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The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) is urging the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) to address critical water and sanitation shortages in more than 200 communities. The letter highlights failures in the DWS hotline, the lack of coordination via the National Disaster Water Command Centre, and the severe health risks posed to vulnerable populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. It provides a detailed annexure of affected areas across several provinces, including the Western Cape, Limpopo, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and Free State, where residents rely on polluted rivers, unreliable water trucks, or have no infrastructure at all.

The Centre for Environmental Rights submitted an updated expert report by Dr. Ranajit Sahu to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries regarding Eskom's Kendal power station. The report identifies 2,851 exceedances of the atmospheric emission licence (AEL) limit for particulate matter between April 2016 and March 2020. The authors express concern over Eskom's reporting practices, alleging that contraventions are improperly coded as 'Grace' or 'Section 30' exceedances to avoid shutdown or service. The letter argues that these findings, along with a report by Dr. Andrew Gray on premature deaths, are relevant to the pending decision on Eskom's objection to a compliance notice.

The report finds that Eskom's Kendal Power Station recorded 2,851 exceedances of its 100 mg/Nm3 particulate matter (PM) limit between April 2016 and March 2020. Exceedances increased significantly in April 2018 and remained high, with January 2020 recording the highest monthly total of 151. The analysis indicates that existing electrostatic precipitators are failing, and the author recommends either shutting down the plant or rapidly retrofitting all six units with fabric filters to meet AEL and World Bank standards.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, sent a letter to the Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries on 12 May 2020, extending the deadline for the government to provide written reasons for amending the Minimum Emission Standards (MES) for sulphur dioxide (SO2) regarding existing solid-fuel combustion installations.

The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) has submitted an urgent request to Minister Lindiwe Sisulu for the provision of water tanks, tankers, and sanitation packs for communities across several South African provinces. The document details systemic failures in water infrastructure, including dry taps, unreliable water trucking, and a lack of soap and sanitation services, which are exacerbated by COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. SAWC specifically criticizes the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation's hotline as non-functional and inaccessible to rural populations, and calls for weekly public updates from the National Disaster Water Command Centre.

The Centre for Environmental Rights submitted two expert reports to the South African government detailing severe particulate matter (PM) limit exceedances and associated health impacts at Eskom's Kendal power station. Dr. Ron Sahu's analysis found 2,712 PM exceedances between April 2016 and March 2020, noting that electrostatic precipitators are failing. Dr. Andrew Gray's report estimates that emissions caused between 61 and 144 premature deaths annually between 2018 and 2019 and severely exceeded WHO air quality guidelines for SO2, PM2.5, and NOx in the Highveld Priority Area, particularly affecting sensitive receptors like primary schools.

The report finds that Kendal Power Station had 2,712 PM exceedances between April 2016 and March 2020, with frequencies increasing threefold starting in April 2018. The author concludes that electrostatic precipitators are failing and recommends either shutting down the plant or retrofitting it with fabric filters to meet AEL and World Bank standards.

The South African Water Caucus (SAWC) has formally requested that the Department of Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation and the National Disaster Water Command Centre urgently provide water tanks, tankers, and sanitation packs to numerous communities across South Africa. The request emphasizes that lack of clean water and soap increases the risk of contracting COVID-19, violating constitutional rights to an environment not harmful to health. The SAWC identifies specific failures in several provinces, including unreliable water trucking, unaffordable private water costs, and police harassment of women collecting water. The document calls for weekly public updates on the National Disaster Water Command Centre's activities and a dedicated contact person for updating the list of affected communities.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), writing on behalf of the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted comments to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) regarding a draft ministerial determination to procure 2,000 MW of new generation capacity. The CER argues that this procurement must prioritize clean, affordable, and renewable energy sources over fossil fuels to align with constitutional obligations and public interest, while criticizing the lack of transparency regarding Request for Information (RFI) responses and the inadequacy of the public consultation process.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has petitioned Minister Lindiwe Sisulu to urgently provide water tanks and tankers to communities in eMalahleni, including Extension 11, Empumelelweni, Extension 14, and Coronation. These areas have lacked reliable water supply since September 2019, forcing residents to rely on contaminated streams polluted by coal mines and industry. The CER argues that this lack of water violates constitutional rights and severely hinders COVID-19 prevention efforts, as residents cannot perform essential handwashing. The letter calls for immediate government intervention to provide both emergency relief and sustainable long-term water access.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for groundWork and Earthlife Africa NPC, has formally requested written reasons from the South African Minister of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries regarding an amendment to the Minimum Emission Standards (MES). The amendment, published on 27 March 2020, doubles the permissible sulphur dioxide (SO2) limit for existing solid-fuel combustion installations, which the authors argue is unconstitutional and unlawful.

The Centre for Environmental Rights, acting for the Life After Coal Campaign, submitted a letter to the IPP Office of the Department of Energy requesting urgent clarification on the status of coal-fired power projects in relation to a draft determination for new generation capacity.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) has written to Minister Gwede Mantashe seeking clarification on two draft determinations for new generation capacity. The CER questions whether the Minister has conducted or intends to conduct public participation as required for administrative actions affecting the public. Additionally, the CER seeks to determine if the proposed 1500 MW coal capacity allocation includes the 900 MW already appointed to 'preferred bidder' projects Thabametsi and Khanyisa, which would leave only 600 MW of new capacity available.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) wrote to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) on 17 February 2020, requesting updates on generation licence applications for the Thabametsi and Khanyisa coal-fired Independent Power Producer (IPP) power stations. The CER highlights significant delays since the March 2018 hearings and argues that the applications are now based on outdated information due to legal challenges, lapsed authorisations, and the withdrawal of bank financing.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted a letter to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy on 31 January 2020, providing comments and proposed amendments to the Draft Amendments to the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Regulations, 2019. The CER criticized the timing of the public comment period, stating it occurred during the festive season, which hindered their ability to engage with clients and partners and compromised the public participation process.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) submitted comments and proposed amendments to the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy regarding the draft Mine Community Resettlement Guidelines, 2019. The CER expressed concern that the public commenting period coincided with the festive season, which they argue compromised the public participation process by hindering engagement with clients and partners.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provides a supplementary table of comments on the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill, 2017 [B14D-2017]. The document details proposed amendments to several South African environmental laws, including the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), the Protected Areas Act (NEMPAA), and the Integrated Coastal Management Act (NEMICMA), offering specific critiques and alternative wording to strengthen environmental protection and enforcement.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) provided comments on the 2019 Draft Amendments to the MPRDA Regulations, advocating for stronger protections for affected communities. Key recommendations include explicitly including civil society in the definition of interested parties, replacing 'consultation' with 'free, prior and informed consent' for customary communities, and improving the transparency and accessibility of public notices. The CER also raised significant objections to proposed changes in the appeals process and the imposition of fees for appeals, citing concerns over administrative justice and access to justice.

A cover letter from the Centre for Environmental Rights to the Department of Mineral Resources submitting a formal request for access to records under the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000, specifically regarding the Tormin SLP 2019.

The Life After Coal campaign, comprising the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER), groundWork, and Earthlife Africa Johannesburg, submitted formal objections on 29 January 2020 to Eskom's applications for alternative emission limits at the Medupi and Matimba power stations. The campaign argues that the applications are procedurally and substantively unlawful, violate the South African Constitution and environmental laws, and rely on a flawed air quality modelling approach in a priority area already suffering from poor air quality.