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The report describes the implementation of a groundwater monitoring network in Newlands and the Epping/Airport Industria areas of Cape Town. It combines desktop research from databases like WARMS and the National Groundwater Archive with field-based 'groundtruthing' via hydrocensus surveys of private borehole owners. The project identifies the geological characteristics of the Table Mountain Group and Cape Flats aquifers and deploys Solinst Leveloggers to track water levels. The findings highlight a significant increase in private borehole drilling between 2015 and 2019 and note concerns among users regarding water quality and the sustainability of abstraction levels.

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 Draft National Spatial Development Framework (NSDF) 2019 is a long-term strategic planning instrument for South Africa, mandated by the Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act (SPLUMA) and aligned with the National Development Plan (NDP). It aims to dismantle the spatial legacies of colonialism and apartheid by transitioning the country toward an integrated, inclusive, and sustainable national space economy by 2050.

This 2013 case study by Tracy Ledger examines the origins of South Africa's energy crisis, focusing on the role of the state utility Eskom and the systemic failures that led to widespread power cuts and load shedding starting in 2007.

The iShack project in Enkanini, South Africa, provides solar home systems to households in an informal settlement, reducing reliance on hazardous energy sources and creating local employment. Supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and South Africa's Green Fund, the initiative has installed 1,026 solar systems, saving 92,556 kWH per year and creating 11 jobs for residents. The project focuses on incremental upgrades to slums through green technology and skills training for community-based 'iShack Agents'.

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.

Between 2015 and 2018, Cape Town faced an unprecedented drought that threatened a 'Day Zero' scenario where water supply to 75% of homes would be cut. To prevent economic collapse and mass unemployment, the City of Cape Town (CCT) and Western Cape Government (WCG) formed the 'Economic Water Resilience Task Team'. This partnership included entities like GreenCape, Wesgro, and the National Business Initiative to mobilize businesses, provide technical guidance on water efficiency, and coordinate messaging. Despite punitive tariff increases and severe restrictions, the region avoided a macroeconomic jobs crisis, with the Western Cape and Cape Town both seeing decreases in their 2017/18 annual unemployment rates.

The document details the transition of South African municipal electricity distribution from a monopoly to a distributed generation model, focusing on the adoption of rooftop solar PV. It highlights the role of the City of Cape Town as a pioneer in developing SSEG policies and tariffs, supported by GreenCape and the Western Cape Government. The study identifies six levers to drive this transition, including technical support, regulatory certainty, and new finance models, to prevent the 'utility death spiral' where municipalities lose revenue as customers switch to renewable energy. By October 2018, 22 of 25 electricity-distributing municipalities in the Western Cape allowed SSEG, with 18 having NERSA-approved feed-in tariffs.

The document examines the IkamvaYouth programme in Atlantis, South Africa, which provides tutoring, mentoring, and career guidance to Grade 8-12 learners. It highlights the link between low education levels and high unemployment, noting that over 50% of unemployed people in 2018 had less than a matric qualification. The programme aims to create a skills pipeline for the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), a greentech manufacturing hub. In 2017, 94% of IkamvaYouth students in Atlantis passed their matric exams, compared to lower rates at feeder schools. However, the programme faces significant local challenges, including gang violence and poor internet connectivity, which hinder tutor recruitment and learner retention.

GreenCape implemented a four-part strategy to support water-intense industries in Cape Town during the 2015-18 drought, focusing on partnerships, prioritisation of high-employment sectors, short-term viable solutions, and long-term capacity building. Between June 2017 and August 2018, nearly 400 businesses received direct assistance, leading to an average consumption reduction of 41% and the safeguarding of 52,000 jobs among surveyed companies. The initiative utilised tools such as the 'Water Resilience Journey' methodology and a business case calculator to communicate financial risks and returns. Key lessons included the need for disaggregated data to avoid overlooking vulnerable sectors like the laundry industry and the value of leveraging businesses as 'corporate citizens' through initiatives like the Smart Water Meter Challenge.

The document details the establishment of the South African Renewable Energy Technology Centre (SARETEC), a national accredited Solar PV Service Technician qualification, and the PV GreenCard voluntary quality assurance mechanism. It highlights the importance of local partnerships, international expertise (particularly from Germany), and proactive timing in addressing skills gaps to support both utility-scale and small-scale solar PV deployment in South Africa.

The document details a partnership where Siyavana Solutions refurbishes end-of-life fuel pumps from Shell service stations to be resold back to Shell. This industrial symbiosis project diverted 16 tonnes of waste from landfills, including pumps, hoses, and computer boards, while generating up to R5 million in additional revenue and creating 9 permanent jobs.

The Atlantis Renewable Energy Challenge (AREC) is an annual non-curriculum inter-school competition for junior and high school students in Atlantis, South Africa. Launched in 2016 by GreenCape and the City of Cape Town, the programme aims to combat high youth unemployment by exposing learners to the renewable energy sector and the opportunities provided by the Atlantis Special Economic Zone (ASEZ). The competition has evolved from a high-school pilot to include junior schools and diverse themes—ranging from wind and solar energy to community murals—to engage students across various disciplines, including the arts. By 2019, participation grew to 389 students from 14 schools. The programme focuses on fostering creativity, teamwork, and career guidance to prepare youth for a changing global economy and the local growth of green technology manufacturing.

The project reclaimed 13,000 m3 of concrete and 5,000 m3 of asphalt for on-site reuse, saving R3.1 million in landfill airspace. While on-site crushing would have saved 36% compared to virgin materials, moving the crusher to Philippi increased costs by 20% over virgin sources due to haulage. Technical findings recommend SANS 3001 testing, a grading modulus of 2.2-2.3, and crushing to 37 mm for G5 material to improve workability and CBR values.

Virgin Active reduced water usage in its Western Cape branches by 62% through a R24 million investment in technological and behavioural interventions, including low-flow fixtures, greywater treatment, and the closure of high-use facilities. These measures resulted in monthly municipal savings of R1,243,496 and a total payback period of 20 months.

The document explores the use of industrial symbiosis to divert wood waste from landfills and reduce reliance on virgin timber in Cape Town. It details how the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) matches businesses to exchange under-utilised resources, such as using sawdust for brick manufacturing or refurbishing old pallets. These circular economy practices are presented as a means to build resilience against resource depletion and climate change while creating jobs and reducing the carbon footprint of local industries.

The report finds that while there is a general availability of skilled labour in Atlantis, many qualified residents commute to Cape Town, leaving local businesses to report skills shortages. It argues that the future of the A-SEZ lies in medium-sized, value-adding green businesses rather than mega-factories, as the utility-scale renewable energy market has been hindered by poor government implementation of the REIPPPP. The audit identifies a critical gap in 'soft skills' and STEM competencies, alongside systemic failures in the local education sector, particularly at West Coast College, which serves non-local students more than residents. Recommendations include a 'whole of society' approach to education, the establishment of a community ICT centre, and targeted bursaries for high-tech tooling training.

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.