Legal Articles and Guides
Government urged to act on Vaal River pollution
The SA Human Rights Commission has given various government stakeholders 60 days to respond after it ruled that the continued flow of raw sewage into the Vaal River, as well as homes and public areas in the Emfuleni local municipality, was a violation of human rights, reports News24.
Municipality claims landfill site case is flawed
The Msunduzi Municipality has hit back at the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for bringing a ‘flawed’ High Court case against it over the state of the city’s New England landfill site.
Government's nuclear energy plans raise alarm
Environmental activists have warned that the government’s move to build additional nuclear electricity generation capacity is ‘bad for democracy’, will jeopardise citizens’ health, and create a burden of nuclear waste for future generations.
Cape Town heads to court over baboon matter
The City of Cape Town has announced that it will be opposing a court application to have its decision to relocate Kommetjie baboon Kataza set aside.
Minister upholds appeal against West Coast wind farm
It is back to the drawing board for a giant new wind farm project on the West Coast, following an appeal decision by Environment Minister Barbara Creecy.
Eskom ordered to repair polluting Kendal units
Eskom has been instructed to shut and repair two polluting units at its Kendal power station after years of chronic non-compliance with emissions limits.
Mushroom farmer ordered to stop making compost
Three Western Cape High Court judges have told mushroom farmer Johannes Jacobs he can no longer make his own compost at his De Doorns farm, after a decade of complaints from his neighbours about sinus attacks and nausea because of the smell.
Beach house owners issued with warning notices
Western Cape environmental authorities have issued warning notices to five Elands Bay beach property owners for allegedly illegally building houses and other structures within the protected coastal zone in contravention of the National Environmental Management Act.
Court date for Cape desalination dispute pending
A court date has yet to be set in the legal fight between the City and a desalination plant managing company, Quality Filtration Services (QFS). According to a report on the IoL site, the company is hauling the City to court over a contractual dispute.
Aurora directors finally to get their day in court
The oft-delayed trial of three former Aurora Empowerment Systems directors accused of polluting a key water source, will kick off with a pre-trial hearing on 25 February 2020 in the Springs Regional Court, reports Fin24.
Philippi development judgment reserved
The Western Cape High Court has reserved judgment on whether the authorities followed the correct procedures when moving Cape Town's ‘urban edge’ to allow development in Philippi, where urban farming takes place, notes a News24 report.
Philippi land battle begins today
The legal battle over the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) starts today in the Western Cape High Court. A Cape Argus report notes the PHA Food and Farming Campaign will be arguing for the preservation of a key piece of agricultural land in the city’s jurisdiction that is under threat from proposed developments.
Petroleum firm withdraws KZN fracking bid
AgriSA and Moolman & Pienaar Attorneys – acting for farmers in some of the major exploration applications – have welcomed a victory in the anti-fracking fight after a US-linked petroleum firm withdrew its application to explore for oil and gas on KZN farms.
SCA ruling puts temporary halt to fracking
The SCA ruled yesterday that the Minister of Mineral Resources did not have the power to make regulations for petroleum exploration and production, effectively halting the exploration of shale gas through the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking).
Action threatened against coal mines water pollution
The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is considering legal action to compel the government to hold water-polluting coal miners in Mpumalanga to account.
