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South Africa: Weak internal processes for choosing leadership threaten the ANC in the long-term
The briefing argues that the ANC's lack of rules for open leadership campaigning and the use of 'slates' by President Jacob Zuma's supporters have created deep internal divisions. These processes, characterized by allegations of rigging and intimidation, risk alienating members and voters, potentially reducing the ANC's parliamentary majority in the 2014 elections and encouraging the formation of a breakaway left-wing party.
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Document type: Briefing
The effectiveness of financial disclosure regulations as an anti-corruption tool in local government
The paper assesses the implementation of financial disclosure regulations for municipal councillors in South Africa, finding that while laws are progressive, practical application is inconsistent across municipalities. Key failures include poor record quality, low compliance in some areas, restricted public access to information, and a lack of proactive monitoring and oversight. The authors argue that the current system focuses on formal compliance rather than the substantive detection of irregularities, which allows corruption in public procurement to persist. The document provides case studies of municipal corruption and recommends standardising disclosure templates, digitising submissions, and strengthening internal investigative capacities.
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Document type: Research paper
PROPOSED ‘GREEN TECHNOLOGY MANUFACTURING CLUSTER’ INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ASSOCIATED INFRASTRUCTURE ON FARM CA1183 PORTION 4 AND PORTION 1, ATLANTIS
The report assesses the development of a 38.65 ha industrial site in Atlantis for the manufacturing of wind turbine components, photovoltaic (PV) panels, and inverters. While the project is expected to generate significant socio-economic benefits, including up to 6,000 jobs and R6 billion in annual economic contribution, it will result in the permanent loss of endangered Cape Flats Dune Strandveld and critically endangered Atlantis Sand Fynbos. The Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) recommends authorization provided that a biodiversity offset is implemented and an Environmental Management Programme is followed.
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Document type: Report
Together investing in the future of South AFrica’s Freshwater ecosystems
The WWF Sanlam Partnership (2012-2014) focused on protecting South Africa's strategic water source areas and promoting corporate water stewardship. Key achievements include mapping the 8% of land area that provides 50% of the country's surface water, launching the 'Journey of Water' public awareness campaign, and developing tools to help investors assess water risks for JSE-listed companies. The partnership also implemented operational water-saving measures at Sanlam, reducing consumption by 41% against a 2010 baseline, and collaborated on disaster risk reduction in the Eden District Municipality.
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Document type: Report
SONA 2012: A “massive infrastructure development drive”
President Jacob Zuma's 2012 State of the Nation Address focuses on a "massive infrastructure development drive" to combat unemployment, poverty, and inequality. The plan includes five geographically-focussed programmes to integrate rail, road, and water infrastructure, alongside significant investments in ports and mining beneficiation. The address also highlights the transition toward a green economy, including solar energy targets and the management of acid mine drainage, while reporting on progress in education, health, and land reform.
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Document type: Statement
South Africa’s Investment Landscape: Mapping Economic Incentives
The document analyzes South Africa's efforts to attract sustainable local and foreign investment through a combination of industrial policies, such as the New Growth Path (NGP), and a diverse catalogue of financial and fiscal incentives. It highlights a significant decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) between 2008 and 2010, attributed largely to high labor costs, and examines the 'Gateway into Africa' initiative designed to make South Africa a regional investment hub. The paper details various dti-managed incentives targeting SMMEs, industrial development, and specific sectors like automotive and film, while noting that many investors remain unaware of these schemes or find the application process cumbersome.
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Document type: Research paper
National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2011-12
The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2011-12 details the activities of South Africa's Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI). Key trends include a 30% increase in registered EMIs, a significant rise in Section 24G administrative fines, and a focus on combating rhino poaching. The report provides detailed statistics on criminal dockets, convictions, and industrial inspections, while highlighting landmark court cases and capacity-building efforts for inspectors and prosecutors.
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Document type: Report
Minister Molewa’s Budget Vote Speech for the DEA and DWA in the NCOP: Access to water, enforcement, water security and environmental integrity
The document details South Africa's efforts to increase water access, which has risen from 62% in 1994 to 93% in 2011. It highlights strategic water infrastructure projects, such as the Mokolo and Crocodile River (West) project and the Spring Grove Dam, alongside a focus on groundwater and desalination. Environmental priorities include combating rhino poaching, implementing the Waste Act to foster a recycling sector, and finalizing a Climate Change Response Policy White Paper ahead of the UN Climate Change conference in Durban. The Minister emphasizes the role of the environment sector in job creation through programs like Working for Water and Working for Wetlands.
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Document type: Statement
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN FOR ELECTRICITY 2010-2030
The Policy-Adjusted IRP 2010-2030 outlines South Africa's strategy for electricity generation expansion and demand-side management. It recommends a diversified energy mix including 9.6 GW of nuclear, 6.3 GW of new coal, and 17.8 GW of renewables (wind, solar PV, and CSP) to balance security of supply, economic growth, and carbon emission constraints. The plan emphasizes accelerating renewable energy to foster local industry and includes a Medium Term Risk Mitigation Project to address anticipated supply shortfalls between 2011 and 2016 through demand response and increased generation availability.
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Document type: Report
Minister Molewa’s Budget Speech 2012 for DWA: Water security, service delivery, enforcement and legislative review
A budget vote speech delivered by Minister Edna Molewa on 14 April 2011, outlining the Department of Water Affairs' strategy to increase water availability for economic growth and job creation in South Africa. The speech details major infrastructure projects, water security measures, regulatory frameworks for water quality, and plans for legislative review to prevent water hoarding.
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Document type: Statement
Minister Joemat-Pettersson’s Budget Speech 2011 for DAFF: Job creation, floods, climate change and forestry, and marine enforcement
The 2011/12 budget for South Africa's Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) is 4.719 billion rand, with a primary focus on poverty alleviation and job creation. The department aims to create 130,000 jobs in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by 2014 and establish 50,000 commercially-oriented smallholder farmers. Key initiatives include the 'Zero Hunger Plan' for smallholder market access and the transformation of 12 agricultural colleges into National Agricultural Training Institutes. The budget allocates specific funds for flood relief (over 200 million rand over three years), forestry sustainability (300 million rand), and the sustainable management of forestry resources (550 million rand). In fisheries, the government has designated 9% of the coastline as prohibited zones and 3% of the offshore zone as no-fishing areas to protect marine ecosystems. The document also highlights South Africa's role as the host for COP 17 and its strategic alignment with BRICS to improve export access.
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Document type: Statement
REQUEST TO THE MINISTER OF MINERAL RESOURCES TO EXERCISE HER DISCRETION UNDER S.49 OF THE MINERALS AND PETROLEUM RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT TO PROHIBIT AND RESTRICT PROSPECTING AND MINING IN AREAS OF CRITICAL BIODIVERSITY AND HYDROLOGICAL VALUE AND SENSITIVITY
The document argues that protecting critical biodiversity and hydrological areas from mining is in the national interest and essential for climate change mitigation and adaptation. It proposes a list of areas for total prohibition and a set of procedural restrictions for other sensitive zones to improve decision-making and environmental oversight.
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Document type: Statement
Sustainable energy solutions for South Africa
The report documents a 2010 conference of the South African Civil Society Energy Caucus, focusing on the lack of transparency and public participation in the development of the second Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2). It critiques the government's continued reliance on coal and nuclear power, highlighting the failures of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) and the environmental risks of radioactive waste in the Witwatersrand goldfields. The document advocates for a 'just transition' toward renewable energy, specifically wind and solar, while calling for an independent system operator to resolve conflicts of interest within Eskom.
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Document type: Report
A source book for strengthening conservation professionals, practice and organisations mentoring to support work-integrated learning
The document outlines a developmental approach to mentoring within the conservation sector, moving from a deficiency-based model to one focused on professional growth. It details various mentoring forms—including one-on-one, group, peer, and network-based models—and provides a practical guide for mentors to identify needs, design tasks, and assess progress. The guide emphasizes the importance of mutual trust, flexibility, and the integration of mentoring with formal training to strengthen organisational capacity and support the transition of new graduates into the workforce.
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Document type: Guide
Africa and Geopolitics of India’s Energy security
India faces a growing gap between energy demand and indigenous supply, projecting it will become the world's third largest energy consumer by 2030. To address this, India is implementing an integrated energy policy focusing on diversifying sources—including increased imports of high-quality coal from South Africa and oil from Africa—while expanding nuclear, hydropower, and renewable energy capacities. Significant challenges remain, including unreliable infrastructure, high transmission losses, and geopolitical tensions affecting pipeline viability.
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Document type: Statement
Clean Energy Investment in Developing Countries: Domestic barriers and opportunities in South Africa
The document examines the barriers to clean energy investment in South Africa, highlighting the dominant role of the state-owned utility Eskom and a heavy reliance on coal. It analyzes the national policy framework, including the 2003 White Paper on Renewable Energy and the 2008 National Energy Act, while evaluating incentives such as the Renewable Energy Feed-in Tariff (REFIT) and Tradable Renewable Energy Certificates (TRECs). The report concludes that while macroeconomic stability is favorable, institutional barriers and a lack of political will are the primary hurdles to scaling renewable energy.
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Document type: Report
National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2009-10
The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2009-10 provides a comprehensive overview of environmental law enforcement activities in South Africa from April 1, 2009, to March 31, 2010. It details the growth of the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI), national statistics on criminal and administrative enforcement, and specific case studies regarding industrial pollution and biodiversity crimes, particularly rhino poaching.
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Document type: Report
Climate Risk Impacts and Adaptation in Southern Africa
The report details a seminar on climate risk in Southern Africa, highlighting the vulnerability of agriculture, water, and health sectors. It emphasizes that while the region is least responsible for emissions, it is highly susceptible to climate-induced instability due to weak governance and reliance on rain-fed agriculture. Proposed solutions include multi-sectoral adaptation strategies, improved urban management, and strengthening governance capacities across the SADC region and the broader African continent.
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Document type: Report
National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2007-8
The National Environmental Compliance & Enforcement Report 2007-8 details a significant increase in reported environmental enforcement activities in South Africa, including a tripling of arrests and a five-fold increase in convictions compared to the previous year. It highlights systemic non-compliance across the iron, steel, and refinery sectors, alongside targeted efforts to combat illegal wildlife trade, particularly rhino horn trafficking. The report also outlines judicial precedents regarding environmental directives and the ongoing training of magistrates and prosecutors to improve the adjudication of environmental crimes.
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Document type: Report
A lethal cocktail
The report examines how corruption, poor oversight, and political interference hinder HIV/AIDS services in South Africa despite significant increases in funding. It identifies systemic vulnerabilities in budget tracking, donor fund management, and pharmaceutical procurement, while documenting specific cases of fund misappropriation and the promotion of unproven alternative remedies. The study argues that a combination of weak institutional structures and a lack of political will creates a 'lethal cocktail' that disproportionately affects the poor and marginalised.
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Document type: Report