Search Climate Insights Directory

A coalition of civil society organisations warns that the Covid-19 emergency increases the risk of corruption and supply chain failure in South Africa. They call for the government to involve civil society in monitoring, publish detailed expenditure reports for the R500-billion stimulus and Solidarity Fund, and utilize the Auditor General and the Special Investigating Unit to prevent the 'looting and capture' of emergency funds.

The document argues that COVID-19 lockdowns have provided a cover for governments and private entities to suppress environmental and land defenders through harassment, arrests, and the enactment of restrictive laws. It highlights specific instances of repression in the DRC, Uganda, and South Africa, noting that the suspension of normal administrative and judicial functions has limited access to justice and transparency. To counter these threats, the guide recommends that defenders shift toward online engagement, creative protest methods, and encrypted communication, while leveraging regional movements and emergency funds like the African Environmental Defenders’ Fund.

The report by Good Governance Africa (GGA) outlines critical interventions for South Africa's education sector during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the phased return of learners and the protection of vulnerable youth. It highlights severe infrastructure gaps, such as 3,475 schools lacking adequate water supply, and warns that the 'digital divide' prevents the poorest 80% of learners from accessing curricular learning during lockdown. GGA advocates for the prioritisation of Grade R learners due to their low infection risk and the critical nature of early language acquisition. The document also emphasizes the plight of Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, where 99% of practitioners reported a loss of fees, and calls for the integration of unemployed youth and parents as support resources to mitigate shortages in educators and psycho-social services.

The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) has submitted an urgent request to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu for the provision of water tanks, tankers, and sanitation packs for communities across several South African provinces. The document details systemic failures in water infrastructure, including dry taps, unreliable water trucking, and a lack of soap and sanitation services, which are exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. SAWC specifically criticizes the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation's hotline as non-functional and inaccessible to rural populations, and calls for weekly public updates from the National Disaster Water Command Centre.

The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) has formally requested that the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and the National Disaster Water Command Centre urgently provide water tanks, tankers, and sanitation packs to numerous communities across South Africa. The request emphasizes that lack of clean water and soap increases the risk of contracting COVID-19, violating constitutional rights to an environment not harmful to health. The SAWC identifies specific failures in several provinces, including unreliable water trucking, unaffordable private water costs, and police harassment of women collecting water. The document calls for weekly public updates on the National Disaster Water Command Centre's activities and a dedicated contact person for updating the list of affected communities.

The report finds that South Africa is on a pathway of economic divergence from its middle-income peers due to poor human capital, lack of investment, and an electricity crisis. It proposes the 'Thuma Mina' scenario, which suggests that targeted structural interventions in five key sectors could increase average incomes by 60% by 2044 compared to a 24% increase on the current path. Key recommendations include solving the electricity crisis, improving the quality of health and education, and revitalising manufacturing through increased foreign and domestic investment.

The Life After Coal Campaign, represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights, calls for the urgent promulgation of a robust Climate Change Act and the abandonment of new fossil fuel projects in South Africa. The document highlights the lack of transparency regarding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data from the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF) and argues that non-compliant coal-fired power stations must be decommissioned as part of a just transition. It further asserts that South Africa's current commitments under the Paris Agreement are inadequate and must be revised to align with the 1.5 degree Celsius limit to avoid severe regional climate impacts.

The document details how WISP connected Advanced Technical Sock Industries (ATSI) in the Western Cape with The Care Bear Project in Pietermaritzburg, allowing the latter to use ATSI's yarn fluff waste as stuffing for teddy bears. With free transport provided by The Courier Guy, the initiative diverted 0.18 tonnes of waste annually from landfills and saved The Care Bear Project R10,800 per year, enabling the employment of two additional staff members.

The report examines the nascent electric vehicle market in South Africa, highlighting a strong existing automotive manufacturing base that faces risks from global shifts toward EVs. While South Africa lacks specific EV subsidies, the report identifies key opportunities in electric bus manufacturing, lithium-ion battery production, and passenger vehicle exports. It notes significant barriers, including high import duties (averaging 42% total taxes) and a lack of policy certainty, while suggesting that the Western Cape is a primary hub for greentech investment.

The report describes South Africa's plastics economy as a linear "take-make-waste" model characterized by high dependency on virgin fossil-fuel-based materials and a weak waste management system. It highlights that plastic packaging is a major leakage hotspot, with over 50% of converted plastics having a lifespan of less than three years. While a recycling sector exists, it is heavily reliant on an under-supported informal waste sector and is vulnerable to fluctuations in global oil prices. The document argues that recycling alone is insufficient and advocates for a circular economy approach involving the elimination of problematic plastics, mandatory extended producer responsibility (EPR), and the adoption of the South African Plastics Pact to achieve specific 2025 targets for recyclability and recycled content.

The report assesses South Africa's approach to marine and coastal ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), highlighting a strong policy framework but significant challenges in local-level implementation and funding. It emphasizes the interconnection between biodiversity, climate change, and human well-being, arguing that maintaining ecosystem integrity is primary for social resilience.

The report finds that section 139 interventions in South African municipalities are largely ineffective, often initiated only after 'total collapse' rather than as a preventative measure. It highlights a systemic misapplication of the law, where discretionary section 139(1) interventions are used for financial crises that legally require mandatory section 139(5) recovery plans. The authors argue that the use of administrators to assume all executive functions is legally baseless and often worsens municipal health due to incompetence or corruption. The report recommends a standardized implementation framework with clear trigger thresholds and strengthened oversight from the NCOP and National Treasury's Municipal Financial Recovery Service.

The report evaluates South Africa's implementation of SDGs 4, 8, 10, 13, 16, and 17, finding a significant gap between strong policy frameworks and actual delivery. While the National Development Plan aligns well with the 2030 Agenda, the authors highlight systemic failures in education quality, rising unemployment, extreme wealth inequality, inadequate climate action, and high levels of gender-based violence. The document argues that the 'leave no one behind' principle is not being operationalised and calls for greater state accountability and inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement.

The report asserts that "clean coal" is impossible, detailing the severe impacts of coal mining and combustion in South Africa. It examines technologies like HELE plants, CFB combustion, and CCS, concluding they fail to substantially reduce emissions or costs compared to renewables. It further notes that Eskom and Sasol have frequently sought postponements to comply with national air quality standards.

The document argues for the alignment of provincial conservation laws with national legislation, the clarification of welfare mandates between government departments, and the standardisation of permitting processes to ensure the well-being of wild animals in South Africa.

The report examines South Africa's nascent electric vehicle (EV) market, highlighting a strong existing automotive manufacturing base that could be leveraged for EV production. While global EV sales are growing exponentially, South Africa faces significant barriers including high import duties, lack of policy certainty, and a lack of affordable products for the middle class. Key opportunities are identified in electric bus manufacturing, lithium-ion battery production, and passenger vehicle exports. The document also details the role of the Western Cape as a greentech hub and outlines the transition from the Automotive Production & Development Programme (APDP) to the South African Automotive Masterplan (SAAM) 2021-2035.

The clothing and textile industry in Cape Town faces significant risks from water scarcity, energy instability (load shedding), and a linear 'take, make and waste' business model. To build resilience, the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) facilitates resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis, helping businesses divert waste from landfills and reduce water consumption. Key interventions include water pinch analysis, borehole installation, and the adoption of solar PV. The document argues that facilitated, impartial programs like WISP are strategic assets for urban resilience by providing rapid adaptation and trusted information during crises.

The South African waste sector is transitioning toward a resource-efficient economy driven by legislative changes and increasing landfill costs. While disposal remains dominant—with 90% of waste landfilled according to 2011 data—significant opportunities exist in the Western Cape for the beneficiation of organics, e-waste, plastics, and builder's rubble. The report highlights the City of Cape Town as a primary hub for these opportunities due to its high waste generation and the highest landfill gate fees in the country. Key drivers include the implementation of Industry Waste Management Plans (IndWMPs) and provincial organic waste diversion targets, while barriers include low household separation rates and the high cost of hazardous waste licensing.

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.

The report details how South Africa's food system contributes to biodiversity loss and climate change while failing to address widespread hunger and malnutrition. It highlights a dualistic agrarian structure and market concentration that marginalizes smallholder farmers. To feed a growing population by 2050, the document advocates for five transformative areas: inclusive regenerative farming, optimal water use, responsible sourcing, reducing food waste, and a dietary shift toward more plants and less meat.