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This 2019 Phase 1 Initial Impact Assessment, produced by the Department of Environment Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) for the South African Presidency's Socio-Economic Impact Assessment System (SEIAS), evaluates the need for regulations to enforce Air Quality Management Plans (AQMPs) in three priority areas. The document identifies a failure to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) due to ineffective AQMP implementation and a lack of accountability for non-industrial stakeholders.

This report reviews risk factors to quantify the potential health impacts of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) emissions from various Eskom operations. It synthesizes global epidemiological data from organizations like the WHO and USEPA to establish risk estimates for mortality and morbidity, while incorporating South African provincial population and health data to support a health risk assessment.

This report, prepared by INFOTOX (Pty) Ltd for Eskom Holdings, evaluates the confidence levels and uncertainties associated with the health risk assessment of particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from Eskom operations. It concludes that risk quantifications based on mortality and particulate matter are more reliable than those based on hospitalisation and gaseous pollutants.

A Remediation Order issued by the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited for the cleanup of contaminated land at its Vanderbijlpark Works.

The report identifies critical failures in South African water governance and provides recommendations for civil society to intervene and improve the management of water resources.

The document outlines a risk-based approach to mining in South Africa's most sensitive biodiversity areas, including critically endangered ecosystems, Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs), Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs), and Ramsar sites. It argues that because these areas are essential for ecosystem services and biodiversity targets, mining should be strongly avoided. The guideline proposes a sequential six-step filter—including requirements for national strategic interest, lack of alternative deposits, and full economic valuation—that must be satisfied before any mining authorisation is considered. It emphasizes a risk-averse approach where authorisations may be denied or strictly limited to specific methods, such as underground mining, to avoid fatal flaws in environmental authorisations.

The briefing outlines the systemic failures of traditional municipal service delivery in South Africa, where over 7.32 million households in approximately 4,298 informal settlements face severe constraints. It proposes Alternative Service Delivery (ASD) as a paradigm shift based on Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), emphasizing decentralization and public-private partnerships. The document establishes a framework of technical, social, and financial 'best practice norms' to ensure sustainability and community ownership. Through case studies like Peco Power (energy), Kaloola (sanitation), Regenize (waste), and Gcwalisa (food/waste), it demonstrates how off-grid and community-led solutions can provide interim services while working toward long-term goals. It concludes by recommending a systems approach to integrate ASD into provincial planning and calling for flexible policy and funding mechanisms.

The document provides a comprehensive guide to the South African regulatory environment for Black Soldier Fly (BSF) agriculture, focusing on waste treatment, animal feed, fertilisers, and air quality. It details the necessary Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) under NEMA and specific licensing requirements for waste management and atmospheric emissions. The brief also covers standards for exporting BSF-based products to the EU and US, as well as regulations for human food chains and land use zoning.

The guideline outlines a three-step process for farmers to achieve energy resilience: conducting energy audits to identify efficiencies, evaluating alternative energy technologies based on specific production needs, and navigating the financial and quality assurance aspects of implementation. It highlights the critical role of energy efficiency as a prerequisite to reducing the capital requirements of renewable systems and provides detailed comparisons of technologies such as solar PV, biogas, and battery storage, alongside various South African financing mechanisms and tax incentives.

Mpumalanga is positioned as a strategic hub for South Africa's renewable energy transition due to its significant grid capacity and proximity to industrial demand. However, developers face substantial hurdles, including a lack of a public mining cadastre and delays in Section 53 land-use applications under the Mineral and Petroleum Resource Development Act. Environmental risks, specifically the lack of precise data on endangered bird flight paths, create uncertainty for wind projects. The document suggests short-term mitigations like the Energy One Stop Shop and Strategic Infrastructure Project registration, while advocating for long-term solutions such as a public mining rights database and comprehensive bird monitoring studies.

The workshop addressed the emerging waste stream of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in South Africa, noting that while most current waste stems from damage, obsolete panels will increase significantly within five years. Participants discussed the legal ban on solar panels in landfills starting August 2021, the need for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, and the trade-offs between centralized recycling facilities and local dismantling hubs. The report highlights the importance of the waste management hierarchy—preventing, reusing, and repairing—and suggests that while full local recycling may not be feasible in the short term, local pre-processing and the export of PV cells are viable options.

The South African agtech sector is expanding as farmers seek to improve productivity and climate resilience, though adoption is hindered by financing gaps and farmer resistance. The agricultural drone market, valued at approximately R1 billion in 2024, is forecast to exceed R3 billion by 2030, with high viability in field monitoring and precision spraying. Emerging opportunities include digital twin technology, which uses drone data to create virtual farm replicas for predictive modeling.

This joint submission by the Center for Economic and Social Rights, the Institute for Economic Justice, and SECTION27 argues that South Africa is implementing retrogressive austerity measures that threaten economic, social, and cultural rights. The authors contend that the government's focus on debt reduction is based on exaggerated concerns and that resources could be maximized through progressive tax reform and the eradication of corruption and 'state capture'. The document details how budget cuts and inefficient resourcing are severely undermining the public health and basic education systems, leading to critical staff shortages, infrastructure backlogs, and poor learner outcomes.

The fact sheet analyzes the funding of basic education in South Africa, highlighting a real-terms decline in per-learner spending from R17,822 in 2010 to R16,435 in 2017. It identifies critical underfunding in school infrastructure, sanitation, and special needs education, while noting that provincial mismanagement and inaccurate data collection further exacerbate the crisis. The authors call for an end to budget austerity and the implementation of a rights-based funding model to ensure all learners have access to essential resources and safe facilities.

The analysis uses the International Futures (IFs) model and 2011 National Census data to simulate three population scenarios for South Africa by 2030 based on varying levels of in-migration: 64.4 million (rapidly declining), 66.4 million (stable), and 68.8 million (rapidly increasing). These projections are higher and exhibit greater variance than those in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. Extended analysis to 2050 indicates further increasing uncertainty for national planners. Provincial forecasts using the IFs Base Case also exceed NDP figures, particularly in the Eastern Cape, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape, with implications for public policy in healthcare, education, employment, and service delivery.

The document outlines various leisure tours for conference participants in South Africa, ranging from short local trips like the Lion Park tour (R575.00) to a three-day Classic Kruger National Park Safari (R7700.00). It details activities such as game drives in Pilanesberg and Kruger National Parks, visits to the Elephant Sanctuary, and an eco-adventure canopy tour in the Magaliesberg Mountains.

The report examines the challenges faced by former South African National Defence Force (SANDF) personnel and combatants from non-statutory forces (such as MK and APLA) as they transition to civilian life. Based on a survey of 307 former soldiers, it finds high unemployment rates, particularly among the youth, and a significant mismatch between the military skills of demobilised personnel and the demands of the South African labour market. The document argues that the demobilisation process was often dysfunctional for individuals, leading to poverty and disillusionment. It recommends a policy shift toward targeted reskilling, public-private partnerships, and the creation of specific Citizen Force units to provide sustainable employment and social reintegration.

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies analyzes voter participation and the outcomes of South Africa's May 2014 national and provincial elections. It highlights a steady decline in electoral participation since 1994, particularly among youth and rural populations, and examines the shifting political landscape as the African National Congress (ANC) faces reduced majorities in urban centers like Gauteng.

The document highlights the gap between women's high voter registration numbers and their limited representation in political leadership and skilled employment in South Africa. It calls on young people to use the 2019 elections to force gender equality onto the political agenda, noting that women remain more likely to be unemployed and are under-represented in the top leadership of the ANC, DA, and EFF.

The report examines the theft of gold and platinum group metals (PGMs) in South Africa between 1994 and 1999. It highlights a significant gap between detected recoveries and estimated undetected losses, particularly for gold, where undetected theft is estimated at 35 tons per year. The document details the hierarchical structure of criminal syndicates, the challenges faced by the South African Police Service (SAPS) Diamond and Gold Branch—including resource shortages and corruption—and the economic threat to the mining industry's profitability and employment.