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The report examines the 'political-administrative interface' in South Africa, arguing that while political deployment was a post-apartheid imperative for transformation, it has evolved into a system of clientelism and patronage. Through interviews with public servants in local, provincial, and national government, the authors illustrate how political interference—often driven by factionalism within the ANC—leads to institutional instability, the appointment of incompetent officials, and severe psychological trauma for employees. The document concludes by recommending a shift toward professionalisation, including strengthening the oversight powers of the Public Service Commission and limiting the HR authority of political executives to senior-most positions.

The report identifies Strategic Water Source Areas (SWSAs) as critical land areas that provide a disproportionate amount of surface water runoff or groundwater recharge, sustaining over 50% of South Africa's population and 64% of its economy. It establishes a management framework to mitigate impacts from forestry, agriculture, mining, and invasive alien plants, while providing guidelines for government planners to integrate SWSA maps into strategic development frameworks and zoning schemes.

The report defines and maps 22 national Strategic Water Source Areas for surface water (SWSA-sw) and 37 for groundwater (SWSA-gw) in South Africa, including transboundary areas in Lesotho and Swaziland. It links these areas to major urban centres and agricultural sectors, highlighting that a small percentage of land provides a disproportionate amount of the region's water. The study identifies significant threats from invasive alien plants, mining, and land degradation, and recommends integrating SWSAs into national policy, legislation, and spatial planning to ensure long-term water security.

The report evaluates the South African legal framework for wild animal welfare, highlighting a critical divide between biodiversity conservation (managed by the Department of Environmental Affairs) and animal welfare (managed by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). It finds that the primary welfare statute, the Animals Protection Act of 1962, is outdated and contains loopholes—specifically the use of the term "unnecessary"—that dilute protection. The report identifies significant failures in the permitting system, noting that provincial authorities often ignore national TOPS regulations and omit welfare conditions from permits. It concludes with recommendations for a standardized national electronic permit database, increased enforcement capacity, and the integration of welfare mandates across environmental and agricultural departments.

This document is a formal objection submitted by the Centre for Environmental Rights on behalf of a coalition of eight civil society and community non-profit organisations. The objection opposes an application by Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd to change the land use of Portion 1 of the Farm Yzermyn 96 in Mpumalanga from agricultural to mining purposes to facilitate the construction of the Yzermyn Underground Coal Mine. The objectors argue that the project would cause irreparable harm to a strategic water source area, threaten biodiversity in the Mabola Protected Environment, and negatively impact vulnerable local communities, while failing to comply with municipal spatial development frameworks and national interest requirements under the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA).

This briefing, delivered by Richard Sizani, Chairperson of the Public Service Commission, addresses the tension between political and professional roles in South Africa's public administration. It advocates for a clear demarcation of roles to prevent service delivery breakdowns, proposes a structured professionalisation of the civil service and procurement functions, and suggests reforms to curb patronage and mismanagement in state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has called on the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) to take urgent action against air pollution in the Highveld Priority Area (HPA). The letter criticizes the DEA's dismissal of health impact studies linking Eskom and Sasol emissions to thousands of deaths and respiratory illnesses. It further demands an end to 'rolling postponements' of minimum emission standards (MES), a response to the 'Broken Promises' report, and updates on the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP) goals and its Mid-Term Review.

The analysis concludes that river flows in the Mokolo and Crocodile (West) catchments are very likely to decline due to a combination of projected precipitation decreases and increased evaporation driven by rising temperatures. Using the American Southwest as a semi-arid analog, the author argues that temperature-induced flow declines will occur even if modest precipitation increases happen. The report warns that these systems are already over-allocated and that further warming, potentially reaching 5°C under high-emissions scenarios, will exacerbate water shortages and increase the frequency of 'flash droughts'.

The South Africa Green Economy Barometer 2018 evaluates the country's transition to a sustainable economy, awarding it a '5 out of 10'. While South Africa has strong policy foundations like the National Development Plan and the Green Economy Accord, the report finds that the economy remains locked into 'brown' energy systems, with 90% of electricity still generated from coal. Progress in renewable energy has been stalled by a gridlock between the national utility Eskom and independent power producers. The report highlights a critical gap in supporting the informal sector and small enterprises, noting that 'green jobs' created through public works programmes often lack security and decent wages. Environmentally, the country's ecological footprint continues to exceed its biocapacity, and biodiversity hotspots remain in a dire state. Financially, while green bonds and sustainable finance innovations have emerged, fossil fuel subsidies persist. The document concludes that national plans remain too focused on economic growth rather than social development and the integration of natural capital into decision-making.

The South African waste landscape is shifting toward a resource-efficient economy driven by legislative changes and rising landfill costs. In the Western Cape, significant opportunities exist for alternative waste treatment (AWT) of organics, e-waste processing, and the reuse of builders' rubble. The report highlights the role of Operation Phakisa and Industry Waste Management Plans (IndWMPs) in unlocking feedstocks and creating jobs, while noting barriers such as inadequate source separation and a lack of reliable data.

The document examines the systemic failures of the South African criminal justice system through the lens of decolonisation. It argues that current bail practices—specifically the insistence on verified addresses and cash payments—effectively criminalise poverty and maintain colonial-era structures of domination. The report also documents severe human rights violations at the Lindela Repatriation Centre, where undocumented migrants are treated as 'bare life' in a 'state of exception'. Through interviews and legal analysis, the text highlights a gap between constitutional ideals and the lived experiences of activists and migrants, suggesting that true decolonisation requires a fundamental rethinking of the purpose of prisons rather than mere institutional reform.

The report assesses the feasibility of solar thermal systems in South African hospitals, finding a total annual thermal energy demand of 370 GWh for domestic hot water. While current adoption is very low—with only 23 systems totaling 1,333 m² of collector area—the study suggests hospitals could feasibly meet 20% to 40% of their thermal needs through solar thermal capacity. A case study at Paarl Provincial Hospital indicates a potential internal rate of return (IRR) of 10% and a payback period of 12.3 years. However, widespread uptake is hindered by the prevalence of energy-efficient heat pumps, high upfront costs, and infrastructure challenges such as asbestos roofing and limited roof space.

The document analyzes how biophysical climate impacts and international trade shifts threaten employment in South Africa's chemicals sub-sector, while identifying job creation potential through mitigation and adaptation interventions.

The report analyzes the aftermath of the ANC's 54th national conference, where Cyril Ramaphosa narrowly defeated Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. It argues that while Ramaphosa's victory averted a major crisis, the party remains deeply divided between 'reformists' and 'traditionalists,' placing South Africa in a 'muddling along' scenario. Key challenges include the potential recall of Jacob Zuma, avoiding a credit rating downgrade by Moody's, and managing the Tripartite Alliance. The author predicts the ANC will retain national power in 2019 but may lose its majority in Gauteng province, with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) emerging as a potential kingmaker there.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle Campaign, urges the Portfolio Committee on Energy to compel the Department of Energy to release key technical data and conduct fair public consultations before finalising the IRP Update and IEP. The submission highlights the Department's failure to respond to PAIA requests for modelling assumptions and tariff implications. It further argues that the current planning ignores the health and water costs of coal, the emissions of nitrous oxide from CFB technology, and the financial viability of new coal and nuclear plants. Citing studies by Meridian Economics and the Frankfurt Institute, the document asserts that accelerating the decommissioning of older coal stations and prioritising wind and solar PV is the most cost-effective path for South Africa's energy future.

A coalition of environmental and social justice organisations has formally objected to a planned 'energy indaba' scheduled for December 2017, arguing that it does not constitute meaningful public participation for the draft Integrated Energy Plan (IEP) and Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Update. The organisations claim the event's short notice and single venue in Gauteng exclude many affected parties. Furthermore, they allege that the Department of Energy has failed to provide critical technical reports and modelling data requested under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), which are essential for stakeholders to provide informed input on South Africa's energy future.

The report concludes that the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) has failed to improve air quality over the decade since its 2007 declaration. Despite the 2012 air quality management plan, ambient air quality remains out of compliance with health-based standards, largely due to industrial non-compliance and government failure in monitoring and enforcement. The authors highlight a deterioration in the monitoring network, inadequate dust control for mining, and a lack of resources and skilled staff within local municipalities. The report specifically criticizes the National Air Quality Officer for granting compliance postponements to major polluters Eskom and Sasol, arguing that this has hindered pollution reduction and violated the constitutional rights of residents.

The report concludes that the Highveld Priority Area (HPA) has failed to improve air quality over a decade, with ambient air remaining in widespread non-compliance with health-based national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). This failure is attributed to inadequate government capacity, a lack of financial and human resources at the municipal level, and the failure of major industrial emitters, specifically Eskom and Sasol, to reduce emissions. The report highlights a deteriorating monitoring network, ineffective dust control regulations, and a lack of progress in addressing indoor air pollution in low-income settlements. It argues that the granting of postponements from minimum emission standards (MES) to major polluters has further hindered progress, violating the constitutional rights of residents to an environment not harmful to their health.

This document contains the legal and technical submissions made by a coalition of eight appellants (including Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and BirdLife South Africa) on August 14, 2017, appealing an environmental authorisation (EA) granted to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd for the Yzermyn underground coal mine in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

The report identifies significant volumes of organic waste from dairies, piggeries, poultry farms, and abattoirs in the Western Cape, noting that most are currently underutilised or disposed of via landfill and burial. It highlights anaerobic digestion and composting as primary value-addition opportunities, while noting regulatory hurdles regarding fertiliser sales and strict landfill requirements for animal carcasses. The document provides a directory of waste providers and technology partners to facilitate business-matching.