The Department of Mineral Resources’ Strategic Plan for 2010/11 – 2012/13 sets out the Department’s business plan, its vision and mission, and its service delivery improvement plans. A copy of the Strategic Plan can be found here.
In early December 2012, we posted a list of all documents – mostly draft legislation – out for public comment over the festive season. Since then, a additional documents have been gazetted, most notably the long-awaited Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Bill published for comment on 28 December 2012. See below the latest list… continued
The Centre is always looking for high quality photographs to illustrate our work – in our publications, our website and communication through Facebook and Twitter. We obviously do not have pots of money to buy stock photographs, so in addition to the photos taken by our own staff, we call on all our photographically talented… continued
Before we close the Centre’s doors for 2012, we’d like to give you a quick roundup of events at the Centre for Environmental Rights in 2012, and give you a glimpse of what 2013 will look like for the advancement of environmental rights. Our access to information work has ramped up and expanded during the… continued
The Centre hereby calls for applications by suitably qualified and experienced candidates to take up a one-year contract as Project Officer for our key Access to Information project. Qualifications, skills and experience An LLB or equivalent qualification in law An tertiary degree in public law (preferably an LLM in environmental law) Experience in the use… continued
While today’s judgement of Exxaro v Minister of Water Affairs and the JSC by the North Gauteng High Court makes important points about the Water Tribunal and the Minister’s failure to comply with her duties under the National Water Act, the court also inexplicably gave assistance to a mining company that has both ample resources… continued
Every year, government departments publish documents for public comments during December or early January. This practice obviously does not promote participatory environmental governance. Some of these documents are not even on the departments’ own websites. Below is a chronological list of those documents out for public comment of which we are aware – please let… continued
On 28 November 2012, the Johannesburg Securities Exchange announced its Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index Constituents and Best Performers for 2012 (see here). This year’s best performer list includes, amongst others, ArcelorMittal South Africa, a company that has featured repeatedly in the list of companies facing criminal investigations into alleged contraventions of environmental laws in… continued
National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2009-10 published by the Environmental Management Inspectorate in the Department of Environmental Affairs. Available in PDF here.
National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2010-11 published by the Environmental Management Inspectorate in the Department of Environmental Affairs. Available in PDF here.
National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report 2011-12 published by the Environmental Management Inspectorate in the Department of Environmental Affairs in November 2012. Available in PDF here. Media coverage: The Untouchables, Times Live, 23 November 2012 Green report fingers Eskom, Mining Weekly, 22 November 2012 Eskom’s shocking environmental record revealed, The Star, 23 November 2012
The Minister of Environmental Affairs today released the National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report for 2011-2. Key results for the year ending 31 March 2012 include: • a 30% increase in the total number of EMIs on the national register, to a total of 1399. • a 9.5% increase in the number of criminal dockets… continued
The Centre for Environmental Rights has been honoured with the South African Human Rights Commission’s Golden Key Award for Best User of the Promotion of Access to Information Act for 2012. The Golden Key Awards are aimed at rewarding best practice, stimulating competition, recognising best performing Deputy Information Officers and also acknowledging the work of… continued
On Friday, 7 December 2012 the Centre for Environmental Rights will have its last Environmental Rights Clinic for the year – all our attorneys available for the day, for free, to those who qualify. In accordance with Law Society requirements, and as read with our Case Selection Criteria, the person or organisation requesting advice must… continued
The Centre hereby calls for applications by suitably qualified and experienced candidates to take up a two-year contract as Attorney, specialising in environmental law with a particular focus on the regulation of industrial and mining activities and their impacts on water resources. The position is based at the Centre’s offices in Observatory, Cape Town. Qualifications,… continued
The Centre for Environmental Rights welcomes the WWF-SA’s report Financial Provisions for Rehabilitation and Closure in South African Mining, launched earlier today, and support the recommendations of this report. The report highlights the fact that assessment and calculation of financial provision for the ongoing financial liability for environmental rehabilitation during and after mining, as well… continued
In anticipation of the Minister of Mineral Resources’ decision on exploration licences for shale gas fracking in the Karoo basin, the Centre for Environmental Rights calls for accountable and transparent decision-making that takes into account the environmental and other rights of all South Africans, including, in particular, disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in the Karoo…. continued
On 18 July 2012, the Centre for Environmental Rights and the Legal Resources Centre submitted joint comments on the National Environmental Management Law Amendment Bill, 2012 [B13-2012] currently before Parliament. You can read these detailed comments here. Download the Bill and all the previous documents related to this proposed amendment here.
http://youtu.be/V3-dSzxBQHk Watch a short film clip in which CER Staff Attorney Dina Townsend talks about the findings and recommendations of the Centre’s report Unlock the doors: How greater transparency by public and private bodies can improve the realisation of environmental rights, published in April 2012. Read more about the Unlock The Doors report here.
The Centre hereby calls for applications by suitably qualified and experienced candidates to take up a contract as Administrator. To join our small team of environmental lawyers, we are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic person with excellent people skills and superb administrative and organisation skills, and who gets satisfaction from detail, order and efficiency. This… continued