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The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several environmental and community organizations, submitted a formal objection to a rezoning application for Portion 1 of the farm Yzermyn 96 HT. The CER argues that the public notice for the rezoning was legally deficient and that the Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality failed to provide access to the application documents, hindering the clients' ability to submit detailed objections.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 20 January 2017 to the Integrated Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) for the proposed 1200MW coal-fired Thabametsi power station near Lephalale, Limpopo. The submission argues that the application is fatally flawed due to outdated data, failure to account for climate change, risks to groundwater and wetlands, and a lack of guaranteed water availability for the project's 40-year lifespan.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 20 January 2017 to the Integrated Water Use Licence Application (IWULA) for the proposed Thabametsi power station, a 1200MW coal-fired project near Lephalale, Limpopo. The objections argue that the application is legally flawed, relies on outdated data, fails to secure a sustainable water supply for the project's 40-year lifespan, and poses significant risks to groundwater and wetlands.

This summary report, prepared by Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd for Thabametsi Power Company Proprietary Limited, details the climate change and palaeontological impact assessments for the proposed 1200MW Thabametsi coal-fired power station near Lephalale, Limpopo Province. The report was produced to satisfy conditions 10.5 and 10.6 of the project's Environmental Authorization following an appeal by the Centre for Environmental Rights. It evaluates greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, climate resilience risks, and potential impacts on fossil heritage, concluding that while GHG impacts are high, they are not a fatal flaw given South Africa's energy policy framework.

The 2017 Shadow Report, compiled by the South African History Archive (SAHA) for the Access to Information Network (ATIN), evaluates compliance with the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) between 1 August 2016 and 31 July 2017. Based on 408 requests, the report finds widespread non-compliance by public bodies, particularly regarding statutory timeframes and the high rate of deemed refusals. It highlights systemic issues such as the misuse of request transfers, inadequate reasons for refusal, and the lack of transparency in state surveillance and environmental reporting.

This report details the outcomes of a two-day workshop held in Cape Town in March 2017, focused on the role of civil society in supporting the implementation of Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) legislation in South Africa. The event, hosted by the Centre for Environmental Rights, the International Ocean Institute-Africa, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, and WWF-South Africa, aimed to identify resource needs, data requirements, and institutional structures to ensure a participatory, ecosystem-based approach to ocean governance.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting on behalf of Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted written objections to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) regarding a licence application by Thabametsi Power Company (Pty) Limited.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a request to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 7 December 2016 for records concerning the proposed Yzermyn underground coal mine in the Mabola Protected Environment.

This report, prepared by GCS Water and Environment (Pty) Ltd for the Centre for Environmental Rights, reviews the Integrated Water Use License Application (IWULA) and the resulting Integrated Water Use License (IWUL) issued to Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd for the proposed Yzermyn underground coal mine in Mpumalanga. The review identifies significant gaps in the specialist studies regarding hydrogeology, wetlands, and hydrology, concluding that the IWUL was issued without a full understanding of the environmental impacts and the interconnection between water resources.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted comments to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) regarding the Final Scope of Work Report (FSR) for the Thabametsi coal-fired power station. The CER argues that the FSR is inadequate, particularly concerning the Climate Change Impact Assessment (CCIA), and requests that the DEA either reject the report or require significant amendments to align it with the South African Constitution and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) wrote to the Minister of Environmental Affairs on 25 October 2016 to follow up on a request to strengthen the National Dust Control Regulations. The CER expresses concern over the Department of Environmental Affairs' narrow focus on monitoring methods rather than health impacts, and objects to a proposal to increase the allowable dust limit for residential areas.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a request to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) on 20 October 2016 for records concerning Atha-Africa Ventures' application to mine commercially in the Mabola Protected Environment.

This document is a statement of grounds of appeal filed on 13 October 2016 by eight environmental and community organisations against the approval of the Environmental Management Programme (EMPR) for the Yzermyn underground coal mine. The appellants argue that the approval, granted by the Mpumalanga Regional Manager of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) on 28 June 2016, ignored critical biodiversity risks, failed to provide adequate mitigation for water resource degradation, and disregarded the socio-economic vulnerability of local rural communities.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments to the Department of Environmental Affairs on October 7, 2016, regarding proposed amendments to the Financial Provisioning Regulations, 2015. The CER argues that several proposed deletions of appendices and clauses would create legal uncertainty, reduce transparency, and weaken the state's ability to ensure that mining rehabilitation funds are available and used correctly.

A joint letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights and the Centre for Applied Legal Studies requesting the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) to amend its section 15 declaration under the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) to increase transparency and remove restrictions on who can access mining and environmental records.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) responds to the Chamber of Mines' critique of its 'Zero Hour' report, defending its research methodology and reiterating claims of poor environmental governance in Mpumalanga. The CER argues that the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has failed in its compliance and enforcement duties, leading to widespread pollution and the unlawful granting of mining rights in protected and strategic water areas. The CER calls for increased transparency, better decision-making regarding mining rights, and improved DMR capacity.

An open letter from 30 civil society organisations to South African ministers demanding that Eskom comply with environmental and health laws, cease its opposition to renewable energy, and provide transparency regarding the decommissioning of ageing coal-fired power stations.

South Africa's 2nd Biennial Update Report (BUR-2) provides a comprehensive overview of the country's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2000 to 2012, its mitigation strategies, and the financial and technical support received to transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy by 2030.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), representing several environmental justice organisations, submitted comments on the 2016 Draft Strategy to Address Air Pollution in Dense Low Income Settlements. While welcoming the document, the CER argues that it lacks measurable plans, adequate baseline data, and a strategy for community consultation to effectively address the health impacts of domestic fuel burning in South Africa.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted these written submissions to the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) in August 2016. The document outlines systemic failures in the environmental governance of the South African mining sector, detailing how poor monitoring, inadequate enforcement, and flawed impact assessment processes lead to the violation of environmental rights in mining-affected communities. It provides evidence of water pollution, ecosystem destruction, and severe health impacts, while recommending a transfer of regulatory authority from the Department of Mineral Resources to environmental authorities.