Abstracts for Open Democracy Papers Full Text available in Word and PDF format: 1. The Usage of the Promotion of Access to information Act Experiences: Achievements and Challenges by Alison Tilley 2. Access to information as a tool in combating corruption in South Africa’s public sector. by Jay Kruuse 3. Ten Years of Access to… continued
The Centre for Environmental Rights hereby calls for applications by suitably qualified and experienced candidates to take up a six-month contract as staff attorney at the Centre. Closing date: 27 September 2010. The Centre for Environmental Rights strives to reflect South Africa’s racial, cultural and gender diversity within its staff complement. All suitably qualified candidates… continued
Abandoned mines pose a threat to surrounding communities as rising toxic acid mine water becomes heavily pollutant. Business Day, 2 September 2010 CAPE TOWN — It could take SA about 2900 years to fully rehabilitate all 5 906 derelict and abandoned mines if the Department of Mineral Resources continues at its present pace, MPs were… continued
Today, the Western Cape High Court granted an order in favour of the City of Cape Town to stop a company, who had been given a mining licence by the Department of Mineral Resources, from mining until permission has been granted under the Western Cape Land Use Planning Ordinance, 1985 for the land to be… continued
SAPA – Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Buyelwa Sonjica has been mandated to urgently convene a special task team to investigate acid mine water drainage in some provinces. Government spokesman Themba Maseko said yesterday the task team would develop a clear, co-ordinated strategy to deal with the matter. The cabinet was concerned about reports of… continued
Information on status of licensing applications to be available on DMR website from 1 Sept Prospecting rights will now be issued by Head Office, and no longer by Regional Offices List of amendments to MPRDA to be submitted to Parliament SAPA — There will be a six-month moratorium on new prospecting applications while a full… continued
2010-DA Morgan-Q387-Hammarrsdale sludge reports 2010-DA Lovemore-Q804-are all tyre manufacturers correctly registered 2010-DA Lovemore-Q512-designated waste management official in DEA 2010-DA Lovemore-Q355-ewaste as hazardous waste 2010-DA Lovemore-Q246-backlog of waste license applications 2009-DA Lovemore-Q176-oral-registration of previously unregistered users that discharge waste 2010_DA Ellis_Q2285-Jackeroo Park Emalahleni mine or toxic water and enforcement action 2010_DA_Davidson_Q2485_Programmes for litter awareness 2010_DA_Davidson_Q2765_Status of… continued
2009-DA Lovemore-Q2151-assistance to farmers to remove alien vegetation 2010-DA Ellis-Q538-impact of 4 star establishment in Kruger 2010-DA Ellis-Q253-energy inititatives in the Kruger Park 2010-DA Mazibuko-Q417-EIA for Syngenta 2010-DA Mazibuko-Q128-rhino farming 2010-DA Morgan-Q825-rhino poaching figures for 2009 and first quarter of 2010 2010-DA Morgan-Q589-tender process for 4 star hotel in Kruger 2010-DA Morgan-Q123-lion bone exports 2010-DA… continued
2010-DA Morgan-Q257-role of Anix consulting 2010-DA Morgan-Q256-methodolog for fishing increases 2010-DA Morgan-Q255-abalone trust details 2010-DA Ellis-Q258-details on the reopening of the abalone fishery 2010-DA Ellis-Q125-monies raised from fishing permits 2010-DA Bosman-Q550-BBWW following carte blanche 2010_DA_Ellis_Q2282-permits for boat based whale watching
2009-DA Lovemore-Q1083-muncipalitties that wont meet air quality requirements by 2014 2009-DA Lovemore-Q1024–air quality officers in each province 2009-DA Ellis-Q1525-delay in commencement of air quality act 2009-ID-1667-Renewable Energy Targets 2009_Krumbock-Q498-emissions_in_st_Helena_Bay 2009_Krumbock_Q773 epidemological study in emissions at St Helena Bay 2010-DA Morgan-Q1601-regulations for emissions from vehicles 2010-DA Morgan-Q385-details of climate change communication UNFCCC 2010-DA Morgan-1280-status of air… continued
2009-DA Morgan-Q2156-Vuna mine and status of water licence 2009-DA Morgan-Q1797-environmental protection officers in Dept of Minerals 2009-DA Morgan-Q60-mines operating with water licences 2009-DA Morgan-Q1528-names of mines without water licences 2010-DA Morgan-Q2086-further action against Grootvlei mine 2010-DA Morgan-Q744-whether the Minister has met the minister of minerals 2010-DA Morgan-Q590-min of mining responds on MPRDA commencement hold ups… continued
2011 – DA(EC) Van Lingen – Q657 – The number of (i) pre-notices, (ii) notices, (iii) directives and (iv) criminal charges have been issued by the DWAE for the alleged transgressions of the NWA. 2011-DA SV Kalyan-Q43-Valid Water Use Licences for Mining 2011 – DA Kalyan – Q1058 – Whether the DWA has charged the… continued
A legal battle is raging around protection of the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape and its surrounding area. You can find details of the legal and statutory proceedings instituted by civil society and government department, including copies of key legal documents, on our website under Hot Topics.
On 3 August 2010, the launch of the Centre for Environmental Rights and the Environmental Defence Fund was celebrated at a small function in Observatory, Cape Town. Listen here to the speeches made by the chair of the Board of the Centre for Environmental Rights, Terry Winstanley; the chair of the Board of the Environmental… continued
The Department of Environmental Affairs has gazetted the Draft National Waste Management Strategy for public comment. Comments are due on 10 August 2010, and can be sent to Thandeka Mandigora on [email protected]. The Draft Strategy is a comprehensive roadmap for the implementation of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008. Once published, the strategy will… continued
On 18 June 2010, the Minister published new Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, three Listing Notices and Environmental Framework Regulations, to come into effect on 2 August 2010. The Department has also published Draft Implementation Guidelines that accompany the regulations (R.603 GG33308) for public comment within 30 days after 18 June 2010. We are still trying to get… continued
The Environmental Defence Fund was registered as a s.21 company in April 2010, and was established primarily to fund the work of the Centre for Environmental Rights. In addition to its support of the Centre for Environmental Rights, the EDF Board has resolved to launch a bequest programme to facilitate the inclusion of bequests of… continued
On 18 June 2010, the Constitutional Court delivered judgment in an application by the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (the City) for the confirmation of an order made by the Supreme Court of Appeal, declaring Chapters V and VI of the Development Facilitation Act 67 of 1995 unconstitutional and thus invalid. The Court held that… continued
The Department of Environmental Affairs has gazetted the National Strategy on Sustainable Development (NSSD) and Draft Action Plan for 2010-2014 for public comment. The NSSD covers three main topics: directing the development path towards sustainability, changing values and behaviour, and restructuring the governance system and building capacity. The Draft Action Plan deals with our response… continued
The Pretoria University Law Press (PULP) has just published a Compendium of South African Environmental Legislation, edited by Morne van der Linde and Loretta Feris. An electronic version of this Compendium can be downloaded for free, and a harcopy can be ordered for R240 from the PULP website here.