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The 2014 South African elections saw the ANC retain power with 62.2% of the vote, though it experienced a real loss of 10.41% when controlling for registered voter growth. The DA increased its national vote share to 22.23%, consolidating its position as the official opposition, while the newly formed EFF secured 6.35% of the national vote and became the official opposition in Limpopo and the North West. The analysis highlights significant ANC losses in Gauteng and predicts highly competitive 2016 local government races in the City of Johannesburg, Tshwane, and Nelson Mandela Bay.

The document analyzes four potential political pathways for South Africa: 'Bafana Bafana' (moderate underachievement), 'The Future is ANC' (continued dominance), 'The Rise of Multiparty Democracy' (coalition governance), and 'A Nation Divided' (populist decline). It identifies the leadership of the ANC, splits within COSATU, rising voter apathy among 'born frees', and the DA's ability to attract black voters as decisive factors. The author recommends electoral reforms, including a mixed-member proportional system and mandatory voting, to address a lack of political accountability.

The report details a project to analyze water consumption and economic productivity in the Western Cape to identify constraints to growth. It introduces a conceptual model to determine the "right" water sources, quality, and pricing for specific developments, particularly in Saldanha Bay. The project implemented statistical water accounting and water footprint assessments for the Berg Catchment to establish a baseline for water-economic productivity.

This research paper by the Institute for Security Studies presents three plausible scenarios for South Africa's economic and political trajectory up to 2030: 'Bafana Bafana' (continued underachievement), 'Mandela Magic' (high growth and vision), and 'Nation Divided' (political instability and populist decline). Using the International Futures forecasting system, the author analyzes how leadership choices, particularly within the African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance with COSATU, will impact GDP, employment, and social stability.

The report details a period of transition for South Africa's energy efficiency sector. While new building codes (SANS 10400) and tax incentives (Section 12L) aim to institutionalize efficiency, the market for domestic solar water heaters has seen a decline and consolidation following the cessation of various Eskom subsidies. Conversely, the LED lighting and embedded generation sectors, particularly solar PV, show signs of growth and increasing price competitiveness.

The National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2014-15 details the activities of South Africa's 'Green Scorpions' (EMIs). It reports a 19.8% increase in registered EMIs to 2,294 and highlights a rise in criminal dockets by 8.5%. The report identifies illegal hunting and unlawful commencement of listed activities as the most prevalent crimes. It also documents specific industrial inspections, biodiversity enforcement focusing on rhinoceros and cycads, and the implementation of capacity-building programs for law enforcement and judicial officers.

The 2014 Blue Drop Report indicates a decline in national drinking water management performance, with the average score dropping from 87.6% in 2012 to 79.6% in 2014. While microbiological compliance remains high, chemical compliance and water loss management are identified as critical areas for improvement across various provinces.

The 2014 Green Drop Progress Report, published by GreenCape, provides a national overview of wastewater treatment performance in South Africa. It utilizes the Progress Assessment Tool (PAT) to track the Cumulative Risk Rating (CRR) of municipal, public, and private wastewater treatment plants, highlighting a general trend of increasing risk across the sector between 2013 and 2014.

The report outlines the South African regulatory landscape for construction, highlighting the role of the National Building Regulations and Building Standards Act and SANS 10400-XA in driving energy efficiency. It identifies the commercial property sector as the primary driver of green building certifications, while noting significant opportunities for 'greening' the social housing sector in the Western Cape through alternative building technologies (ABTs) and improved thermal performance standards. The document also details the role of the NHBRC in approving ABTs and the Western Cape Provincial Government's Green Economy strategy.

The South African waste economy, valued at R15.3 billion, is transitioning from 'end of pipe' to 'cradle to cradle' solutions under the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. While the recycling rate stands at 19.6%, the sector faces significant hurdles in municipal procurement, feedstock security, and legal authorisation backlogs. In the Western Cape, municipalities like Cape Town, Drakenstein, and Stellenbosch are pursuing waste-to-energy and organic waste treatment to address critical landfill airspace shortages, with some landfills estimated to have less than 3 years of capacity remaining.

The report examines South Africa's water sector, highlighting the country's status as the 30th driest globally and the resulting pressure on water resources. It details the governance roles of the Department of Water Affairs (DWA), water boards, and municipalities, while identifying critical challenges such as non-revenue water (approximately 36.8% of supply) and a chronic shortage of engineering skills. In the Western Cape, the report notes a high reliance on six major dams and the implementation of the Berg River Improvement Plan to address pollution. Future opportunities for the private sector are identified in desalination, artificial aquifer recharge, water re-use, and infrastructure maintenance, supported by various government grants like the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).

The report analyzes the South African green building sector, detailing the regulatory environment governed by the National Building Regulations and SANS 10400. It highlights the growth of the commercial green building market, the adoption of alternative building technologies (ABTs) in social housing, and specific strategic initiatives in the Western Cape to promote a green economy.

The report details a transition in South Africa's energy efficiency landscape, marked by the introduction of new building codes (SANS 10400) and mandatory quality testing for solar water heaters. While the high-pressure solar water heater market is consolidating after a peak in 2011 and the low-pressure sector is described as 'virtually extinct', the embedded generation sector, particularly solar PV, is showing growth as it approaches price parity with Eskom retail pricing. Financial incentives are shifting from Eskom-funded rebates, which have been largely cancelled, toward tax deductions under Section 12L.

The South African waste economy is valued at R15.3 billion, representing approximately 0.51% of GDP. While the National Environmental Management: Waste Act (NEM:WA) has shifted the sector toward 'cradle-to-cradle' solutions, developers face significant hurdles, including complex municipal procurement processes, long legal authorisation backlogs, and difficulties in securing long-term feedstock agreements. In the Western Cape, limited landfill airspace—with some sites having less than three years of capacity—is driving a need for decentralized waste-to-energy and recycling projects.

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) is seeking donations for its 'Sponsor a Delegate' campaign, the sole legacy project for its 80th anniversary in 2014. The funds support YOUTH@SAIIA, an outreach initiative that provides high school and university students with skills in diplomacy, research, and public speaking through programmes such as Model United Nations, the Environmental Sustainability Project, and inter-school quizzes. In 2013, these programmes reached over 5,000 learners and educators. SAIIA requests sponsorships ranging from R 200 to R 10,000 to cover costs such as transport, learning materials, and equipment, noting that the average cost per delegate is R 500.

The document examines the tension between marine resource sustainability and poverty alleviation for small-scale fishers in South Africa. It analyzes the 2012 Policy for the Small Scale Fisheries Sector, noting that while it formally recognizes small-scale fishers and introduces community-based co-management and local monitors, it fails to address provincial variations, the lack of enforcement power for monitors, and the disconnect between government departments like DAFF and the dti. A case study of Hamburg highlights the failure of a 2002-2004 abalone permit pilot project and the ongoing prevalence of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which threatens both ecosystems and legal livelihoods.

The analysis finds that South Africa's population is likely to be significantly higher by 2030 than the NDP 2030 forecasts, primarily due to differing assumptions regarding migration. While the NDP assumes migration rates decline toward zero, the IFs model suggests a range of 64.4 to 68.8 million people by 2030 depending on migration trends. The brief highlights that migration is the largest source of demographic uncertainty, with substantial implications for provincial service delivery, particularly in Gauteng and the Western Cape. It also notes a continuing decline in fertility rates and a recovery in life expectancy driven by the scale-up of antiretroviral therapies (ARTs), though it predicts a rising burden of non-communicable diseases by 2040.

The World Wide Fund for Nature South Africa (WWF-SA), represented by the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), filed an internal appeal to the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on 26 July 2013. The appeal challenges the DMR's refusal to grant access to records regarding seabed prospecting rights and strategies in South Africa's territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), which the DMR claimed would substantially and unreasonably divert its resources.

The document assesses the potential for human development in the Western Cape through 2040 using the Human Development Index (HDI). The 'Base Case' forecast predicts significant improvements in life expectancy, income, and education, potentially reaching levels comparable to the UK and Austria by 2040. The brief explores three alternative policy-driven scenarios: an 'Education Push' to accelerate schooling attainment, a 'Broadband Initiative' to boost GDP through ICT infrastructure, and 'The End of AIDS' to reduce HIV prevalence and mortality. It concludes that a combined 'Accelerated Development' approach would yield the highest HDI gains through synergistic effects between health, education, and economic growth.

The report identifies that 8% of South Africa's land area generates 50% of its surface water run-off. These Water Source Areas (WSAs) are critical ecological infrastructures that feed the country's engineered water systems. The document details 21 specific WSAs across five provinces, highlighting that 16 are of national strategic importance. Major threats to these areas include coal mining, alien invasive vegetation, climate change, and land degradation. The report emphasizes that while engineered infrastructure is extensive, water security depends on the health of these natural catchments, many of which currently have low levels of formal protection.