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The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of groundWork, has submitted a formal request to the South African Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy for written reasons regarding a Ministerial determination published on 25 September 2020. The determination outlines the procurement of new generation capacity from renewables, storage, gas, and coal based on the Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity 2019–2030 (IRP 2019). The request specifically challenges the inclusion of new fossil fuel capacity and seeks justification for the timing and scale of these allocations.

This policy brief examines the subsidies provided to the coal-to-liquid (CTL) fuel sector in South Africa, specifically focusing on the company Sasol. It details the financial impact of market price support and carbon tax exemptions, arguing that these measures sustain coal's role in the transport sector and conflict with the country's Paris Agreement commitments.

This research paper examines the governance of Lephalale, a mining town in South Africa's Limpopo province, focusing on the intersection of local government, spatial planning, and mining companies. It argues that the Medupi power station project failed to bridge apartheid-era spatial divides due to the Lephalale Local Municipality's lack of institutional capacity and its heavy dependence on private interests, specifically the multinational corporation Exxaro.

This research paper applies Michel Foucault's 'micro-physics' of power to analyze the internal workings of the Mogalakwena Local Municipality in South Africa during a period of intense political conflict between 2014 and 2015. The author examines how an ousted mayor, Tlhalefi Mashamaite, used regimes of visibility, exclusion, and truth to discipline municipal bureaucrats and consolidate power following a violent return to office.

This research paper examines non-compliance within South African local government, arguing that mainstream explanations—which focus on technical capacity and unethical behavior—are insufficient. Through ethnographic research, the author proposes that officials often follow 'uncodified rules' (informal norms, political pressures, and social justice perceptions) rather than 'codified rules' (legislation and regulations). The paper advocates for the 'logics of appropriateness' (LOA) framework to better understand how institutional culture and multiple identities influence bureaucratic decision-making.

This report details a youth working meeting on 08 October 2020 aimed at identifying governance issues for a South African submission to the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). Participants outlined a vision for success involving increased youth representation and better service delivery, and identified key concerns such as unemployment, gender-based violence, and climate change. The project will utilize 12 working groups to develop a submission, with a final launch planned for March 2021.

This briefing provides notes from a three-part webinar series organized by Natural Justice in October 2020. The sessions focused on the development, application, and legal recognition of community protocols within the framework of Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS), emphasizing community-led processes to protect traditional knowledge and biological resources.

A legal notice from MacRobert Inc, acting on behalf of ArcelorMittal South Africa (Pty) Ltd (AMSA), addressed to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries regarding an appeal filed by the Centre for Environmental Rights. The notice argues that the appeal against the postponement of compliance timeframes for Minimum Emission Standards at the Vanderbijlpark facility was submitted late and is therefore invalid unless condonation is granted.

This research paper examines how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced South Africa's leadership and relations within Africa. While the author praises South Africa's multilateral coordination of the continental health response as AU chair, they argue that domestic failures—specifically institutionalised xenophobia and corruption—undermine the country's soft power and long-term leadership potential on the continent.

This policy brief proposes the creation of a legislated National Strategy and Development Council (NSDC) within the South African presidency to centralize national strategy and ensure institutional continuity across different administrations. It specifically advocates for restructuring the International Relations Trade and Security (IRTS) cabinet cluster into a directorate and establishing an independent, non-governmental Council on International Relations and Cooperation (CIRC) to provide expert advice and research.

This report by the NewClimate Institute, PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, and IIASA provides an update on climate mitigation policies, COVID-19 response measures, and the status of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and Long-Term Strategies (LTS) across 25 countries and regions between July 2019 and August 2020.

This affidavit, deposed by attorney Michael John Read Evans, provides a professional opinion defending the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against allegations of unethical conduct. Evans argues that the claim that attorneys must have no interest in the outcome of a matter is flawed and incompatible with the statutory framework for law clinics in South Africa.

This fact sheet by the Institute for Economic Justice argues for the extension and increase of COVID-19 special grants in South Africa to prevent a humanitarian crisis. It highlights that the economy has not recovered as expected, leaving millions at risk of hunger and destitution if the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant and Caregivers Allowance expire in October 2020.

This policy brief analyzes the insurgency in Cabo Delgado, Mozambique, arguing that while the conflict is framed as religious extremism, it is rooted in systemic neglect, regional inequality, and a 'resource scramble' involving rubies and natural gas. The authors suggest that the Mozambican government's security response and the marginalization of local communities have exacerbated structural problems, drawing parallels to the Niger Delta in Nigeria.

This policy brief examines the implications of large-scale electric vehicle (EV) adoption for the mining sectors of Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states. It argues that while the region possesses vast reserves of EV-related minerals and metals (EVMM), it primarily exports raw materials. The author advocates for regional cooperation, the establishment of a public-private EVMM working group and coalition, and the adoption of a circular economy approach to ensure a just mining transition and the development of local value chains.

This workshop report by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) synthesizes discussions from July 2020 regarding the standardization of data for integrated energy planning. It focuses on the use of geospatial least-cost modelling to achieve universal energy access, identifying critical data gaps and quality standards for both electrification and clean cooking planning, and exploring the convergence of these two sectors through electric cooking.

This policy brief examines how the European Union (EU) Green Deal operationalizes the concept of 'just transition' through a territorial approach. It analyzes the use of the Just Transition Mechanism (JTM) to engage subnational carbon-intensive regions, aiming to bypass national-level political resistance to carbon neutrality by 2050. The author identifies several risks, including the potential for national governments to block funding, the lack of monitoring for vulnerable groups, and the need for the EU to address the global geopolitical impacts of decarbonization on fossil fuel-producing countries.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has requested the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy to suspend a decision granting Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR) an amendment to its mining rights for the expansion of the Tormin Mine on the West Coast of South Africa. The CER argues that the decision was made without public participation and poses an irreparable risk to Critical Biodiversity Areas.

This briefing, produced by the South African Institute of International Affairs and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, outlines strategic priorities for a green transition and energy access partnership between the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). It emphasizes the need to maintain momentum on climate goals despite the COVID-19 pandemic, advocating for a transition that supports Africa's developmental objectives, including industrialization and employment growth.

This briefing by the South African Institute of International Affairs examines the intersection of skills transfer, gender equality, and the green energy transition in Africa. It highlights the systemic under-representation of women in energy value chains and the need for a 'just transition' that addresses unemployment risks in fossil fuel-dependent economies through reskilling and targeted AU-EU strategic partnerships.