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This case study examines the implementation of a hybrid solar photovoltaic (PV) system with Lithium-ion (Li-ion) storage at UV Tooling CC, a parts manufacturer in Cape Town, to mitigate the impact of systemic loadshedding on industrial production.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the 'Electric-vehicles-as-a-service' (EVaaS) model as a strategy to accelerate the transition of commercial fleets, specifically light delivery vehicles (LDVs), to electric vehicles (EVs) in South Africa. It identifies key financial and operational barriers to EV adoption and proposes a bundled subscription model to mitigate high upfront costs and infrastructure requirements.

This municipal briefing by GreenCape describes the application of smart water systems—sensor-based networks for real-time data collection and analysis—within South African municipalities. It outlines the technical layers of these networks, provides case studies from Cape Agulhas, Saldanha Bay, and Bergrivier municipalities, and offers a checklist for municipalities to evaluate their readiness for such technology. The document also compares the long-term costs of smart ultrasonic meters versus conventional mechanical meters and lists funding and support resources for water infrastructure projects.

This municipal briefing by GreenCape outlines the implementation of smart water systems in South Africa, detailing their layered architecture, case studies from three municipalities, and a checklist for procurement. It specifically compares the long-term costs and benefits of ultrasonic smart meters versus conventional mechanical meters.

This report details a workshop held on March 5, 2019, at the Century City Conference Centre, organized by GreenCape, Inspired Evolution, and SAPVIA. The event brought together 39 delegates from industry, government, and academia to address the emerging challenge of end-of-life (EOL) solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on legislative barriers, technical recycling solutions, and logistical strategies to prevent landfilling.

This briefing by GreenCape examines the regulatory landscape and future waste projections for large-scale solar PV modules in South Africa. It highlights the legal obligations of producers under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations and the necessity of landfill alternatives due to a ban on e-waste. The document forecasts a significant increase in decommissioned modules starting in 2033, presenting a long-term opportunity for the development of a circular economy through reuse, refurbishment, and material recovery.

The Sustainable Mobility Market Analysis and Opportunity Report by GreenCape evaluates the potential for establishing an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub at the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ) in the Western Cape, South Africa. It identifies strategic opportunities across various EV segments—from micro-mobility and public transport to heavy trucks—and emphasizes the need to move from simple assembly to local component manufacturing, particularly in battery cells and semi-conductors, to ensure economic sustainability and competitiveness.

This case study by GreenCape examines the role of sustainable urban agriculture (UA) in building socio-economic resilience in the City of Cape Town, focusing on the transition of Nazeer Sonday's Vegkop Polyculture Farm from intensive hydroponic tomato production to a regenerative, diversified farming model.

This industry brief by GreenCape examines the potential for textile recycling and fibre recovery in Cape Town, South Africa. It argues that transitioning from a linear to a circular textile economy can futureproof the local clothing, textile, footwear, and leather (CTFL) sector against global supply chain volatility and environmental pressures. The document identifies two primary opportunities: establishing a commercial open-loop downcycling hub and developing Africa's first commercial-scale closed-loop fibre-to-fibre recycling facility.

This report by GreenCape evaluates the financial and operational feasibility of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on agricultural packhouses, using a modelled apple packhouse to demonstrate the business case. It highlights that the primary value of these systems comes from replacing expensive grid electricity during peak daytime demand—driven by cooling and packing activities—rather than selling excess power back to the grid. The analysis concludes that while large-scale systems are consistently profitable, smaller installations require favorable financing to be viable.

This report analyzes the implications of the European Green Deal (EGD) for South African small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and broader trade. It examines the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), the Farm to Fork strategy, and the Circular Economy Action Plan, identifying significant risks in the automotive, mining, and agricultural sectors while highlighting potential export opportunities for environmental goods.

This case study describes an industrial symbiosis project facilitated by the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) between Pallet Cycle, a recycled timber manufacturer, and Cabrico, a clay brick manufacturer. The partnership diverted wood waste from landfills to be used as a sustainable fuel and raw material in brick production.

This case study examines how the City of Cape Town, in partnership with GreenCape’s Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), uses industrial symbiosis to improve wood recycling and build economic resilience. The initiative focuses on diverting wood waste from landfills and reducing reliance on virgin materials and imported coal by integrating waste streams back into the manufacturing economy.

This briefing by Neil Coleman of the Institute for Economic Justice analyzes the geopolitical disparities in social protection between the Global North and Global South. It argues that while the Global North faces a decline in its social democratic contract, the Global South struggles with fragmented, low-value assistance and high exclusion rates. The author contends that a Universal Basic Income (UBI) is currently unaffordable under the existing economic paradigm and requires radical global redistributive reforms, such as a global minimum tax and debt relief, to become feasible.

This briefing note critiques the OECD's Two-Pillar international tax framework as undemocratic and biased toward high-income nations, arguing it fails to curb tax abuse by MNEs and the super-rich. It advocates for a UN Framework Convention on International Tax and Cooperation to ensure equitable participation and revenue mobilization for developing countries. The author urges South Africa to leverage its 2025 G20 Presidency to support the UN process and establish minimum global taxation standards for High Net Worth Individuals.

A joint statement by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) urging the South African government to reject proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) increases in the 2025 budget. The organizations argue that such increases are regressive, violate constitutional obligations to social justice, and disproportionately harm low-income households, particularly African women and people with disabilities. They propose alternative revenue-generating strategies, including wealth taxes and improved tax collection, to address budget shortfalls without exacerbating poverty and inequality.

This report by the Institute for Economic Justice, based on a survey of 920 economics students and graduates across 85 countries, argues that mainstream economics education is failing to prepare students for contemporary crises. It calls for a shift toward a pluralist, interdisciplinary, and critical curriculum that moves beyond the dominance of neoclassical economics to better address the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic bias, and the climate emergency.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice outlines the necessity and framework for a 'just transition' within South Africa's food system. It argues that the current industrial food system is characterized by deep social inequality, corporate dominance, and environmental degradation, and proposes a shift toward food sovereignty and agro-ecology to ensure fair livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and the right to food.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice outlines the necessity and framework for a just transition within South Africa's food system. It argues that the current industrial food system is characterized by deep social inequality, corporate dominance, and significant environmental damage, contributing approximately 18% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. The document proposes a transition based on food sovereignty, focusing on equitable livelihoods, environmental sustainability through agroecology, and the universal right to food and nutrition.

This fact sheet from the Institute for Economic Justice outlines the necessity and framework for a 'just transition' within South Africa's food system. It argues that the current system is characterized by extreme inequality, corporate dominance, and environmental degradation, and proposes a shift toward agroecology, food sovereignty, and the protection of workers' rights to ensure food security and climate resilience.