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This report by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the Lephalale Local Municipality's efforts to achieve self-sufficiency and build a post-apartheid city following the 2006 announcement of Eskom's Medupi coal power station project. The research analyzes how the municipality navigates historical legacies of segregation and dependence on corporations like Exxaro and Eskom amidst rapid urban expansion.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for Earthlife Africa NPC and groundWork, submitted comments on 11 April 2018 regarding the draft Scoping Report for the Mokolo and Crocodile River (West) Water Augmentation Project (Phase 2) (MCWAP-2). The CER argues that the project is based on outdated assumptions regarding South Africa's energy needs and fails to adequately assess climate change, water reserves, and indirect environmental and health impacts.

This report, prepared by Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd for Thabametsi Power Company Proprietary Limited, motivates for amendments to the Environmental Authorisation (EA) of the Thabametsi Coal-Fired Power Station in Limpopo Province. The proposed changes include extending the EA validity, altering the power line corridor, updating property details, and incorporating conditions from a 2016 Ministerial Appeal Resolution.

Air dispersion modeling by Dr. Ranajit Sahu indicates that the proposed Thabametsi power plant and mine, combined with existing facilities like Matimba and Medupi, would likely cause air pollution levels (specifically SO2, NOx, and PM2.5) to exceed South Africa's National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The report highlights significant underestimations of PM emissions from the mine in previous assessments and notes a critical lack of accurate local air monitoring data.

This report evaluates the potential risks to water resources posed by the proposed Thabametsi Power Plant's coal ash dump and pollution control dams. The author concludes that the chosen site is unsuitable and the proposed mitigation measures are insufficient to protect groundwater, surface water, and wetlands.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a formal statement to the South African Department of Environmental Affairs on 23 February 2018, requesting clarity on the strategic alignment of various climate mitigation and adaptation documents, including the 'Pathways documents'. The CER expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding the purpose of these documents and the confidentiality of pollution prevention plans for major emitters, while arguing that climate modelling should reflect research showing that new coal-fired power capacity is unnecessary for South Africa's energy security.

This 2018 fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice examines South Africa's fulfillment of economic and social rights ahead of its first UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights review. It argues that the government's adoption of fiscal austerity, combined with extreme systemic inequality and corruption, undermines the rights to health and education.

This policy brief examines the trends and statistical challenges surrounding violent crime on farms and smallholdings in South Africa, arguing that these crimes correlate with broader national trends in violent robbery and murder.

This report by WWF South Africa explores the business case for introducing electric orchard tractors in South Africa's horticultural sector. It identifies a significant market opportunity to replace small diesel tractors with electric alternatives for low-energy applications, highlighting potential carbon emission savings, socio-economic benefits through local manufacturing, and the financial viability of a lower total cost of ownership despite higher initial capital costs.

This report is a peer review conducted by EOH Coastal & Environmental Services for the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding the Climate Change Study and Palaeontological Impact Assessment (CCSPIA) for the proposed 1,200 MW Thabametsi Coal-Fired Power Station. The review evaluates the adequacy of the Greenhouse Gas Assessment (GGA) and the Climate Resilience Assessment (CRA), concluding that while the technical assessments are comprehensive and follow international best practices, there are discrepancies in the overall impact rating and omissions regarding the social cost of carbon.

This Water Use License Application Report (WULAR) details the water requirements and environmental impact assessments for the proposed 630 MW Thabametsi coal-fired power plant near Lephalale, Limpopo. The report seeks authorization for various water uses under the National Water Act, 1998, including water abstraction, storage, and waste disposal. It emphasizes the use of dry-cooled technology to achieve zero liquid effluent discharge due to regional water scarcity and proposes sourcing water through a permanent transfer of allocation from Exxaro Coal (Pty) Ltd.

This research paper explores the collaboration between Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and national entities in South Africa and Ethiopia regarding environmental and social (E&S) safeguards for infrastructure. It analyzes the transition toward 'country ownership' of these safeguards, highlighting the tension between MDB standards and national sovereignty. Using the Medupi Power Station in South Africa and infrastructure projects in Ethiopia as case studies, the paper identifies gaps in capacity building and accountability. It recommends the creation of country-specific E&S plans, enhanced regional capacity building based on the Asian Development Bank model, and a stronger role for national Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) to ensure sustainable infrastructure development.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and groundWork, submitted a letter to the IPP Office of the Department of Energy on 15 September 2017. The letter provides updates on legal and environmental challenges facing three proposed coal-fired power stations: Thabametsi, Khanyisa, and KiPower. The CER argues that these projects fail to meet the legal qualification criteria for financial close or preferred bidder status due to missing climate change impact assessments (CCIA) and pending disputes over environmental and water licenses.

This report documents the responses of Thabametsi Power Company to objections raised by Earthlife Africa and Greenpeace Africa regarding the project's climate change and palaeontological impact assessments. Key points of contention include the project's high GHG emission intensity (1.23 tCO2e/MWh), the failure to quantify the social cost of carbon, and the high risk of water scarcity in the Lephalale region of Limpopo Province. The developer maintains that the project is consistent with South African national energy policy (IRP 2010 and 2016) and that its water needs for Phase 1 are secured through existing allocations from the MCWAP-1 scheme.

This report presents the results of a climate change study, a climate resilience assessment, and a palaeontological impact assessment for the proposed 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station near Lephalale in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The document evaluates the project's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, its vulnerability to future climate scenarios, and the potential for fossil material destruction during construction.

An appeal by Earthlife Africa Johannesburg and groundWork to set aside the environmental authorisation for the 660 MW Namane coal-fired power station in Limpopo, South Africa. The appellants argue the decision is unlawful due to failures to assess climate change impacts, air quality risks, and water scarcity in the Waterberg region, while ignoring renewable energy alternatives and violating national and international environmental commitments.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 20 January 2017 to the Integrated Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) for the proposed 1200MW coal-fired Thabametsi power station near Lephalale, Limpopo. The submission argues that the application is fatally flawed due to outdated data, failure to account for climate change, risks to groundwater and wetlands, and a lack of guaranteed water availability for the project's 40-year lifespan.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 20 January 2017 to the Integrated Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) for the proposed Thabametsi power station, a 1200MW coal-fired project near Lephalale, Limpopo. The objections argue that the application is legally flawed, relies on outdated data, fails to secure a sustainable water supply for the project's 40-year lifespan, and poses significant risks to groundwater and wetlands.

This summary report, prepared by Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd for Thabametsi Power Company Proprietary Limited, details the climate change and palaeontological impact assessments for the proposed 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station near Lephalale, Limpopo Province. The report was produced to satisfy conditions 10.5 and 10.6 of the project's Environmental Authorization following an appeal by the Centre for Environmental Rights. It evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate resilience risks, and potential impacts on fossil heritage, concluding that while GHG impacts are high, they are not a fatal flaw given South Africa's energy policy framework.

This case study by the Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) examines the institutional collapse of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa. It argues that the municipality has entered a state of 'perpetual instability' driven by cyclical factionalism within the African National Congress (ANC) at local, regional, and provincial levels. The report details how political battles over the appointment of the Municipal Manager (MM) led to administrative rupture, the use of 'lawfare' to target rivals, and a total shutdown of services in 2014, illustrating a broader trend of institutional fragility within the South African state.