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The document outlines a risk-based approach to mining in South Africa's most sensitive biodiversity areas, including critically endangered ecosystems, Critical Biodiversity Areas (CBAs), Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs), and Ramsar sites. It argues that because these areas are essential for ecosystem services and biodiversity targets, mining should be strongly avoided. The guideline proposes a sequential six-step filter—including requirements for national strategic interest, lack of alternative deposits, and full economic valuation—that must be satisfied before any mining authorisation is considered. It emphasizes a risk-averse approach where authorisations may be denied or strictly limited to specific methods, such as underground mining, to avoid fatal flaws in environmental authorisations.

The Matzikama Municipality issued a decision on 24 July 2020 approving the rezoning of a portion of Farm Geelwal Karoo No 262 from Agriculture zone I to Industrial zone III to allow for mining activities and a mineral processing plant.

This document is a communication from the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to the Centre for Environmental Rights regarding a request for access to information under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000.

The assessment concludes that the Yzermyn underground coal mine is 'fatally flawed' from a biodiversity perspective and recommends a 'NO GO' decision. The project is located in a highly sensitive area, including the Enkangala Grassland Important Bird Area (IBA) and several Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Areas (FEPAs). Key risks include the potential for extensive wetland loss or deterioration due to groundwater drawdown (cones of depression) and long-term groundwater contamination from acid mine drainage (AMD) post-closure. The report highlights a significant disconnect between the findings of independent specialists—who identify high-significance impacts and irreplaceable habitats—and the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR), which downplays these risks by focusing narrowly on the surface infrastructure footprint. The assessment notes that the project threatens numerous 'Conservation Important' (CI) species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

The report examines the carbon-intensive nature of steel production, highlighting ArcelorMittal South Africa's (AMSA) increasing emissions and its impact on local communities in the Vaal triangle. It argues that ArcelorMittal Group maintains a double standard by prioritizing decarbonization in Europe over the Global South. The document identifies financial institutions (such as ABSA and the IFC) and the automobile industry (including Ford and Toyota) as key stakeholders with the leverage to push for a fossil-free transition. It recommends that ArcelorMittal end coal use by 2040 and provide verifiable asset-by-asset transformation plans by 2025.

The report details a bottom-up integrated model developed in Analytica to project greenhouse gas emissions in South Africa to 2050. It incorporates a Mitigation Potential Analysis (MPA), GHG emission pathways, and a socio-economic model linked via a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM). The model assesses various sectors—including energy, industry, transport, waste, and AFOLU—applying specific mitigation measures and policies such as the Carbon Tax Act of 2019 and the IRP 2023. It provides a framework for evaluating the socio-economic impacts of decarbonisation pathways on employment, output, and household consumption across different income deciles.

The report argues that marine phosphate mining is unwarranted in South Africa because it would increase environmental phosphate flows and contamination. It proposes that a sustainable supply of phosphates can be achieved through 'loop-closure'—specifically recovering phosphorus from human and animal waste and improving fertilizer application efficiency in agriculture. A substance flow analysis indicates that approximately 164 kt/year of phosphorus enters the South African environment, with 133 kt/year potentially recoverable through recycling. The document concludes that terrestrial reserves are sufficient for 90–220 years, making the ecological risks of seabed mining unnecessary.

The report documents a pervasive 'environment of fear' in South Africa's mining communities, where activists face physical attacks, death threats, and state-led harassment. It details how local municipalities impose extra-legal restrictions on protests, police use excessive force and arbitrary arrests, and mining companies employ SLAPP suits and social media campaigns to silence opposition. The document argues that these actions violate South African constitutional and international human rights obligations regarding freedom of expression, assembly, and the right to a healthy environment.

The document argues that current proposed regulations for unconventional oil and gas (UOG) in South Africa are insufficient, particularly regarding the exclusion of coalbed methane (CBM) and inadequate groundwater protections. It recommends expanding definitions to include all stimulation techniques, implementing strict setback distances to protect sensitive aquifers and towns, and requiring long-term monitoring of decommissioned wells for up to 50 years to prevent contamination.

The document provides a stakeholder analysis of the Karpowership project in South Africa, which involves the deployment of floating gas ships to provide 1,220 MW of emergency power. It details the corporate structure of Karpowership SA, a joint venture between the Turkish conglomerate Karadeniz Holding and Powergroup South Africa. The analysis identifies key suppliers, including Shell plc for LNG delivery and Mitsui OSK Lines for regasification services, and lists a syndicate of four banks that provided a US$ 140 million loan to Karpowership in March 2020.

The document asserts that natural gas is not a clean energy source, detailing how its production, transport, and combustion cause significant environmental degradation and health issues. It highlights the potency of methane leaks and the high carbon emissions from LNG and gas-to-power plants, particularly in the South African context. The author recommends a holistic lifecycle impact assessment to counter the misconception that gas is a viable strategy for reducing emissions.

The report by the Fair Steel Coalition examines the systemic environmental and human rights abuses linked to ArcelorMittal and Ternium. It identifies 'sacrifice zones' where marginalized communities of color face severe pollution and health risks. The document details case studies of land dispossession in Liberia, air and water contamination in South Africa and Brazil, and a pattern of violence and enforced disappearances of environmental defenders in Mexico. It concludes that corporate sustainability policies are superficial and calls for mandatory due diligence, a just transition in steel production, and accountability for human rights violations.

The report finds that South African environmental laws generally lack mandatory disclosure requirements for licences and compliance data, relying instead on the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA). This contrasts with jurisdictions like Australia and Canada, where public registries are more common. Analysis of multinational companies shows they typically disclose information only where legally required. The report recommends making disclosure mandatory for all licence holders and establishing central online public registries.

The document details a conflict over the construction of a tailings dam on the farm Blinkwater 820 LR by Potgietersrust Platinums Ltd (PPL). It highlights failures in public participation, as the decision to use the land was authorized in 2003 under the Minerals Act 50 of 1991 before community consultations began in 2005. The case raises critical issues regarding the adequacy of compensation paid to the Sekuruwe community, the transparency of negotiations, and the legal relationship between the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA).

The document details how Freshwater Ecosystem Priority Area (FEPA) maps serve as a tool for biodiversity conservation and water resource management in South Africa. It outlines the integration of these maps into legal frameworks such as the National Water Act, Biodiversity Act, and Protected Areas Act. The text defines various map categories—including River FEPAs, Wetland/Estuary FEPAs, Fish Sanctuaries, and Fish Support Areas—and specifies the ecological conditions and management priorities associated with each to ensure the protection of threatened species and the maintenance of ecosystem health.

The Yzermyn Groundwater Model simulates the impact of mine workings on two aquifer systems. While the deeper fractured aquifer shows a zone of impact extending approximately 2 km downstream, significant drawdowns over 20m are limited to the area immediately above the mine. The model suggests that a steady-state cone of dewatering is an unlikely worst-case scenario given the 15-year mine life. However, groundwater-dependent ecosystems and springs within the shallow aquifer's dewatering zone, limited to site boundaries, may be negatively impacted or dry up.

The document details South Africa's coal landscape, identifying the Highveld and Witbank coalfields as the largest by reserves. It provides a comprehensive inventory of mines, their ownership (including major entities like Anglo Coal, Exxaro, and BHP Billiton), and their production outputs for domestic power (primarily Eskom) and export markets. The report also analyzes the logistics chain, focusing on the Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT) as the primary export hub, and provides detailed cost breakdowns for opencast mining and rail transport.

The Dr Pixley ka Isaka Seme Local Municipality's Spatial Development Framework (SDF) 2020 provides a long-term spatial vision to transform the region's apartheid-era layout into a sustainable, integrated environment. The plan identifies a nodal hierarchy with Volksrust and Vukuzakhe as primary nodes, and Amersfoort, Perdekop, and Wakkerstroom as secondary nodes, with Daggakraal as a rural node. Key strategies focus on densification to prevent urban sprawl, the protection of high-potential agricultural land, and the development of tourism, particularly in the Wakkerstroom wetland area. The framework also addresses critical infrastructure backlogs, projecting a need for 10,234 additional housing units by 2040 and significant increases in water and electricity demand. Environmental management is central, with specific guidelines to protect biodiversity and mitigate climate change through 'green infrastructure' and eco-friendly building materials.

The document analyzes particulate emission data from the Duvha Power Station, specifically examining the correlation between emission levels and the operational status of its power units. It evaluates whether emissions are caused by the units themselves or by other factors, such as the operation of the electrostatic precipitators (ESP) and the overall plant configuration.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) argues that South African local governments must be empowered to procure renewable energy to meet constitutional obligations under Section 24 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to a healthy environment. The CER contends that the current reliance on Eskom's coal-fired power stations causes significant health crises, including thousands of premature deaths and high greenhouse gas emissions. It asserts that renewable energy is now the most cost-effective option and that interpreting the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) to allow municipal procurement is essential for a just energy transition and the realization of sustainable development.