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The report finds a systemic collapse of water resource regulation in Mpumalanga's coal mining sector. It details how the Department of Water & Sanitation (DWS) fails to issue timely licences, monitor compliance, or enforce penalties. Mining companies are found to unilaterally deviate from licence conditions and ignore pollution prevention, while independent auditors provide misleading 'compliant' ratings based on visual inspections rather than scientific data. This regulatory failure has led to severe water quality degradation in the Olifants River Catchment, including acid mine drainage and the contamination of groundwater and surface water.

The document provides a comparative overview of National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes in multiple countries, detailing their specific strategic approaches, priority sectors, and implementation milestones. It emphasizes the integration of climate adaptation into national development planning, the importance of cross-sectoral coordination, and the mobilization of climate finance to build resilience against diverse hazards such as sea-level rise, droughts, and extreme weather events.

The report evaluates South Africa's implementation of SDGs 4, 8, 10, 13, 16, and 17, finding a significant gap between strong policy frameworks and actual delivery. While the National Development Plan aligns well with the 2030 Agenda, the authors highlight systemic failures in education quality, rising unemployment, extreme wealth inequality, inadequate climate action, and high levels of gender-based violence. The document argues that the 'leave no one behind' principle is not being operationalised and calls for greater state accountability and inclusive multi-stakeholder engagement.

The author comments on PARI's position papers regarding state reform in South Africa, arguing that public procurement should be used as a tool for industrial policy and economic transformation. The text distinguishes between 'developmental' procurement, which fosters high-productivity industries and innovation, and 'non-developmental' procurement, which often results in the outsourcing of state services to dependent firms. The author suggests that while South Africa has used procurement to support black business growth, there is an urgent need to transition toward 'Procurement for Innovation' (PPfI) to drive structural transformation and reduce the influence of state-dependent coalitions associated with 'state capture'.

The paper evaluates the 'Kagame Reforms' of the African Union (AU), which aim to address bureaucratic inefficiency, funding shortages, and poor implementation of resolutions. While some structural changes have been adopted—such as reducing the number of AU commissioners and reforming summit schedules—the paper highlights significant resistance from member states, particularly within SADC and South Africa, regarding the 'Kaberuka Plan' for self-financing via an export levy. The authors argue that the long-term success of these reforms depends on overcoming national self-interest and surviving the transition of the AU presidency beyond 2019.

The Msimbazi Basin in Dar es Salaam faces severe flood risks exacerbated by rapid urbanisation and climate change, with annual losses estimated at $47 million. To address this, the Tanzania Urban Resilience Programme (TURP) was established in 2016 to implement a holistic strategy involving risk identification, reduction, emergency preparedness, and a 'resilience academy'. A central component is the proposed Msimbazi Basin City Park, which employs a hybrid approach combining ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) with hard engineering to manage floodwaters while providing socio-economic and biodiversity benefits. The document highlights that the government secured $20 million by framing the project as 'urban planning, restructuring and resilience' rather than solely flood management, suggesting that cross-sectoral project packaging is essential for accessing diverse funding streams.

The briefing argues that while private sector financing is often promoted to bridge Africa's infrastructure deficit, it carries significant risks including higher costs, a lack of development mandates, and extreme risk aversion. It suggests that public funds should be strategically targeted toward social infrastructure and project preparation where private interest is low, while emphasizing the need for capacity building to prevent exploitation and improve project quality.

The briefing identifies critical areas for the June 2019 Bonn negotiations, including the design of market-based mechanisms to avoid double-counting, the use of IPCC reports to inform revised nationally determined contributions (NDCs), and the need for effective climate finance. It emphasizes the importance of resourcing the Green Climate Fund and Adaptation Fund, enhancing capacity building through the PCCB and CGE, and defining the future of the Warsaw International Mechanism for loss and damage.

The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) is releasing three position papers in August 2019 aimed at structural state reform in South Africa. The proposals focus on depoliticising public service recruitment, reforming state procurement to support development while strengthening contract management, and increasing the independence of senior appointments within criminal justice institutions to combat state capture and corruption.

The Life After Coal Campaign advocates for the urgent phase-out of coal-fired power in South Africa to mitigate climate change and economic risks. The campaign calls for the cancellation of several coal projects, including the Coal IPP Programme and remaining units of the Kusile power station, while urging the government to remove barriers to renewable energy procurement and finalise the Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity (IRP). The document argues that continuing investment in coal infrastructure risks stranding assets and workers, noting that a low-carbon transition is necessary to avoid an estimated $120 billion in transition risk by 2035.

The document argues that while a low-carbon future requires increased mining of specific minerals, South Africa must shift away from coal dependence toward a 'green industrialisation' strategy. It highlights how Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) technologies can make mining less invasive and create new value chains in renewable energy components, while warning that automation and the abandonment of fossil fuels will necessitate large-scale worker reskilling to avoid social upheaval.

The report finds that 14 industrial facilities in South Africa's Mpumalanga Highveld Priority Area (HPA) caused between 305 and 650 early deaths in 2016 due to PM2.5 pollution. The most significant contributors were the Lethabo, Kendal, and Kriel power stations. Modeling indicates that compliance with the 2020 Minimum Emission Standards (MES) would reduce these annual early deaths by 60%, preventing between 182 and 388 deaths. The report also highlights severe exceedances of World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for SO2 and NO2, particularly at sensitive sites like schools and hospitals. In 2016, these 14 facilities accounted for up to 92% of the daily ambient SO2 limit, suggesting that national air quality standards cannot be met without reducing emissions from these specific sources.

This document is a Rule 16A notice filed in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria, in June 2019. It outlines the constitutional issues raised by applicants—including GroundWork and the Vukani Environmental Justice Alliance—regarding air pollution in the Highveld Priority Area and the failure of the Minister of Environmental Affairs to establish regulations to implement the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan.

The document analyzes the impact and implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) across Africa, with a detailed focus on Zambia. It explores the benefits of trade facilitation, such as increased exports and regional integration, while highlighting systemic barriers including inadequate infrastructure, reliance on donor funding, and poor inter-governmental coordination. Through a case study of four Zambian border posts—Nakonde, Kasumbalesa, Kazungula, and Chirundu—the paper illustrates the gap between high-level political commitment and on-the-ground operational realities, such as the failure to implement functional Single Window systems and the regression of previously successful One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) due to lack of data-sharing and poor donor exit strategies.

The document challenges the assumption that peace is inherently good for all businesses, arguing that many companies operating in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS) may actually benefit from the status quo or face severe reprisals for engaging in peacebuilding. It contends that policies focusing solely on GDP growth or 'de-risking' investment without considering conflict dynamics can exacerbate fragility. The author urges 'systems shapers'—those who finance and regulate the private sector—to adopt conflict-sensitive approaches and ensure corporate accountability to prevent the private sector from becoming a vector for instability.

A coalition of civil society organisations condemns the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) for using violent language and intimidation against the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation and journalists. The groups urge the EFF and other political parties to adhere to the Bill of Rights and Constitution, calling for a focus on addressing economic crimes, such as the VBS bank looting and state capture, rather than engaging in divisive race baiting.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) requested access to internal reports and findings from the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) regarding Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessments conducted in specific water management areas and water transfer projects.

A coalition of progressive civil society organisations calls on the South African Parliament to ensure that individuals implicated in state capture are not appointed to office and to protect the Zondo Commission from political interference. The letter also urges the government to implement the Political Party Funding Act, debate electoral reform based on the 2003 Van Slabbert Commission recommendations, and declare a climate emergency to address ongoing droughts and environmental threats.

The authors examine South Africa's transition toward a 'contract state' and the subsequent failures of its public procurement regulatory regime. They highlight that while the state has moved toward a centrally steered but decentralised form, limited central steering capacity has resulted in a fragmented system prone to corruption. The paper discusses a 2013 reform initiative by the Minister of Finance intended to establish a centre-led, strategic, and developmental procurement methodology to address these systemic deficits.

The document defines ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) as the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services to help people adapt to climate change. It highlights that marine and coastal ecosystems, such as coral reefs and mangroves, are often missing from climate response measures and need better integration into national policies and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). A specific project involving Tanzania, Seychelles, Mozambique, and South Africa aims to address barriers to EbA—including finance, policy alignment, and capacity building—through research and peer learning.