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nemalatest news & developments
Africa’s lithium boom won’t last forever.  Photo: Dianah Chiyangwa

KZN coastal communities demand withdrawal of SA Lithium mine expansion over legal, environmental concerns

A coalition of KwaZulu-Natal coastal organisations is calling for the withdrawal of SA Lithium’s Highbury Mine expansion near Umzumbe, citing alleged legal flaws, water risks,…

From Doringbaai to Port Nolloth, West Coast communities are pushing back against mining and offshore oil and gas expansion.  (Liezl Human/Groundup)

‘No one asked us’: West Coast fishers oppose offshore oil and gas development

From Doringbaai to Port Nolloth, West Coast communities are pushing back against mining and offshore oil and gas expansion. Residents, activists and fishers say consultation…

The proposed 4 000MW project would be built at Duynefontein next to the existing Koeberg  nuclear power station near Cape Town.
Photo: David Harrison

‘Zombie’ nuclear project: Nuclear-1  environmental authorisation faces legal battle

Environmental justice organisations have launched a high court challenge against Eskom’s proposed Nuclear-1 power station, arguing that the 2017 environmental authorisation,…

Wastewater: An overflowing drain flowing in a town in Mpumalanga. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Mpumalanga municipality slapped with record R650m penalty for years of raw sewage spills

In a landmark ruling, the Emalahleni local municipality was ordered to fund major repairs after pleading guilty to persistent sewage pollution that contaminated rivers feeding…

The Alexkor cofferdam 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.

Alexkor vs Creecy in environment court battle

State diamond mining company Alexkor is challenging a compliance notice issued by the environment department over its Namaqualand beach mining operations

The Namaquasfontein Skool Dam near Piketberg was illegally enlarged in 2017. Photo: Holland & Associates (fair use)

Farmer seeks ‘pardon’ for illegally enlarging dam

Critics fear the condonation clause in South Africa’s environmental law is “an expensive rubber stamp for legalising the illegal”.

(John McCann/M&G)

Long-awaited legislation seeks to strengthen SA’s environmental regime

National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Act introduce new offences, increase quantum of fines, extend enforcement powers to municipal managers

A notebook is pictured at the site of a collapsed building containing a school in Nigeria’s commercial capital of Lagos, Nigeria. (Reuters/Afolabi Sotunde)

Death toll rises in Lagos school building collapse

The dilapidated building in the densely populated Lagos Island area of the city came down without warning on Wednesday morning

Somkhele’s residents have decided to take their case to the Supreme Court of Appeal after a high court ruling went against them in their battle with Tendele Coal Mining. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

KZN mine fight goes on, despite ruling

KwaZulu-Natal villagers are fighting mining they say violates their land rights and harms the environment

Courts have now set precedents that activists will be keen to use to challenge cases where mines threaten the environment or people’s land rights. (Paul Botes/M&G)

Courts deliver big wins for environment

Two recent judgments have forced the minerals department to fulfil its obligations regarding the physical environment and people’s land rights

The Gauteng department of agricultural and rural development issued a compliance notice, demanding the developer fix the problem. (Ramzi Boudina/Reuters)

R700k wetland fine for luxury developer

​The self-proclaimed leading developer of luxury estates in Southern Africa has paid a R700 000 fine for building illegally

The current inland price for a litre of 95 octane unleaded petrol is R14.08. From Wednesday, this will rise to R14.82 per litre. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

BP, others to face criminal charges

A landmark case on environmental crimes could pave the way for more non-NPA court action