Following the questionable attempt at online public consultation regarding the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone (MMSEZ) last week, Earthlife Africa Johannesburg says it is more determined than ever to ensure that communities affected by large projects around the country know and exercise their environmental rights, as stipulated in the National Environmental Management Act … [Read more...]
Limpopo communities demand action on air pollution
This morning, in a peaceful demonstration – that started at the crack of dawn at the Medupi, Matimba and Exxaro crossing – Earthlife Africa Johannesburg joined local community activists in Lephalale in Limpopo Province, to demand that the World Bank forfeits its loan to Eskom’s Medupi coal-fired power station for failing to install pollution-abatement technologies to help ease … [Read more...]
Major climate impacts destroy another coal power plant
Major climate impacts and exorbitant costs have sounded the death knell for one of the last new proposed coal-fired power stations in South Africa: Thabametsi in water-scarce Limpopo. Last week, environmental justice groups Earthlife Africa and groundWork, who have been challenging the Thabametsi power station in court since 2016, secured agreement from both Thabametsi and … [Read more...]
Getting the youth ready to face environmental challenges
Delta Environmental Centre (DEC) trained 37 trainers in April after it was appointed one of the training service providers for the Mass Training programme (DMT) of the department of environmental affairs which is part of the department’s Environmental Protection and Infrastructure Programmes (EPIP). DEC will be responsible for Project Management and Training implementation … [Read more...]
Conservation Canine Annie’s ‘marathon’ shift takes out three poachers
The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Conservation Canine, Annie, and her handler, Colin, have struck again, with their efforts leading to the arrest of three suspected rhino poachers in Balule Private Nature Reserve, Limpopo. In what may be one of the most exciting anti-poaching follow-ups of the year, Annie and Colin tracked through the night to secure this victory for … [Read more...]
National Zoological Gardens launches recycling pilot project
South Africa’s largest zoo, the National Zoological Garden of South Africa (NZG), on Wednesday launched a recycling pilot project aimed at job creation and addressing the massive litter problem which its thousands of annual visitors leave in their wake. Should the programme prove successful, it could also be rolled out at the Mokopane Biodiversity Centre in Limpopo. The … [Read more...]
New report finds inadequate protection for SA wildlife
In a joint report published today, the Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) set out findings of a review of the regulation of the welfare of wild animals in South Africa. The report, entitled Fair Game? Improving the Regulation of the Well-being of South African Wildlife finds that there are major gaps in both legislation and the … [Read more...]
Spring heat wave hits South Africa
Southern hemisphere heat waves are back and the northeastern provinces are frying. The South African Weather Service has issued a heat wave warning for the northeastern provinces of Gauteng (which includes Johannesburg and Pretoria), Mpumalanga and Limpopo, which contains the Kruger National Park. Weather forecaster, Vanepia Phakula, said the warning continued through to … [Read more...]
A different type of grid is needed to solve SA’s energy challenge
South Africa would get a much better return on its energy investments if it planned a smarter and more flexible electricity grid, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) researcher Steve Hedden said on Tuesday. A better grid would also boost the contribution of wind and solar energy. Government’s response to power shortages and load-shedding has been a thrust towards more power … [Read more...]
Dutch grant helps combat rhino poaching
Since February this year, when the Dutch Postcode Lottery in Holland announced that Peace Parks Foundation was the primary beneficiary of a €14.4 million grant from its Dream Fund, the team behind the Foundation’s Rhino Protection Programme has made notable progress in combatting wildlife crime and protecting the endangered rhinoceros from criminal exploitation. The lottery … [Read more...]
E’s voice: Dare to win the climate struggle
“We are going to win this struggle. Whenever a struggle is involved in a choice between what is right and what is wrong, the outcome is inevitable.” With these words former vice-president Al Gore introduced day 2 of the Climate Leadership Corps training, which I was lucky enough to attend. “It’s all about resolving the clarity of the choice. A choice between life and … [Read more...]
SA water challenge Part 2: Conflicts over water interests
The challenges with water as our life giving and most threatened resource, especially in Africa, continues to be one of our core focus areas of this year. In our last issue Green Times student Allen Tshautshau examined the scope of this crucial issue. In this article he analyses the conflicts arising from competition for water. The current water scarcity has induced … [Read more...]
Aid underway for hailstorm victims
Humanitarian organisation Gift of the Givers has set aside R2 million for flood victims in Gauteng, Limpopo and Kimberley. The organisation, along with insurance companies, is responding to the havoc caused by the hail storm in the week. Hundreds of people were left stranded after their homes were destroyed by the storm. The South African Weather Bureau has also warned of … [Read more...]
