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This affidavit, deposed by attorney Michael John Read Evans, provides a professional opinion defending the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) against allegations of unethical conduct. Evans argues that the claim that attorneys must have no interest in the outcome of a matter is flawed and incompatible with the statutory framework for law clinics in South Africa.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has requested the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy to suspend a decision granting Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR) an amendment to its mining rights for the expansion of the Tormin Mine on the West Coast of South Africa. The CER argues that the decision was made without public participation and poses an irreparable risk to Critical Biodiversity Areas.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) filed a notice of appeal on 21 September 2020 against a decision by the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy (or delegated official) to grant Mineral Sands Resources (Pty) Ltd (MSR) and Tormin Mineral Sands (Pty) Ltd an amendment to their mining rights under section 102 of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA). The appeal seeks to set aside the amendment and suspend operations at the Tormin Mine extension, arguing that the process was used to unlawfully expand mining areas without proper public participation or consideration of the site's high biodiversity value.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting on behalf of the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance (VEJA) and groundWork, has filed a formal appeal to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries against a decision to partially grant ArcelorMittal SA Vanderbijlpark Steel Works (AMSA) a postponement of compliance time-frames for Minimum Emission Standards (MES) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act 39 of 2004.

A letter from groundWork Trust confirming the appointment of the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) as its attorneys of record to appeal a decision regarding ArcelorMittal’s Vanderbijlpark facility.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) sent a letter to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) on 2 September 2020, disputing the adequacy of the DMRE's response to a Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA) request. The CER asserts that the DMRE failed to provide critical supporting records, modelling data, and cost assumptions used to develop the Integrated Resource Plan for Electricity 2019 (IRP 2019).

The Life After Coal campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), groundWork (gW), and Earthlife Africa (ELA), submitted formal objections on 28 August 2020 against Eskom's applications for alternative emission limits at the Medupi and Matimba power stations. The campaign argues that these requests are an unlawful attempt to circumvent South Africa's Minimum Emission Standards (MES) and violate constitutional rights to a healthy environment.

This document is a practice note filed on 7 August 2020 by the legal representatives of Atha-Africa Ventures (Pty) Ltd (the Second Respondent) in the High Court of South Africa, Gauteng Division, Pretoria. It outlines the Second Respondent's position regarding a special appeal brought by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Federation for a Sustainable Environment against a Water Tribunal decision that confirmed the granting of a Water Use License for the Underground Yzermyn Coalmining Project.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting as part of the Life After Coal campaign and other environmental justice networks, submitted written objections on July 30, 2020, against Eskom's application for a once-off suspension of compliance with New Plant Minimum Emission Standards (MES) and a variation request for the Grootvlei Power Station. The CER argues that the application is procedurally invalid, lacks a detailed decommissioning schedule, and unlawfully seeks to extend polluting activities beyond the station's end-of-life, thereby violating constitutional rights to a healthy environment.

A formal letter from the South African Water Caucus (SAWC) and affiliates to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu, President Cyril Ramaphosa, and other officials, demanding urgent provision of water tanks, reliable water supply, and sanitation packs for communities lacking access. The document highlights a failure by the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to respond to previous requests and warns of legal action if a response is not provided by August 3, 2020.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, on behalf of the Life After Coal campaign and 350Africa.org, provides commentary on the National Treasury's 2020 Draft Technical Paper 'Financing a Sustainable Economy'. The submission argues that the Draft Paper focuses too heavily on voluntary disclosure rather than binding commitments and fails to align with the urgency of the climate crisis or South Africa's international obligations under the Paris Agreement.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), acting for the Vaal Environmental Justice Alliance and groundWork, has issued a formal request to the National Air Quality Officer and other authorities for the reasons and supporting documentation behind a decision to partly grant an application by ArcelorMittal South Africa (Vanderbijlpark) (AMSA). The decision relates to the suspension, alternative limits, or postponement of compliance with Minimum Emission Standards (MES) under the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004.

A letter from the Climate Energy and Health Special Interest Group of the Public Health Association of South Africa (PHASA) to the Minister of Health, urging public health leadership to ensure a just and green recovery from COVID-19 that addresses the climate crisis and transitions away from fossil fuels.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, representing groundWork and Earthlife Africa, has issued a final deadline of 25 June 2020 for the South African Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries to provide written reasons for doubling the 2020 sulphur dioxide (SO2) minimum emission standard (MES) limit for existing sub-category 1.1 solid-fuel combustion installations. The organization argues that this amendment weakens environmental protections and seeks the information to determine if High Court review proceedings are necessary.

A letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) to Tokiso Dispute Settlement (Pty) Ltd regarding the management of Multi-Stakeholder Reference Group (MSRG) and Implementation Task Team (ITT) meetings for air quality priority areas in South Africa.

This document consists of a practice note and heads of argument filed by Tendele Coal Mining (Pty) Ltd in the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa. Tendele is responding to an appeal by the Global Environmental Trust and others who seek an interdict to close the Somkhele Coal Mine, alleging that the mine operates without necessary environmental, land use, waste management, and heritage authorizations.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted comments on the Draft Regulations Amending the Electricity Regulations on New Generation Capacity, 2011. The CER argues that the Draft Regulations are redundant and legally inconsistent because the Electricity Regulation Act (ERA) does not require prior Ministerial approval for municipalities to establish their own electricity capacity. The submission emphasizes the urgent need for a transition to clean energy to mitigate severe health, environmental, and climate harms caused by South Africa's coal-dependent power sector.

The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) issued an urgent request to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu of the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation on June 1, 2020, demanding immediate intervention for over 200 communities lacking access to water and basic sanitation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centre for Environmental Rights submitted a letter to the South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries reporting that Eskom's Kendal power station had 2,851 particulate matter emission exceedances between April 2016 and March 2020. The letter alleges that Eskom may be improperly reporting these contraventions as 'Grace' or 'Section 30' exceedances to avoid penalties and highlights that emissions from 13 of Eskom's coal-fired plants were linked to 320 premature deaths in 2018.

A technical review by Dr. Ranajit Sahu for the Centre for Environmental Rights analyzing particulate matter (PM) emissions at Eskom’s Kendal Power Station from April 2016 to March 2020. The report finds thousands of exceedances of the Atmospheric Emission License (AEL) limit, noting a significant increase in frequency starting in April 2018 and criticizing the failure of electrostatic precipitators and the quality of Eskom's emissions reporting.