Balfour Magistrate Court imposed the fine on Friday after the Dipaleseng Municipality pleaded guilty to charges touching on environmental misconduct, which caused significant pollution to the environment between December 2018 to August 2023. https://www.farmersweekly.co.za/agri-news/south-africa/action-needed-to-address-water-pollution-after-municipality-fined-r160m/

While government has made strides in environmental compliance, significant work is needed to address pervasive issues like untreated sewage discharge to land, freshwater, and coastal areas. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/report-highlights-sas-challenge-pollution

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Narend Singh has launched the 2023/24 National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report (NECER), which highlights improvements in proactive compliance monitoring. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/necer-report-highlights-progress-in-tackling-environmental-crime-2024-11-18

Effective water governance helps to ensure that water resources are managed in a transparent, accountable, and equitable manner and that water services are delivered in a way that meets the needs of customers while also being financially.https://infrastructurenews.co.za/2024/11/18/9-ways-to-strengthen-municipal-governance-for-a-secure-water-future/

AfriForum wants to tackle a mining application near Kruger National Park, in Mpumalanga. According to AfriForum, the proposal fails the prerequisites for environmental impact assessments (EIA). https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/afriforum-calls-for-withdrawing-of-mining-application-near-kruger-national-park-018dcf83-119b-4bf3-87c2-7458b6399977

Your hot shower or bath uses 15-30% of your household’s total energy, second only to the heating and cooling of air. https://theconversation.com/if-our-hot-water-heaters-ran-off-daytime-solar-we-would-slash-emissions-and-soak-up-cheap-energy-242705

The Environment Agency (EA) is appealing for information following a series of incidents involving the dumping of trailers packed with shredded or baled waste, which it suspects could be linked to an organised crime group. https://www.letsrecycle.com/news/environment-agency-investigates-crime-links-to-waste-trailers/

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister, Mr Sello Seitlholo, says the state of municipalities’ Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) has contributed hugely on the widespread pollution of the water courses in Gauteng province. He was addressing the representatives of Ekurhuleni, and Tshwane, Johannesburg metros and Mogale City at Centurion Lake Hotel, in Tshwane on 11 November 2024.https://infrastructurenews.co.za/2024/11/12/gautengs-wastewater-treatment-plants-are-the-main-polluters-of-the-provinces-water-courses-says-deputy-minister-seitlholo/

Plastics SA has recently released the country’s latest polymer production and recycling figures for the year ending December 2023, showcasing a positive upward trend in PVC recycling across the country. https://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article/south-africas-pvc-recycling-reaches-new-heights-in-2023-16-recycling-rate-achieved-2024-11-11

THE City of Cape Town is taking significant strides in plastics recycling through the establishment of its materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and initiatives aimed at reducing plastic waste and promoting a circular economy.https://www.cbn.co.za/industry-news/recycling-waste-management/cape-towns-commitment-to-recycling-how-plastic-waste-comes-full-circle/