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PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN RESPECT OF THE DRAFT INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN FOR ELECTRICITY 2018
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several environmental and community organisations, sent a letter to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 19 November 2018. The letter demands that NERSA conduct a formal public participation process regarding the draft Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity 2018 (draft IRP 2018), arguing that NERSA is legally required to do so before concurring with the Minister of Energy.
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Document type: Statement
Parched prospects II
South Africa is overexploiting its water resources, with national withdrawals exceeding reliable supply. Forecasts indicate that municipal, industrial, and agricultural water demand will continue to rise through 2035, reaching an estimated 18.9 km3. Even if all large-scale reconciliation strategies are implemented, a supply gap is expected to persist. The paper argues that closing this gap requires additional measures beyond surface-water infrastructure, specifically focusing on groundwater development, wastewater treatment, and water conservation and water demand management (WCWDM).
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Document type: Research paper
South Africa: Toxic air is now legal
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.
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Document type: Statement
Submission to Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources on the MPRDA Amendment Bill: Closure, rehabilitation and financial provision (section 43 of the Act)
A joint submission by environmental organisations to the South African Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources regarding the MPRDA Amendment Bill. The authors support the principle that mining right holders remain responsible for environmental liabilities regardless of a closure certificate but strongly oppose a proposed 20-year limit on the Minister's ability to retain financial provisions for latent impacts, arguing that such a period is arbitrary and often insufficient to cover long-term issues like acid mine drainage.
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Document type: Statement
THE INTER MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON ACID MINE DRAINAGE: RELEASE OF HEAVILY POLLUTED, TOXIC ACID MINE DRAINAGE INTO OUR STREAMS AND RIVERS
The document is a formal letter from a coalition of civil society organisations to the co-chairs of the Inter Ministerial Committee on Acid Mine Drainage (IMC), expressing alarm over the uncontrolled decant of untreated acid mine drainage (AMD) in the Witwatersrand Basin. The authors argue that the State has failed its constitutional obligations to protect the environment and public health, citing a lack of transparency, the exclusion of civil society, and unreasonable delays in implementing treatment solutions. They specifically criticize the preference for 'neutralisation' as an inadequate short-term fix and highlight ecological crises such as fish kills in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site and pollution at the Grootvlei mine. The letter demands the public release of expert reports and a decision on treatment proposals by 2 February 2011, threatening legal action if these demands are not met.
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Document type: Statement
2011-cope-koornhof-q737-contamination-of-the-vaal-rivers-upper-catchment-from-coal-mining-and-abandoned-mines-causing-acid-mine-drainage-35cd3757c18b62f2.pdf
This document is a draft written reply from the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to a National Assembly question (Question 737) posed by Mr N J J van R Koornhof of the COPE party in March 2011. The inquiry focuses on the contamination of the Vaal River's upper catchment due to coal mining and the risk of acid mine drainage from abandoned mines.
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Document type: Briefing
2011-copel-makhubela-q403-what-the-acceptable-and-safe-levels-of-uranium-concentrations-in-water-fit-for-human-consumption-b7410c4602b8b48a.pdf
This document is a written reply from the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to a parliamentary question regarding the government's policy on safe uranium levels in drinking water.
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Document type: Briefing
2011-da-morgan-q2458-significant-fish-kills-in-the-vaal-dam-between-1-august-to-25-august-2011-e8bd4f5d16f3b36d.pdf
This document is a draft written reply from the South African Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs to a National Assembly question (No. 2458) posed by Mr G R Morgan (DA) regarding fish kills in the Vaal Dam during August 2011.
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Document type: Briefing
ael_lethabo-april-2015-06bae8eaa33819d7.pdf
This document is an Atmospheric Emissions Licence (AEL) issued by the Fezile Dabi District Municipality to Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd for the Lethabo Power Station. Issued on 1 April 2015 and valid until 31 March 2020, the licence regulates emissions from solid fuel combustion and the storage of petroleum products, specifying minimum emission standards for pollutants and reporting requirements within the Vaal Triangle Airshed Priority Area.
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Document type: Statement
annexures-1-f9f3564c86a643a7.pdf
This Climate Resilience Assessment (CRA), conducted by Environmental Resources Management Southern Africa Pty (Ltd) in January 2017, evaluates climate-related risks for the proposed 1,200 MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station in Lephalale, Limpopo Province, South Africa. The report identifies key vulnerabilities related to increasing temperatures, water scarcity, and extreme weather events, proposing adaptation measures to enhance the project's long-term resilience.
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Document type: Report
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Acid Mine Drainage
Civil society organisations are urging the South African government to release a suppressed report by a Team of Experts (TOE) regarding acid mine drainage. They argue that the continued non-disclosure of this report undermines transparency and prevents the public from assessing the urgency of pollution affecting the Vaal and Crocodile River systems.
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Document type: Statement
record-13.1-pg-25-36-e59adecb7c73ac32.pdf
This document is an excerpt from Eskom's Air Quality Strategy, detailing technical and financial plans for retrofitting power stations to meet Minimum Emission Standards, the potential for air quality offset projects, and the integration of water, coal quality, and climate change strategies.
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Document type: Report
record-6.1-to-6.2-b073b68dae94a8ee.pdf
This document is an executive summary and board submission from Eskom dated August 28, 2013, regarding compliance with South Africa's National Emission Standards and Atmospheric Emission Licences (AELs). It outlines the financial and operational impossibility of full compliance by 2020, proposes a partial compliance strategy, and requests permission to continue operating several power stations that are currently in breach of their emission limits.
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Document type: Executive summary