If you need access to records on environmental management and governance held by authorities and private companies and plan to use the Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 (PAIA) to submit a request for access to information, the CER has just published a first version Quick Guide on Using PAIA to Access Information on… continued
23 June 2011 Honourable Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP); Honourable Deputy Minister, Mme Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP; Honourable Chairperson of the Select Committee Honourable Members of the Select Committee; Honourable Members of Parliament; Distinguished Chairpersons and Chief Executives of Public Entities; Distinguished guests; Ladies and gentlemen; It is a great honour for me… continued
Earlier today, Judge Stanley Sapire of the North Gauteng High Court denied an application by developer Wraypex for leave to appeal his judgement in favour of members of the Rhenosterspruit Nature Conservancy. The defamation lawsuit brought by Wraypex for R170 million was decided in favour of the defendants in December 2010. On 9 February 2011,… continued
The Department of Environmental Affairs has just published Draft National Dust Control Regulations under s.32 of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 for public comment. Amongst other things, these Draft Regulations propose creating a new prohibition on specified levels of dust pollution, and a new criminal offence for non-compliance with this prohibition. It… continued
1 June 2011 (Statements affecting environmental regulation of mining have been underlined by the CER) “Honourable Chairperson, Members of Parliament, Ladies and gentlemen, I am honoured to present this budget right on the very first day of the landmark month of June when we remember the sacrifices and the gallantry of the June 1976 generation… continued
In June 2011, in partnership with WESSA (the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa), the Centre for Environmental Rights is rolling out a series of environmental rights workshops for community-based organisations in the Karoo around the proposals to use fracking to extract natural gas in the Karoo. The workshops, which will cover some 20… continued
In June 2011, in partnership with WESSA, the Centre for Environmental Rights is rolling out a series of environmental rights workshops for community-based organisations in the Karoo around the proposals to use fracking to extract natural gas in the Karoo. The workshops, which will cover some 20 towns from Calvinia to Cradock, and include about… continued
The Centre hereby calls for applications by suitably qualified and experienced candidates to take up a one-year contract as Legal Secretary and Office Administrator at the Centre. We are looking for an enthusiastic, energetic and skilled person who cares about environmental justice and environmental rights to join our small team. Qualifications, skills and experience A… continued
Today Cabinet announced its endorsement of the decision by the Department of Minerals to invoke a moratorium on fracking in the Karoo. The Centre for Environmental Rights welcomes the decision by Cabinet to “fully research the full implications of the proposed fracking”, as well as Cabinet’s statement that the environment will not be compromised. We… continued
Budget Vote Speech by the Honourable Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, MP Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries 19 Apr 2011 Honourable Speaker Honourable Deputy Minister Honourable members Good morning to you all and thank you for attending this debate! In discussing the outlook of the global economy, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Spring meetings… continued
Budget Vote speech for the Department of Environmental Affairs by the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa, in the National Assembly, Parliament 20 Apr 2011 Honourable Chairperson of this session; Honourable Deputy Minister, Rejoice Mabudafhasi, MP; Honourable Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Advocate Johnny de Lange, MP; Honourable Members of the Portfolio… continued
Budget Vote speech delivered by the Honourable Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Minister Edna Molewa, Parliament National Assembly 14 April 2011 Honourable Chairperson of the session Honourable chairperson of the Portfolio Committee Honourable members of Parliament Chairpersons of boards and CEO’s of entities Distinguished guests Ladies and gentlemen: Introduction We present our Budget Vote… continued
In a landmark case, the Pretoria Regional Court has found Stefan Frylinck, an environmental consultant representing Mpofu Environmental Solutions CC, guilty of providing incorrect or misleading information to the Department of Environmental Affairs in a basic environmental impact assessment. Frylinck was acquitted of the charge of fraud. The charges against Frylinck and Mpofu originated from… continued
The Centre for Environmental Rights welcomes the launch of the Environmental Assessment Practitioners’ Association of South Africa (EAPASA) earlier today. The establishment of this Association is a long-awaited and necessary step towards improving the quality of environmental assessment in South Africa. We particularly welcome the ongoing development towards introduction of a mechanism for the environmental… continued
6 April 2011 The Centre for Environmental Rights has today, on behalf of 13 civil society organisations, made a detailed submission to the Minister of Mineral Resources on the review and proposed amendment of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002. They have called on the Minister to bring environmental regulations for mines in… continued
5 April 2011 Request for extension of timeframes The Centre for Environmental Rights has today written to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa to request an extension of timeframes in the Shell South Western Karoo Basin Shale Gas Exploration Right Application. “This application is surely the biggest application in the history of the Mineral and… continued
The Environmental Defence Fund hereby calls for applications for funding of legal costs to be incurred in environmental public interest litigation in South African courts. The deadline for applications is 19 April 2011. You can find more information about this call here.
The Chamber of Mines has responded to 13 civil society organisations’ request to the Minister of Mineral Resources to exercise her discretion under s.49 of the MPRDA to prohibit and restrict mining and prospecting in environmentally sensitive and valuable areas. The Centre for Environmental Rights replied to the Chamber of Mines on 28 March 2011…. continued
In April and May 2011, the Centre for Environmental Rights will run a pilot Environmental Rights Clinic, providing free environmental legal advice to communities, community organisations and non-government organisations that are not in a position to afford private legal advice. The Centre for Environmental Rights was established to provide legal and related support to communities,… continued
On 13 April 2011, the Centre for Environmental Rights and the Environmental Defence Fund will hold their first Annual General Meeting with its founding members. We would like to use this opportunity to give feedback to all our partners, clients and funders on what has been achieved over the past year in both the Centre… continued