Environmental Law News South Africa

New Plant Health Act to boost agricultural trade and biosecurity

New Plant Health Act to boost agricultural trade and biosecurity

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Permanent desalination plant for Cape Town - have your say

4 Feb 2025

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A hot and troubled world of work: How South Africa’s bold new climate act and labour law can align to drive a just transition

By Debbie Collier 29 Jan 2025

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Have your say on draft National Elephant Heritage Strategy

29 Jan 2025

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New pollution law to increase protection of oceans

28 Jan 2025

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Rhino poachers handed prison sentences

27 Jan 2025

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Deadline looms for unconventional gas regulations inputs

8 Jan 2025

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Historic climate change advisory: What the case before the International Court of Justice might mean

Zunaida Moosa Wadiwala 27 Dec 2024

#BestofBiz 2024: Legal

#BestofBiz 2024: Legal

17 Dec 2024

African Penguins (photographed above at the Boulders penguin colony) are critically endangered. Photo: John Yeld/GroundUp

Legal delays threaten survival of African Penguins, say conservation groups

John Yeld 12 Dec 2024

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Court ruling a warning shot against illegal fishing

10 Dec 2024

Adam Harrower from the South African National Botanical Institute and Karel du Toit who was head of the SAPS Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit appear in the dock at the regional court in Springbok on Tuesday. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

Plant poaching fraud case to be heard in March

Liezl Human 5 Dec 2024

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Dam owners called to register their dams within 60 days

2 Dec 2024

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ESG trends and how they are impacting the retail sector

Chandni Gopal and Zimkhitha Mhlahlo 29 Nov 2024

Image source: Aleksandr Khakimullin –

Have your say on the draft Biodiversity Management Plan

28 Nov 2024

Image source: Hensley Carrasco from

Harassment of Cape fur seals a criminal offence

25 Nov 2024

Fishers in Port Nolloth are opposing TotalEnergies’ bid to explore for gas and oil off the West Coast. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

Court bid to block TotalEnergies gas project off West Coast

7 Nov 2024

Activists from the Vaal region protested outside the Department of Mineral Resources in Pretoria against Glubay’s proposed mine. Residents are concerned about water, soil and air pollution from the proposed mine. Photos: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp

Opposition to open cast coal mining in Midvaal

Ihsaan Haffejee 29 Oct 2024

Image source: Leo Arslan from

EPR free riders beware - regulator to strengthen enforcement against non-compliance

Garyn Rapson, Paula-Ann Novotny and Michelle Morris 24 Oct 2024

African Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town. Archive photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp

Talks on penguin litigation fail to break deadlock

John Yeld 22 Oct 2024

African Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town. Archive photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp

Former environment minister Creecy under fire from penguin conservation groups

John Yeld 1 Oct 2024

A lion rests at a captive breeding facility for big cats, maintained for tourist entertainment in Brits, North West Province, in South Africa, 26 August 2024. Reuters/Sisipho Skweyiya

South African lion breeders face uncertain future after ban

Sfundo Parakozov and Sisipho Skweyiya 2 Sep 2024

Activists picket outside the High Court in Gqeberha in 2022 against seismic surveys off the Wild Coast. Archive photo: Joseph Chirume / GroundUp

Wild Coast: Constitutional Court says no to Shell appeal bid

Tania Broughton 28 Aug 2024

How to wander responsibly: Sustainable tourism practices and legal compliance in South Africa

How to wander responsibly: Sustainable tourism practices and legal compliance in South Africa

Lize-Mari Doubell and Candice Meyer 23 Aug 2024

African penguins, photographed here in Simon’s Town, could be extinct as soon as 2035, according to BirdLife South Africa and Sanccob (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds). Photo: Dan Callister / GroundUp

Surprise move in litigation over African Penguins

John Yeld 21 Aug 2024

Candice Stevens, founder and CEO of the Sustainable Finance Coalition

#WomensMonth: Candice Stevens - where finance meets passion for conservation

Shan Radcliffe 8 Aug 2024

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SA’s response to climate change outlined in new law

24 Jul 2024

Source: HelloDavidPradoPerucha via

Supreme Court ruling upholds drone fishing ban

18 Jul 2024

Local community members and supporters of Sustaining the Wild Coast and Greenpeace celebrated a court victory outside the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda in September 2022. Archive photo: Lucas Nowicki / GroundUp

Court asked to stop Shell’s seismic tests once and for all

Tania Broughton 2 Jul 2024

Source: Climate Change as a Human Rights Risk: A Resource for Health and Education Rights Activists in South Africa.

New Section27 report: Climate change threatens child health and education

20 Jun 2024

More news

New Plant Health Act to boost agricultural trade and biosecurity

AgricultureNew Plant Health Act to boost agricultural trade and biosecurity

17 Feb 2025

Image: supplied

ESG & SustainabilityPermanent desalination plant for Cape Town - have your say

4 Feb 2025

Image source: Emiliano Arano from

ESG & SustainabilityA hot and troubled world of work: How South Africa’s bold new climate act and labour law can align to drive a just transition

Debbie Collier 29 Jan 2025

Image source: Pixabay from

ESG & SustainabilityHave your say on draft National Elephant Heritage Strategy

29 Jan 2025

Image source:

ESG & SustainabilityNew pollution law to increase protection of oceans

28 Jan 2025

Image source: Nicole Kruger from

LegalRhino poachers handed prison sentences

27 Jan 2025

Image source: suwatpo –

LegalDeadline looms for unconventional gas regulations inputs

8 Jan 2025

Image source: Chayanit Chankhong –

ESG & SustainabilityHistoric climate change advisory: What the case before the International Court of Justice might mean

Zunaida Moosa Wadiwala 27 Dec 2024

#BestofBiz 2024: Legal

Legal#BestofBiz 2024: Legal

17 Dec 2024

African Penguins (photographed above at the Boulders penguin colony) are critically endangered. Photo: John Yeld/GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityLegal delays threaten survival of African Penguins, say conservation groups

John Yeld 12 Dec 2024

Image source: jasoncarr0589 –

LegalCourt ruling a warning shot against illegal fishing

10 Dec 2024

Adam Harrower from the South African National Botanical Institute and Karel du Toit who was head of the SAPS Springbok Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit appear in the dock at the regional court in Springbok on Tuesday. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityPlant poaching fraud case to be heard in March

Liezl Human 5 Dec 2024

Image source: Tarun Hirapara from

LegalDam owners called to register their dams within 60 days

2 Dec 2024

Image source: faithie –

ESG & SustainabilityESG trends and how they are impacting the retail sector

Chandni Gopal and Zimkhitha Mhlahlo 29 Nov 2024

Image source: Aleksandr Khakimullin –

ESG & SustainabilityHave your say on the draft Biodiversity Management Plan

28 Nov 2024

Image source: Hensley Carrasco from

ESG & SustainabilityHarassment of Cape fur seals a criminal offence

25 Nov 2024

Fishers in Port Nolloth are opposing TotalEnergies’ bid to explore for gas and oil off the West Coast. Photo: Ashraf Hendricks/GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityCourt bid to block TotalEnergies gas project off West Coast

7 Nov 2024

Activists from the Vaal region protested outside the Department of Mineral Resources in Pretoria against Glubay’s proposed mine. Residents are concerned about water, soil and air pollution from the proposed mine. Photos: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityOpposition to open cast coal mining in Midvaal

Ihsaan Haffejee 29 Oct 2024

Image source: Leo Arslan from

ESG & SustainabilityEPR free riders beware - regulator to strengthen enforcement against non-compliance

Garyn Rapson, Paula-Ann Novotny and Michelle Morris 24 Oct 2024

African Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town. Archive photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityTalks on penguin litigation fail to break deadlock

John Yeld 22 Oct 2024

African Penguins at Boulders Beach in Cape Town. Archive photo: Ihsaan Haffejee / GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityFormer environment minister Creecy under fire from penguin conservation groups

John Yeld 1 Oct 2024

A lion rests at a captive breeding facility for big cats, maintained for tourist entertainment in Brits, North West Province, in South Africa, 26 August 2024. Reuters/Sisipho Skweyiya

ESG & SustainabilitySouth African lion breeders face uncertain future after ban

Sfundo Parakozov and Sisipho Skweyiya 2 Sep 2024

Activists picket outside the High Court in Gqeberha in 2022 against seismic surveys off the Wild Coast. Archive photo: Joseph Chirume / GroundUp

LegalWild Coast: Constitutional Court says no to Shell appeal bid

Tania Broughton 28 Aug 2024

How to wander responsibly: Sustainable tourism practices and legal compliance in South Africa

Tourism & TravelHow to wander responsibly: Sustainable tourism practices and legal compliance in South Africa

Lize-Mari Doubell and Candice Meyer 23 Aug 2024

African penguins, photographed here in Simon’s Town, could be extinct as soon as 2035, according to BirdLife South Africa and Sanccob (Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds). Photo: Dan Callister / GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilitySurprise move in litigation over African Penguins

John Yeld 21 Aug 2024

Candice Stevens, founder and CEO of the Sustainable Finance Coalition

ESG & Sustainability#WomensMonth: Candice Stevens - where finance meets passion for conservation

Shan Radcliffe 8 Aug 2024

Image source: nexusplexus –

ESG & SustainabilitySA’s response to climate change outlined in new law

24 Jul 2024

Source: HelloDavidPradoPerucha via

AgricultureSupreme Court ruling upholds drone fishing ban

18 Jul 2024

Local community members and supporters of Sustaining the Wild Coast and Greenpeace celebrated a court victory outside the Eastern Cape High Court in Makhanda in September 2022. Archive photo: Lucas Nowicki / GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityCourt asked to stop Shell’s seismic tests once and for all

Tania Broughton 2 Jul 2024

Source: Climate Change as a Human Rights Risk: A Resource for Health and Education Rights Activists in South Africa.

HealthcareNew Section27 report: Climate change threatens child health and education

20 Jun 2024

Image source: Nicole Kruger from

ESG & SustainabilityPublic comment sought on rhino management plan

20 Jun 2024

LegalSouth African appeal court suspends order halting Shell drilling

Wendell Roelf 3 Jun 2024

Image source: Chayanit Chankhong –

ESG & SustainabilitySectoral emission targets: What it means for business

Garyn Rapson, Nonhlanhla Mnengi, Sabeeha Loonat & Sinalo Matubatuba 13 May 2024

Mabola Protected Area in the Mpumalanga grasslands is under threat of coal mining. Archive photo: supplied

ESG & SustainabilityProposed coal mine in Mpumalanga grasslands back in court

John Yeld 2 May 2024

The Western Cape High Court has dismissed an attempt by Noordhoek environmentalists to set aside approval for a road link in an area where the endangered Western Leopard Toad breeds. Archive photo: John Yeld / GroundUp

ESG & SustainabilityJudge rules for 'road' in legal clash with 'toads'

John Yeld 24 Apr 2024

Claimants in the Kabwe lead poisoning case will be escalating the ongoing dispute with Anglo American to the SCA

Energy & MiningClaimant lawyers accuse Anglo of ‘shocking indifference’ to Kabwe case

Lindsey Schutters 23 Apr 2024

Source: Aleksandar Pasaric/Pexels

Energy & MiningAnglo maintains innocence as Kabwe claimants given leave to appeal

Lindsey Schutters 22 Apr 2024

SA takes WTO action against EU's citrus regulations

AgricultureSA takes WTO action against EU's citrus regulations

16 Apr 2024

The Alexkor coffer-dam wall between two dams at high tide. Photos from a Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment report titled: “Enforcement: In Loco Inspection Report – The salt/tidal flats of the Orange River Mouth Ramsar site”, published 28 January 2020.

ESG & SustainabilityAlexkor vs Creecy in environment court battle

John Yeld 12 Apr 2024

Image source: Yogendra Singh from

ESG & SustainabilityMunicipality fined R150m for contravening water and environmental laws

10 Apr 2024