Mail & Guardian
Mail & Guardian
dffelatest news & developments
Burning issue: At stake is the structure and continuity of the Working on Fire programme, which both opposing side describe in court papers as critical to wildfire prevention and suppression capacity across all nine provinces. Photo: File
DFFE

Working on Fire sues over tender

Working on Fire seeks to halt the award of the national wildfire management contract to Tefla, while the department and Tefla oppose the urgent relief

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
Pollution: Sasol claims that it recognises and understands the environmental footprint associated with its activities and responsibly manages these in a prudent and lawful way. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
DFFE

Parliament intensifies scrutiny of Sasol

Parliament’s portfolio committee on forestry, fisheries and environment is widening its oversight into Sasol after receiving protected disclosures from environmental…

  • Sheree Bega
7 min read
The sulphuric stench that drifted over large parts of Johannesburg last week – described by residents as reeking of “rotten eggs”, “cat urine” and “burning sulphur” – has dissipated.
AIR POLLUTION

“Rotten egg” smell over Joburg highlights toxic air pollution risks

Air pollution in the Highveld Priority Area threatens lives and violates environmental rights, as hydrogen sulphide levels recently spiked over Johannesburg

  • Sheree Bega
9 min read
Four Chinese-flagged fishing vessels were intercepted in South Africa’s Exclusive Economic Zone
AIS VIOLATION

South Africa intercepts four Chinese fishing vessels violating EEZ rules

Four Chinese-flagged fishing vessels were fined R400 000 and released after a coordinated operation by officials and the police

  • Sheree Bega
3 min read
Street cleaners collect plastic waste separately for local recycling and trash on the occasion of World Environment Day in Johannesburg. (Photo by Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
CIRCULAR ECONOMY

Plastics industry ‘unduly influences SA’s global plastic treaty’

South Africa is a primary plastic producing country with significant imports of primary plastic for local manufacturing

  • Sheree Bega
12 min read
7 DAYS OF ECO ACTIVISM

ERA celebrates 7 Days of Eco-activism for National E-waste Day

Spotlight on recycling with consumer campaign & industry engagement

  • ERA
5 min read
The department of forestry, fisheries and the environment awarded a four-year bursary to two learners, one of whom is Kgaugelo Marema, who is in grade 12 at Mapanolla Secondary School in Mokopane.
CONSERVATION

Lapalala Wilderness School’s rhino initiative works to empower the next generation of conservationists

Two learners receive four-year bursaries plus two years of work after they graduate based on presentations they prepared

  • Lesego Chepape
3 min read
African penguins on Boulders beach, Simon’s Town. File photo
AFRICAN PENGUIN BREEDING COLONIES

High court will hear urgent case to save critically endangered African penguins

Outgoing minister accused of placing fishing industry interests above the survival of penguins

  • John Yeld
4 min read
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

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

  • John Yeld
6 min read
The initial phase of a groundbreaking effort to relocate wild Cape and African white-backed vultures (above) in Southern Africa has seen remarkable success.(Photo by: Arterra/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

South Africa’s largest vulture relocation project hailed as a success

A total of 160 Cape and African white-backed vultures have a new home at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, where they can heal and breed This content is…

  • Lesego Chepape
1 min read
Increased vehicular traffic and better-paved roads in montane environments heighten the risks to wildlife. (File photo by Kerri Wolter)
SHAMWARI PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

Vulture relocation project will be biggest in South Africa

The first group of 155 Cape and African White-backed Vultures will find a new home at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape

  • Lesego Chepape
3 min read
Kgwebane Tloubatla was a winner of the Lapalala Wilderness School World Rhino Day competition.
CONSERVATION
Video

Young people at the heart of conserving the rhino

Lapalala housed 120 learners who took part in a competition through speeches and posters to raise awareness for the rhino

  • Lesego Chepape
4 min read
BIODIVERSITY

Consumers are choosing to buy sustainably sourced fish

Retailers and suppliers are heeding the call for sustainable seafood products

  • Lesego Chepape
4 min read
A private security employee watches as a factory burns in Durban’s Sea Cow Lake area on 12 July. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images via Getty Images)
AQUATIC SYSTEMS

United Phosphorus Ltd cleans up spill after chemical blaze in Durban

Scientists have been sent to handle the fallout from the warehouse fire, which stored about 1 600 hazardous materials that can contaminate the air, sea and rivers

  • Chris Gilili
3 min read