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The report highlights that South Africa wastes approximately 10 million tonnes of food annually, representing a third of its total production. This waste results in significant economic losses of R61.5 billion and substantial environmental degradation, including the waste of 1.7 km3 of water and the emission of greenhouse gases from landfills. The document identifies that most waste occurs at the pre-consumer stage, particularly on farms, and calls for a coordinated effort between the public and private sectors to implement the UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 target of halving food waste by 2030.

Coal mining in Mpumalanga, South Africa, has severely contaminated water sources and degraded land, leading to health issues and increased poverty. Women are disproportionately affected due to their roles as caregivers, facing increased labor, economic instability, and risks of violence. Despite national and international legal frameworks, the document argues that economic interests and a lack of enforcement allow mining companies to operate with impunity.

Africa is experiencing unprecedented urban growth, with its urban population expected to reach 1.4 billion by 2050. While this transition offers economic potential, it is occurring alongside slow structural transformation and pervasive poverty. The paper highlights the rise of megacities—such as Lagos, Cairo, and Kinshasa—and warns that without integrated urban planning and inclusive economic growth, cities will face increasing slum proliferation and urban violence.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is calling for a review of South Africa's National Dust Control Regulations, arguing that current monitoring methods are inadequate and that the government is incorrectly treating fugitive dust as a 'nuisance' rather than a health risk. CER specifically highlights the danger of toxic substances like arsenic and uranium in gold mine residues in Gauteng and opposes a proposal to double the allowable 30-day average dust limit from 600mg/m2 to 1200mg/m2. The letter also demands that the scope of regulated activities be expanded to explicitly include gold mine tailings re-mining operations.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) defends its 'Zero Hour' report against criticisms from the Chamber of Mines, asserting that the report's findings on environmental violations in Mpumalanga are based on extensive evidence. The CER rejects the Chamber's claim that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has a proven track record of regulation, instead citing a 'consistent failure' in compliance monitoring and enforcement. The CER calls for increased transparency, better protection of strategic water source areas, and improved DMR capacity to prevent further environmental degradation.

The report identifies a 'cusp group' comprising 23% of sub-Saharan Africa's population who earn $2-$5 per day and straddle formal and informal economies. It analyzes three distinct credit market 'faces': South Africa is 'Stuck' due to aggressive formal lending and high indebtedness; Kenya is 'Uncertain' as it transitions from traditional loans to rapid, short-term digital lending; and Ghana is 'Squeezed' by macroeconomic instability and high costs that limit formal credit access. The document argues that 'healthy' credit markets must be accessible, robust, diverse, and value-adding to prevent over-indebtedness while enabling asset accumulation. It recommends that regulators improve market monitoring, invest in digital identification, and introduce mechanisms like 'learner's licenses' for credit to protect vulnerable borrowers.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is convening a National Hearing on 13-14 September 2016 to investigate socio-economic challenges in mining-affected communities across South Africa. Following consultations in KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, the Commission identified systemic issues including non-compliance with legal and environmental obligations, failures in enforcement, insufficient community consultation, and limited social upliftment. The SAHRC has invited the Centre for Environmental Rights to provide submissions specifically regarding the efficacy of environmental compliance monitoring, the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and Environmental Management Plans (EMPs), and the impact of mining on water resources and ecosystems.

The policy brief examines how domestic xenophobia contradicts South Africa's 'diplomacy of ubuntu' and its aspirations for African leadership. It highlights specific incidents of violence and government failures, suggesting that South Africa must address the root causes of intolerance domestically and regionalise its policy responses to reclaim its international standing.

The 2016 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration outlines specific demands from South African youth to integrate global sustainability goals into national governance. It calls for increased accountability, educational reform, improved basic services, and economic opportunities, with a strong emphasis on renewable energy, climate adaptation, and social equity.

A formal request by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to Mintails SA (Pty) Ltd for records concerning the financial provision for the Mogale Gold operation on the West Rand of Johannesburg.

The paper argues that South Africa's extreme inequality, high unemployment, and declining governance effectiveness are fueling social turbulence. It details a shift from state-sponsored apartheid violence to diverse forms of public violence, including service delivery protests, xenophobic attacks, and student unrest. The authors highlight a critical failure in security institutions and a lack of structural economic reform, suggesting the country is at a political turning point where economic stagnation and poor leadership increase the risk of future instability.

South Africa faces a severe water crisis driven by climate change, population growth, and crumbling infrastructure. The report argues that the country must shift its focus from building new infrastructure to managing demand through water efficiency. Key opportunities for savings include improving agricultural irrigation (30-40%), reducing municipal leaks and household waste (12-30%), and increasing industrial efficiency. The document emphasizes the role of the business community in disclosing water use and investing in water-saving technologies to avoid economic instability and social unrest.

The document assesses the role of South Africa's informal waste sector, which recovers 80-90% of paper and packaging waste, in the context of planned mandatory Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). It warns that traditional EPR models could marginalize waste pickers by creating competition for recyclables. Based on regional workshops, the note identifies four integration scenarios: maintaining the status quo, providing increased support and monitoring, formalizing pickers into co-operatives and SMEs, or absorbing them as employees in the formal sector. It highlights the significant economic value informal pickers provide to municipalities by diverting waste from landfills, while noting the high failure rate of waste co-operatives.

The document outlines a diverse landscape of climate financing for cities, categorised into local internal revenues, external third-party sources, and international funds. Local options include property and land taxes, user fees, development charges, and Tax Increment Financing (TIF), as well as 'intracting' for energy retrofits. External sources feature Energy Performance Contracting (EPC), green bonds, and crowdfunding. International support is available through climate funds like the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), and philanthropic organisations, though the authors note that most international funds require cooperation with national governments due to strict fiduciary and creditworthiness standards. The guide emphasizes that while international funds are necessary for large-scale projects, local sources foster greater municipal autonomy and sustainability.

The research paper argues that South Africa lacks a concrete strategy for the BRICS process, which is currently viewed as too bureaucratic and of limited use to South African business. It examines the limitations of the Contingency Reserve Arrangement in preventing currency runs and the uncertainties surrounding the New Development Bank's Africa Regional Centre in Johannesburg.

Natural Justice condemns the recurrence of xenophobic violence in South Africa, specifically citing attacks in the KwaZulu-Natal Province and other cities that resulted in deaths, injuries, and displacement.

The SAIIA Youth Policy Committee condemns xenophobic violence in South Africa, emphasizing the historical support provided by other African nations during the apartheid era. The committee calls for a national discussion to address the causes of xenophobia and urges government and local leaders to employ political will and grassroots engagement to stop the violence.

The statement criticizes the South African government for granting air quality standard postponements to Eskom, Sasol, and Engen on 24 February 2014. It asserts that these postponements effectively legalize toxic air, contradicting Section 24 of the constitution and a 1995 promise by President Mandela. The document highlights the severe health impacts of Eskom's pollution, estimating 20,000 premature deaths and an economic cost of R230 billion, while arguing that industries have had sufficient time since 2004 to implement pollution control technologies.

The report analyzes African financial centres—specifically Casablanca, Johannesburg, Port Louis, and Nairobi—against a global peer group using the Global Financial Centres Index (GFCI). It defines the roles of onshore and offshore centres, identifies the 'dynamic' nature of certain African hubs, and highlights a significant 'reputational advantage' in Casablanca where marketing exceeds quantitative performance. The document argues that improving the business environment, rule of law, and infrastructure is critical for growth. It proposes a strategic framework for donors and governments to enhance capacity through regional integration, professional accreditation via a proposed Financial Training and Qualifications Institute (FTQI), and the development of standardized regulatory frameworks to attract long-term capital.

The 2015 SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project (ESP) is an educational competition for South African Grade 10-12 learners. Participants work in teams of three to produce a research paper of up to 12 pages focusing on a selected theme—Biodiversity, Climate Change, or Sustainable Development—and a specific topic such as energy, oceans, or air pollution. The project requires both a local and an international case example. The programme consists of three phases: the research paper, provincial or regional presentations for top papers, and the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference from 6-11 December 2015 in Gauteng, where top learners draft the 2015 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration for government and UN officials. Key deadlines include school registration by 11 May 2015 and final paper submission by 21 July 2015.