Programme, and the growing private market. The document emphasizes the importance of local content and the Western Cape's role as a hub for renewable energy manufacturing and development.

The report examines South Africa's renewable energy landscape in 2014, detailing the regulatory framework, utility-scale and private markets, and the manufacturing of components. It highlights the role of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) in driving capacity, while noting grid constraints and the importance of the Western Cape as an industry hub.

The report analyzes the transition of South Africa's public procurement from a centralized system to a highly decentralized 'contract state'. It identifies systemic weaknesses in procurement planning, costing, and supplier selection, which it argues lead to uneven service delivery and opportunities for corruption. The authors suggest that the current state capacity depends on managing private sector contracts rather than internal administration, and they propose professionalizing the civil service as a potential solution.