Search Climate Insights Directory

This briefing by Good Governance Africa discusses the passing of South Africa's Climate Change Act in July 2024, noting the country's warming trend and the necessity of effective implementation to achieve climate resilience and a just energy transition.

The document examines the 2024 Climate Change Act in South Africa, highlighting the critical role of local governments as front-end responders to climate impacts. It identifies significant barriers to implementation, including poor financial management, administrative capacity constraints, and a disconnect between political governance and the economy. To address these, the author recommends professionalising the public service through the Public Service Commission and strengthening the use of the Local Government Climate Change Support Programme to ensure municipalities can meet their legal mandate of submitting climate response assessments every five years.

The document examines Zambia's water security challenges, noting that despite abundant freshwater resources, the country faces crises driven by climate change, population growth, and poor governance. It highlights the severe impact of contaminated water on public health, the vulnerability of rain-fed agriculture to droughts, and environmental degradation caused by mining pollution and deforestation. The brief argues that current legal frameworks, such as the Water Act 198, are insufficient, particularly regarding groundwater and shared watercourses. Key recommendations include establishing a National Water Resources Authority, investing in irrigation and infrastructure maintenance, and addressing gender inequalities in water access.

The author contends that South Africa's increasing number of hung councils has led to political instability that impairs municipal service delivery and administrative function. While supporting the Local Government: Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, 2024—particularly the requirement for public coalition agreements—the author identifies contradictions regarding the timeline for establishing collective executive systems and suggests further limits on votes of no confidence, such as annual thresholds and the adoption of a "constructive vote of no confidence" to ensure long-term stability.

The report finds that South Africa's mining sector is in a state of economic decline, with its share of real GDP falling from 11.1% in 1993 to 4.8% in 2023. It argues that the MPRDA has failed to facilitate growth or efficient regulation, contributing to a 'dried up' project pipeline and a global exploration expenditure share that has stagnated below 1% since 2020. Key constraints include institutional capacity gaps at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE), infrastructure failures in electricity and logistics, and a profound trust deficit between government, industry, and host communities. The report recommends urgent amendments to the MPRDA to address regulatory uncertainties, the formalisation of artisanal and small-scale mining, and the adoption of a new, multi-stakeholder vision for the industry to restore investor confidence.

The document challenges the South African government's promotion of trophy hunting as a conservation tool, asserting that the economic value of the practice is inflated and its ecological costs are too high. It argues that the 'sustainable use' philosophy creates unrealistic revenue expectations and promotes unsustainable practices. The author recommends transitioning to non-consumptive alternatives, such as ecotourism and conservation-enhancing agriculture, to better support local communities and ecological sustainability, aligning with the constitutional duty to protect the environment for future generations.

South Africa faces a projected 17% gap between water supply and demand by 2030, driven by climate change, population growth, and poor governance. The country's water infrastructure is at significant risk of failure due to reactive maintenance and maladministration, with 41% of municipal water classified as non-revenue water. Governance failures have led to critical risks in wastewater treatment and public health crises, such as the 2023 cholera outbreak in Hammanskraal. The document recommends implementing water conservation measures, developing climate adaptation plans, enhancing governance legislation, and prioritizing infrastructure investment in rural areas.

The 2024 Governance Performance Index (GPI) by Good Governance Africa evaluates 257 South African municipalities across categories including service delivery, administration, leadership, and planning. The report highlights a strong performance dominance by the Western Cape, significant disparities in service access between areas with and without a history of homeland or traditional authority governance, and the varying impact of hung councils on municipal effectiveness.

The report evaluates South Africa's REIPPPP, noting its success in attracting over R300 billion in infrastructure investment and selecting over 120 preferred bidders. However, it identifies critical bottlenecks, including limited grid capacity and high transaction costs for bidders. The author argues that maximizing the programme's potential requires improving programme design, enhancing transmission infrastructure, and developing local financial solutions to prevent global funds from crowding out domestic investors. The report also highlights the role of government tax incentives, such as Section 12B of the Income Tax Act, and the importance of integrating battery energy storage systems (BESS) and gas-to-power to stabilize the energy mix and reduce reliance on coal.

The REIPPPP has successfully added 6,308.68 MW of renewable electricity to South Africa's grid and supported local industry, but it has been hindered by policy uncertainty, grid capacity bottlenecks, and a six-year gap between Bid Windows 4 and 5. The document argues that for the programme to reach the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 goals for solar PV and wind by 2030, South Africa must unbundle Eskom, establish an Independent Systems Market Operator (ISMO), and optimise transmission infrastructure. It recommends streamlining bid windows, enhancing regulatory transparency, and leveraging the South African Renewable Energy Masterplan (SAREM) to promote strategic localisation and job creation.

The document analyzes Eswatini's current state, highlighting low governance scores in voice and accountability, the historical impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on life expectancy, a high economic dependency on South Africa, and a growing public desire for democratic reform among its predominantly young population.

The report examines oil exploration by Shell South Africa off the Wild Coast, highlighting a legal interdict against seismic blasting due to inadequate environmental authorisation under NEMA and poor community consultation. It identifies legislative discrepancies between the MPRDA and NEMA and calls for strengthened governance, transparency, and better alignment of regulatory frameworks to manage natural resources.

The statement evaluates the complex legacy of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, noting his contradictory approach during Apartheid—advocating for political prisoners while opposing sanctions and governing within the Bantustan system. It highlights his role in the violence of the early 1990s in KwaZulu-Natal and his efforts to secure autonomy for the Zulu Kingdom, which resulted in lasting constitutional privileges for tribal authorities and the unique status of the Ingonyama Trust. Conversely, the text praises his post-1994 conduct as a dedicated Minister of Home Affairs, his commitment to the Government of National Unity, his criticism of the Mbeki administration's HIV/AIDS policies, and his lifelong dedication to public service and parliamentary accountability.

The report examines the legal and social conflicts surrounding Shell South Africa's attempt to conduct seismic surveys off the Wild Coast. It identifies critical gaps between the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) and the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), arguing that the 'One Environmental System' created regulatory obscurity. Fieldwork reveals that Shell's consultation process was inadequate, relying on a top-down approach via traditional leaders while excluding fishing communities and ignoring indigenous customs. The document also highlights potential conflicts of interest between the ruling ANC party, its investment arm Thebe Investment Corporation, and Shell, noting that the Makhanda High Court ultimately ruled the exploration right unlawful due to a lack of meaningful consultation.

Zambia is seeking approximately $8 billion in debt relief under the G20 Common Framework to address a public debt estimated at nearly $34 billion by the end of 2021. The process has been slowed by disagreements among the Official Creditors Committee, including tensions between China and the United States, and the reluctance of private-sector creditors. To mitigate the impact of austerity measures required by IMF and World Bank programs, the document recommends protecting the poor and unemployed from the removal of electricity, fuel, and agricultural subsidies. The briefing argues that debt restructuring should be linked to the global energy transition by securing investment in copper and other critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and nickel. Additionally, it proposes 'debt for nature swaps' to fund mine rehabilitation, climate-smart agriculture, and ecosystem preservation.

The document argues that South Africa is transitioning from a dominant-party system to one characterized by coalition governments, particularly at the local level where the number of hung councils rose from under 30 to approximately 80 after the 2021 elections. It highlights a decline in democratic satisfaction and trust in parliament between 2011 and 2021. To address this, the author recommends comprehensive electoral reform for the seventh parliament (post-2024), specifically adopting a hybrid system where half of parliamentary and provincial seats are directly elected via single-member constituencies and half via proportional representation. Additionally, it calls for the publication of coalition agreements, the professionalization of the civil service to prevent patronage, and the establishment of an independent body to manage constituency boundaries to prevent manipulation by large parties.

The author contends that while South Africa requires urgent energy stabilization, the proposed Karpowership deal is an exorbitant and risky option. The text highlights the need for grid reconfiguration to support renewable energy and suggests that short-term gas needs could be more cost-effectively met via Mozambique rather than a 20-year contract with a company accused of circumventing environmental regulations.

Good Governance Africa provides a critical reflection on the 2023 State of the Nation Address, praising investments in transportation and data costs but expressing concern over the energy crisis and local government failure. The organization highlights the severe economic impact of load shedding and criticizes the lack of a clear timeframe for the declared energy state of disaster. It further notes the absence of updates on the district development model and calls for a regulatory framework to manage municipal coalitions to reduce political instability.

The report examines the early exploration phase of the Cabora Bassa Project (Special Grant Permit 4571) in Zimbabwe, highlighting significant gaps in transparency and community engagement. While the project has identified substantial potential liquid natural gas reserves, the authors find a lack of meaningful consultation with local populations in the Muzarabani and Mbire districts, creating an information asymmetry between investors and residents. The document warns of potential risks including securitization, human rights abuses, and environmental degradation in a region already highly vulnerable to climate-induced flooding and drought. It recommends making production and exploration agreements public, conducting an independent review of the Environmental Impact Assessment, and implementing an equity-based benefit-sharing model for local communities.

The statement addresses the killing of Thulani Maseko, a prominent advocate for democratic reform in Eswatini, and the broader context of state violence and political repression under the absolute monarchy of King Mswati III.