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The paper argues that a SACU development fund could transition the union from a simple revenue-sharing mechanism to an active agent of regional economic integration. By analyzing the EU's ESI Funds and the CARICOM Development Fund (CDF), the author suggests that such a fund could address critical trade barriers—such as infrastructure deficits in energy and water, and lack of standards harmonization—while providing a more accountable alternative to direct budget transfers to member states. Key recommendations include adopting a clear, measurable mandate, implementing a nuanced classification of member states' development levels for equitable resource allocation, and incorporating private-sector representation in governance.

The document advises Cape Town residents to assume untreated water from boreholes, rain tanks, and springs is unsafe due to microbes and chemicals. It recommends testing water against the SANS 241 standard and suggests boiling as the simplest microbial treatment. It also provides a comparison of various household treatment methods and guidelines for sterile storage using food-grade plastics.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for several NGOs, sent a letter to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 19 January 2018. The letter outlines the outcomes and commitments from a meeting held on 12 December 2017 regarding the implementation of the Highveld Priority Area (HPA), specifically addressing the DEA's delayed response to the 'Broken Promises Report' and the roles of NGOs in community representation.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, representing the Life After Coal/Impilo Ngaphandle Kwamalahle campaign, has raised concerns to the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs about ambiguities in greenhouse gas (GHG) and pollution prevention reporting. The campaign argues that current regulations allow for aggregated company-level reporting instead of the necessary facility-level data, which undermines the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory and South Africa's international obligations under the UNFCCC and Paris Agreement. They also highlight contradictions in the submission and review timelines for pollution prevention plans and call for greater public transparency of emissions data.

The Green Economy Barometer 2017 reports a dichotomy in the global sustainability transition. While electric vehicle sales grew 42% in 2016 and lithium-ion battery prices fell 75% since 2011, fossil fuels (oil, gas, and coal) continued to provide approximately 86% of the world's energy. The report notes a disconnect between high-level geopolitical commitments and 'on the ground' realities, where rural economies and smallholder farmers lack investment, and automation threatens low-skilled workers. While countries like Peru, Uganda, the UK, and India have introduced green growth strategies or targets, the report warns that nature protections are being dismantled in some regions, such as India and South Africa.

The Bergrivier Municipality faces significant economic risks due to high water intensity in its key sectors, particularly agriculture. Projections indicate that changing climatic conditions and population growth will increase water requirements by 2040, potentially leading to a water deficit that could cost the local economy R3.1 billion and 16,229 jobs per annum.

This executive summary from the 2018 'Brown to Green' report analyzes the progress of G20 countries toward a low-carbon economy. It highlights a significant gap between current Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the goals of the Paris Agreement, noting that G20 energy-related CO2 emissions began increasing again in 2017 and that 82% of the G20 energy supply remains dependent on fossil fuels.

The ATI Network Shadow Report 2018 details systemic failures in South Africa's access to information framework, noting low compliance rates among public bodies and significant barriers to obtaining data from private entities. It highlights specific cases where denied information jeopardized the right to education and environmental protection, while also discussing legal victories regarding political party funding and non-profit transparency.

The report argues that South Africa's legal regime for wild animal welfare is outdated and provides little protection, as it relies on a distinction between animal welfare and biodiversity conservation. It highlights a lack of consistency across national and provincial jurisdictions and calls for urgent reforms to the permit system, increased monitoring capacity, and the creation of an integrated national permit database to prevent the exploitation of provincial loopholes.

The report analyzes the growth of green bond markets in emerging economies, highlighting the critical role of national guidance and alignment with international standards like the Green Bond Principles. Through case studies of countries such as China, Indonesia, and Morocco, it identifies key barriers—including lack of capacity and limited investor demand—and proposes a 'Green Bond Market Development Toolkit' featuring a self-assessment matrix and a roadmap of milestones to accelerate sustainable capital flows.

The report evaluates global progress in forest governance and land rights, noting a record 182 killings of environmental defenders in 2016. While it highlights positive developments in illegal timber import controls in countries like South Korea, Malaysia, and the US, and the implementation of EU FLEGT agreements in Indonesia and Vietnam, it warns that climate finance for local communities remains insufficient, with only 10 percent reaching the local level in 2016. The document also emphasizes the lack of gender-sensitive provisions in community-based tenure regimes and the ongoing effort to track tenure security via SDG Indicator 1.4.2.

The South Africa Green Economy Barometer 2018 evaluates the country's transition to a sustainable economy, awarding it a '5 out of 10'. While South Africa has strong policy foundations like the National Development Plan and the Green Economy Accord, the report finds that the economy remains locked into 'brown' energy systems, with 90% of electricity still generated from coal. Progress in renewable energy has been stalled by a gridlock between the national utility Eskom and independent power producers. The report highlights a critical gap in supporting the informal sector and small enterprises, noting that 'green jobs' created through public works programmes often lack security and decent wages. Environmentally, the country's ecological footprint continues to exceed its biocapacity, and biodiversity hotspots remain in a dire state. Financially, while green bonds and sustainable finance innovations have emerged, fossil fuel subsidies persist. The document concludes that national plans remain too focused on economic growth rather than social development and the integration of natural capital into decision-making.

The Berg Water Management Area (WMA) faces a projected water supply deficit of approximately 300 million m3 per year by 2040, which could cost the region over R146 billion and 650,000 jobs annually. Current planning systems are fragmented, treating water and economic development as independent variables, and local municipalities often lack the capacity to secure off-budget financing for infrastructure. The brief recommends that the Western Cape Government support municipalities in integrating water planning into Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), advocate for a regional water utility, and employ hydro-economic modelling to prioritise interventions.

The Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) facilitated a one-off exchange where Apollo Brick accepted 55 tonnes of charred wood and ash from Pallet Cycle following a fire. The ash was incorporated into bricks, and the charred wood was used as kiln fuel, resulting in a saving of 16 tonnes of CO2e and R24,750 in disposal costs for Pallet Cycle.

The Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP) connected Scan Display, a marketing company, with Sealand Gear, a bag manufacturer, to divert textile waste from landfills. Since October 2015, Scan Display has supplied 2 tonnes of polytwirl material annually to Sealand Gear, resulting in 54 tonnes of avoided CO2 emissions per year and significant cost savings for both companies.

The document argues that South Africa, the most unequal country in the world, is implementing unwarranted fiscal austerity that undermines the rights to health and education. It highlights that while the government justifies cuts through debt concerns, South African debt is moderate by international standards. The report identifies systemic failures including 'state capture', corruption costing R27 billion annually, and a regressive tax mix. It recommends progressive tax reform, such as wealth and corporate tax increases, and a human rights-based approach to fiscal policy to expand the resources available for social services.

South Africa's mining sector historically drove industrialization by creating a specialized upstream supplier sector that overcame unique technological challenges of deep-level mining. These capabilities evolved into horizontal linkages, allowing firms to export expertise in products like coal-washing spirals and underground locomotives to other sectors and global markets. While the sector has declined as a percentage of GDP, it remains a critical export driver. Recent government policies have focused on socio-economic transformation and downstream beneficiation rather than supporting horizontal linkages, while skills shortages and policy uncertainty have hindered recent growth.

South Africa utilizes a combination of mandated procurement percentages and Social and Labour Plans (SLPs) to promote ownership by historically disadvantaged South Africans (HDSAs) in the mining sector. The system employs a scorecard approach under the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Act, where mining companies are incentivized to procure from high-scoring B-BBEE suppliers to maintain their own scores and avoid fines or the revocation of licenses. Proposed targets for 2019 suggest increasing B-BBEE procurement to 60% for capital goods, 70% for consumable goods, and 80% for services. On the supply side, the Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) provides non-financial support, including mentorship and training, though the document notes a lack of connection to finance and targeted investment. The case study concludes that while the scorecard approach offers flexibility, the focus on community development in SLPs and a lack of supply-side investment may hinder the development of larger-scale industrial capacity.

The document examines how multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the mining sector use debt financing to reduce taxable income in host countries. It details common profit-shifting techniques, such as 'debt push down' and the use of hybrid instruments, and evaluates various regulatory responses. The primary recommendation is the adoption of OECD BEPS Action 4, which limits net interest deductions based on a fixed ratio of EBITDA, complemented by withholding taxes and transfer pricing rules.

The document examines the pervasive impact of corruption on African youth, who are identified as both primary victims and increasingly as perpetrators. It highlights how corruption fuels instability, conflict, and migration, while arguing that current youth engagement in anti-corruption efforts is superficial. The brief recommends structural changes, including amending the AU Advisory Board on Corruption's membership and implementing access to information laws, to ensure youth are active partners in designing and driving anti-corruption initiatives.