South Africa
SOUTH AFRICAN COURT ORDERS ENACTMENT OF AIR POLLUTION REGULATIONS
03/28/2022
Update Volume
52
Update Issue
9

On March 18, a South African court ruled that unsafe levels of air pollution in the Mpumalanga province violate residents’ constitutional rights to “an environment that is not harmful to their health and wellbeing” (Human Rights Watch). The case was brought to the court in 2019 by groundWork and Vukani Environmental Justice Movement in Action.

SOUTH AFRICA INCREASES BLACK RHINO TROPHY HUNTING QUOTA
08/26/2019
Update Volume
49
Update Issue
24

South Africa has received permission from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to nearly double the number of black rhinos that can be killed as trophies. The money raised from selling hunting rights will support conservation funds for the critically endangered species. Since 2003, South Africa has sold hunting rights for five black rhinos a year. The latest decision increases the quota to 0.5% of the population, which translates to nine black rhinos at today’s levels. The move has received support from some African states and opposition from others.

CAPE TOWN SAVED FROM RUNNING OUT OF WATER—FOR NOW
05/07/2018
Update Volume
48
Update Issue
13

Late last year, the South African government announced “Day Zero,” the threshold when dam levels would be so low that they would turn off taps and send Cape Town residents to communal water collection points. While this tactic was deemed risky and “apocalyptic,” it ultimately proved effective. The aggressive campaign galvanized citizens into action. Water use is limited to 50 liters/person/day, and those exceeding the limit were subject to heavy fines or having meters installed that shut off water after the limit is surpassed.

SOUTH AFRICA CONSIDERS CARBON TAX
02/26/2018
Update Volume
48
Update Issue
6

South Africa’s Finance Minister announced plans to implement a carbon tax on businesses and companies with high emissions. The carbon tax is expected to take effect January 2019, allowing businesses almost a year to transition toward lower emissions to comply with the law. Currently, the draft Carbon Tax Bill is being considered by Parliament; if accepted as is, it will tax businesses with excessive emissions a rate of R120 (US $10.35) per ton of carbon dioxide equivalent.

SOUTH AFRICAN ELEPHANT SANCTUARY FINDING NEW WAYS TO PREVENT BREAKOUTS
06/05/2017
Update Volume
47
Update Issue
16

Electric fences have been used to prevent human/elephant confrontation as development encroaches on traditional elephant habitats. But elephants are intelligent and soon discover that their tusks do not conduct electricity, allowing them to escape. Alexander Vipond of the Knysna Elephant Park in South Africa invented a simple device, nicknamed “tusk braces,” to discourage elephants from cutting fence wires. The tusk brace is basically a wire fit onto the length of the top of the tusk that turns the tusk into a conductor.

SOUTH AFRICAN COURT OVERTURNS BAN ON DOMESTIC TRADE IN RHINO HORNS
04/10/2017
Update Volume
47
Update Issue
11

Last week, a constitutional court in South Africa rejected the government’s appeal to retain a ban on domestic trade in rhino horns. Domestic trade is once again legal, though international trade remains illegal under CITES. Commercial rhino breeders have welcomed the decision, saying proceeds from legal trade can help pay for anti-poaching efforts. Conservationists argue otherwise, saying a legal domestic trade will increase illegal poaching and will be used as a cover for smuggling horns to the international market.

SOUTH AFRICA REINSTATES MORATORIUM ON DOMESTIC RHINO HORN TRAD
06/13/2016
Update Volume
46
Update Issue
17

The department of environmental resources in South Africa announced on June 8 that a moratorium on the domestic trade of rhino horns has been reinstated. This means that no new permits will be authorized to trade rhino horns or products until the Constitutional Court makes a decision about the legality of domestic rhino horn trade. The moratorium was prompted by an appeal by the department of environmental conservation to South Africa's top court. In May, the Supreme Court of Appeals rejected the government's bid to uphold a seven-year ban on rhino horn trade.

SOUTH AFRICA WILL NOT SEEK TO LIFT BAN ON RHINO HORN TRADE
04/25/2016
Update Volume
46
Update Issue
12

South Africa said it will not seek to lift the global ban on rhino horn trading and will retain its current policy of stockpiling the commodity. Poachers in South Africa kill thousands of rhinos for their horns, which are valuable in Asian markets. South Africa had considered trading rhino horns globally as a tactic to combat poaching activities, but ultimately decided to retain the current policy of keeping the rhino horns rather than selling them.

SOUTH AFRICA TO NAME DROUGHT DISASTER AREAS
11/09/2015
Update Volume
45
Update Issue
31

A South African official announced on November 4 that Northern Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces will be named "drought disaster areas" in the coming two weeks. This will allow the provinces to receive emergency assistance from the National Treasury. According to the Director of Risk Management in the Department of Agriculture, the province of KwaZulu-Natal will also soon be named a disaster area for agriculture. These are not the first provinces declared drought disaster areas in South Africa.

You must be an ELR subscriber to access the full content.

You are not logged in. To access this content: