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The South African waste sector is transitioning from a landfill-centric model to one focused on waste diversion, driven by regulatory reforms and limited landfill airspace. While only 10% of waste is currently recycled, significant opportunities exist in the recovery of paper, plastics, glass, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste. In the Western Cape, the City of Cape Town generates 70% of the province's waste, presenting a concentrated market for alternative treatment. Waste-to-energy (WtE) projects face economic and regulatory hurdles, such as low landfill gate fees and electricity prices, but opportunities remain in small-scale biogas and large-scale REIPPPP projects. The report also highlights the role of Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) and the availability of green manufacturing incentives in Special Economic Zones like Atlantis.

The report examines the growth of the South African energy services market, driven by rising electricity costs and energy security concerns. It highlights significant growth in rooftop PV, opportunities for energy efficiency in municipal wastewater treatment and public buildings, and the role of Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). The document also details the regulatory landscape, including tax incentives like the 12L allowance and the Western Cape's specific initiatives to reduce energy demand.

The report highlights the Western Cape's status as a water-stressed region where demand is projected to surpass supply by 2019 in the Western Cape Water Supply System (WCWSS). It identifies diverse business opportunities in the green economy, including precision irrigation, desalination, water reclamation, and the reduction of non-revenue water. The document details the institutional structure of South African water management and outlines specific funding incentives and grants available for greentech manufacturers and infrastructure projects.

The document argues that solar PV installations on packhouses are financially viable, particularly for larger systems, due to high daytime energy needs for cooling. It provides a model of financial feasibility and four case studies demonstrating electricity cost reductions and CO2 emissions avoidance. The brief also outlines the regulatory and technical requirements for feeding excess electricity back into the grid within various Western Cape municipalities.

The document examines the proposal by Karadeniz Holdings to provide power ships to South Africa to address a depleting reserve supply margin caused by inadequate investment in generation capacity since 1994 and delays at Medupi and Kusile. While power ships are presented as a more efficient and cheaper alternative to Eskom's diesel-powered open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs)—costing R2.00 to R2.50/kWh compared to R3.00 to R4.50/kWh—Eskom has expressed skepticism, arguing that a 310MW capacity is too small for the national grid. The author notes that power ships remain significantly more expensive than solar and wind power from Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and suggests that opening the market to IPPs may offer better short- and long-term benefits.

The paper argues that South Africa is currently on a 'Bafana Bafana Redux' trajectory characterized by modest growth and structural unemployment due to an electricity supply crisis and poor governance. While a more positive 'Mandela Magic Lite' scenario is possible through improved leadership and policy coherence, the author suggests the country is likely to remain in a middle-income trap in the near term. The analysis highlights a critical generational shift as 'born-free' voters increase in number, potentially reducing the ANC's dominance and pushing the country toward a more competitive multiparty democracy.

The report investigates water constraints in the Berg Water Management Area (WMA) and Saldanha Bay, South Africa. It finds that traditional linear planning—based on generalized growth percentages—fails to account for the 'stepped' water demand of large industrial projects, potentially leading to supply shortfalls between 2017 and 2019. The document argues for a 'smart' allocation model that links water productivity (GDP/jobs per drop) to resource allocation and explores a Water Exchange Network (WEN) to reduce freshwater intake by up to 15% through industrial water cascading. It also highlights that high salinity in the Berg River poses a significant operational cost and production risk to the steel processing industry in Saldanha.

The Legal Resources Centre (LRC) and a coalition of civil society and community organisations are urging the South African National Assembly to reject the Mining and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill 15B of 2013. Following President Zuma's referral of the bill back to Parliament, the LRC argues that the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) and provincial legislatures failed to facilitate reasonable public participation, violating sections 72 and 118 of the Constitution. The LRC specifically highlights that the bill removes community participation in mining and eliminates requirements for addressing socio-economic needs. They contend that the bill was influenced by 'lobbying and influence peddling' from the mining industry and the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) outside of parliamentary processes. The LRC demands a fresh start to the legislative process to ensure meaningful consultation with affected mining communities, particularly regarding living customary law and the principle of community consent.

The report evaluates water consumption in peach and plum orchards in the Western Cape, finding that while South African farmers are significantly more water-efficient than global averages, local improvements are possible through better irrigation scheduling and the adoption of drip irrigation over micro-sprinklers. It also details a pilot project testing the AWS standard across nine farms, identifying drought, social risks (theft), and regulation as primary concerns for farmers, and recommending the alignment of the AWS standard with other agricultural certifications like GlobalGAP.

The South African energy efficiency market is driven by constrained electricity supply, rising tariffs, and government targets, such as the National Energy Efficiency Strategy (NEES) 2005 goal of reducing primary energy consumption by 12% by 2015. The market is served by consultants, technology suppliers, and Energy Service Companies (ESCos), with the latter's market estimated by the IDC to potentially reach R8 billion per annum by 2022. In the Western Cape, the market is projected to reach R1.3 billion by 2019, supporting approximately 1,000 jobs. Key challenges include accessing funding, though various tax incentives (e.g., S12I, S12L) and grants are available. The regulatory landscape is complex, involving multiple departments and standards (SANS) to mandate efficiency in buildings and appliances.

The report identifies a growing demand for energy-efficient construction in South Africa, driven by electricity price increases of over 200% since 2009 and the mandatory SANS 10400 XA regulations. It highlights significant opportunities in bulk insulation for public sector housing, estimated at over R9 billion over five years, and the rise of Light Steel Frame Building (LSFB) methods in residential and commercial sectors. The Western Cape is positioned as a strategic hub for green technology, supported by the Atlantis greentech Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and local government incentives.

The report analyzes South Africa's renewable energy landscape, divided into utility-scale, commercial/industrial, and residential segments. It highlights the success of the REIPPPP in procuring over 5,000 MW and reducing tariffs, while noting that the lack of an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) creates investor uncertainty. The Western Cape is positioned as a potential green economy hub, leveraging initiatives like the Atlantis Special Economic Zone and the SARETEC training center.

The report analyzes the South African waste sector, which is worth approximately R15 billion and employs 29,000 people. It highlights the Western Cape's higher recycling rates (14%) compared to the national average (9.8%) and examines various waste streams, including plastics, paper, glass, metals, e-waste, and construction and demolition waste. The document identifies significant barriers to waste-to-energy (WtE) projects, such as complex municipal procurement processes and regulatory hurdles, while outlining potential for biogas generation from agricultural and organic waste. It also details GreenCape's initiatives, such as the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), to promote a circular economy.

The report assesses the water-stressed environment of South Africa and the Western Cape, highlighting the risk that water scarcity may constrain economic development. It outlines the governance structure under the National Water Act and Water Services Act, identifies seven key opportunity areas for the private sector—including invasive alien plant clearing and wastewater treatment—and discusses infrastructure projects such as the Clanwilliam Dam and various desalination plants. It also notes significant barriers, particularly chronic skills shortages in municipal engineering and management.

The report examines the crisis in municipal water and sanitation management in South Africa, noting that while infrastructure access has expanded, service functionality remains uneven. It argues that the 'skills shortage' is not merely a lack of training but a result of historical devaluation of technical trades and the adoption of New Public Management (NPM) reforms that prioritise senior managers over operational staff. This 'hollowing out' of the local state has left municipalities without the essential artisans—such as millwrights and plumbers—needed for routine maintenance, exacerbating service failures in historically disadvantaged areas.

The 2015 SAIIA Sasol Environmental Sustainability Project (ESP) is an educational competition for South African Grade 10-12 learners. Participants work in teams of three to produce a research paper of up to 12 pages focusing on a selected theme—Biodiversity, Climate Change, or Sustainable Development—and a specific topic such as energy, oceans, or air pollution. The project requires both a local and an international case example. The programme consists of three phases: the research paper, provincial or regional presentations for top papers, and the SAIIA Young Leaders Conference from 6-11 December 2015 in Gauteng, where top learners draft the 2015 SAIIA Young Leaders Declaration for government and UN officials. Key deadlines include school registration by 11 May 2015 and final paper submission by 21 July 2015.

The report assesses the feasibility of a greentech SEZ in Atlantis, concluding that demand is sufficient for a small-scale zone. It evaluates four development options, identifying 'high road refurbishment' as the most financially attractive. The document details the necessary legal governance, spatial planning, and infrastructure requirements, while highlighting critical disaster risks including fire, socio-cultural instability, and proximity to the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

The study applies second-generation social network analysis to a court case involving 'The Americans' gang in Cape Town, identifying a network of 46 nodes and 179 interactions. It finds that the network is characterized by high levels of violence and a low level of resilience, as a small number of key actors control a majority of the interactions and information flows. The authors argue that law enforcement often has an oversimplified view of such structures by focusing on violent 'dark nodes' while overlooking the 'grey nodes' that provide economic and political support.

The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2013/14 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). Key trends include a 12.26% increase in registered EMIs and a significant rise in reported environmental incidents. While industrial sectors like cement and refineries show improved performance due to proactive inspections, biodiversity crimes—particularly rhino poaching—remain a critical concern despite heavy court sentences. The report also highlights legislative updates, judicial precedents regarding the 'polluter pays' principle, and capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement and prosecutors.

The Western Cape government reports significant investment in its green economy, including R20bn allocated to the renewable energy sector in 2013 and specific industrial projects like wind turbine tower manufacturing and solar panel production. Key initiatives include the Green Economy Strategic Framework, the Western Cape Industrial Symbiosis Programme (WISP), and the establishment of a cleantech Special Economic Zone in Atlantis.