Green2020_strung_LR

APRIL 2020
W W W.BUSINES SMEDIA M AG S.CO.Z A

OFFG-OGIRNIDG
Has renewable energy’s
time finally come for
South Africa

A SYMBOL OF
SUSTAINABLE
PUBLIC TRANSPORT

The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link network not only makes a huge contribution to
reducing the province’s carbon footprint, but also improves transport mobility,

stimulates economic growth and provides employment.

ADVERTORIAL

T he shift towards urbanisation has triple bottom line approach was to bring attention to Gautrain brings economic benefits and sustainability
created many opportunities for company activities that affect the environmental and in that efficient public transport and lower road traffic
transport globally. However, with the social impact of their business, a concept that was congestion increase productivity and economic
increased need for mobility, the growing ignored and, to an extent, immeasurable. The degree viability in Gauteng. Using the Gautrain also decreases
demand has led to severe environmental of economic sustainability can be measured in cash the out-of-pocket costs of public transport to the
degradation from fossil-fuelled vehicles across the flows and profits, however, the environmental and community. In addition to reducing costs caused by
globe. Sustainability and green transport are now part social aspect has more complex measures. congestion, public transport creates jobs and supports
of the key goals that major cities are striving toward local economies.
to obtain clean living spaces and reduce carbon The Centre for Transport Excellence has compared
footprints. Sustainability and city rejuvenation are, the use of rail transport with that of road-based Green transport is directly linked to improving
therefore, among the key objectives of the Gautrain transport. Public transport produces, on average, urban mobility with the rapid increase in urbanisation
Project. Gautrain is committed to sustainable public per passenger kilometre, 95 per cent less carbon experiences by cities around the world. Gauteng is no
transport and its commitment is not only critical to monoxide, 92 per cent fewer volatile organic different; the province has experienced rapid growth
environmental protection and social upliftment, but compounds, 45 per cent less carbon monoxide
also calls for an integrated approach, which considers and 48 per cent less nitrogen oxide. over the years. Urban space is a limited resource
the inter-relationship between transport, Apart from alleviating the severe impacting the quality of life for all those
the environment, the economy and society. traffic congestion, Gautrain living and working in Johannesburg,
has distinct environmental Tshwane or Ekurhuleni. Efficient
The Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport advantages over other land use, to which public
introduced the draft Green Transport Policy in 2014 forms of transport. transport such as Gautrain
as well as the Green Transport Strategy 2016–2021 Considering that traffic contributes, produces
in 2016. These documents provide the guidelines volumes are escalating results far beyond the
and strategy for the province’s sustainable public by about seven per immediate benefit of
transport targets. The Gautrain Rapid Rail Link network cent annually in the increased use of public
is identified as the province’s “green rail transport economically-active transport. The Gautrain
project” in these documents. According to the Gauteng corridors in Gauteng, rail network has increased
Department of Roads and Transport, the Gautrain’s carbon dioxide emissions connectivity, which has led
transit capabilities also reduce private vehicle usage from road-based vehicles will to residential, business and
where “approximately 75 per cent of the passengers contribute to global warming. industrial densification, thereby
who use Gautrain on a daily basis have indicated that Commuters opting to use the Gautrain integrating the metropolis. It has
they had previously travelled in private cars from home instead of their motor vehicles reduce their carbon
to work.” While the Gautrain’s electrical multiple units footprint by 30 to 60 per cent per trip. Running at full the potential to significantly change
or train cars release no carbon emissions, the system capacity, Gautrain is a much greener public transport the way we live and travel, reducing our individual
will move toward a greener status and support further option than using road-based vehicles. carbon footprints while preserving and enhancing
green mobility by investing in renewable power sources mobility. It further encourages people to have
and cleaner buses. BENEFITS a more active healthy lifestyle, particularly if
they are walking or cycling to their stations. A rail
Gautrain complements and supplements other Sustainability benefits of the Gautrain, as network, such as Gautrain, in a populated global
public transport modes in Gauteng, allowing citizens evident from research done by the International city region such as Gauteng, greatly improves
an integrated, safe, efficient and reliable solution. Association of Public Transport (UITP), include: mobility and accessibility.
Gautrain goes even further by attempting to be
sufficiently attractive with convenient travel times • Limiting greenhouse gas emissions to The Gautrain Project minimises consumption of
and improved safety and security to serve people who minimise the negative impact on non-renewable resources and optimises the use
would otherwise select private transport. the climate of land. It also improves access for individuals and
societies to core areas such as employment areas
Sustainability is now incorporating the economic, • Reducing road traffic congestion and the and areas where there are education and leisure
social and environmental needs into development and resulting congestion costs facilities. It further enhances a vibrant economy
business. The pressure on natural resources has led to by creating more job opportunities. The Gautrain
the triple bottom line approach. The introduction of the • Significantly reducing the number of road Project will continue to contribute to the future of
accidents, fatalities and injuries. South Africa and the Province through the role it
plays in stimulating the economy. It is evident that
• Improving mobility levels of the entire Gautrain is having a highly-positive impact on a
community,which also will narrow the number of residential property markets within the
division betweenmobility levels in greater Gauteng area.
our society.
Gautrain is a sustainable public transport system
• Improving accessibility to primary services that increases mobility in Gauteng. It supports
of health, education and employment for transit-orientated development by encouraging
the entire community the growth of public transport modes that serve as
enablers of economic acidity in emerging hubs of
• Reducing conventional emissions and Gauteng. In short, Gautrain facilitates sustainable
transportrelated noise so that the Gautrain growth and liveable cities. ■
does not constitute a significant public
health concern.

Follow us on: www.facebook.com/gautrain @TheGautrain www.gautrain.co.za 0800 42887246 SMS alert to 32693 for service updates
GREEN 13



FROM THE EDITOR

IN IT PUBLISHED BY:

TOGETHER Picasso Headline, a proud division
of Arena Holdings
There are times when it’s easy IT CAN BE HARD TO MEASURE
to forget just how big South THE EFFECT OF PARTICULAR 13th Floor, 2 Long Street, Cape Town, 8001
Africa is, in geographical ECO-INTERVENTIONS, TOO. Tel: +27 21 469 2400 | Fax: +27 86 682 2926
terms. At around 1.2 million IT’S TOO EARLY TO SAY, FOR
square kilometres, it’s four EXAMPLE, WHETHER OR NOT www.businessmediamags.co.za
times the size of Germany, more than five SOUTH AFRICA’S CARBON TAX
times the size of the UK, and only a little bit WILL CHANGE BIG BUSINESS’ EDITORIAL
bigger than Ethiopia. Interesting to note HABITS, OR IF A NEW PLAN TO
though, is the fact that it has a population PROTECT BIODIVERSITY BY Editor: Adam Oxford
that is considerably smaller than any of ATTRACTING PRIVATE SECTOR Content Manager: Raina Julies, [email protected]
those countries. INVESTMENT WILL SUCCEED.
WHAT WE CAN DO, HOWEVER, Contributors: Beth Amato, Samatha Barnes,
The one thing though that does remind us IS CELEBRATE THOSE WHO ARE Justin Brown, Joanne Carew, Gareth Griffiths,
of its size is the changing climate. Glenneis Kriel, Mpho Lukoto, Anthony Sharpe,
MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
Those of us lucky enough to live in Melanie Walker, Lisa Witepski
Gauteng have had a reasonably “normal” So while there are promising signs that Copy Editor: Brenda Bryden
summer season this time around – or at renewable energy is about to have its Content Co-ordinator: Vanessa Payne
least that’s how it feels compared to the moment locally (page 6) and that there Digital Editor: Stacey Visser
dryness of the last few years. It’s felt like a is plenty we can do to reduce our carbon [email protected]
more or less suitable mix of heat and rain, footprint (pages 37, 43 and 58), right now
maybe even cooler than usual. It makes it global efforts are disjointed (although there DESIGN
easy to forget that there are large swathes is still hope that will change – page 9).
of the country that have been without water Head of Design: Jayne Macé-Ferguson
for months (page 46). What this means is, it is equally important Senior Designers: Archie Ndzo,
to have a plan in place to deal with climate Lesley-Ann van Schalkwyk
Pictures on the news about the effects effects that are beyond our control, such as
of climate change might as well be from a investing in climate-smart agriculture Advert Designer: Bulelwa Sotashe
land many miles away – which in a sense (page 15).
they are. SALES
It can be hard to measure the effect of
Yet when it comes to climate change, what particular eco-interventions, too. It’s too Sales Project Manager: Gavin Payne
we do know is that everything is related. early to say, for example, whether or not [email protected]
South Africa’s carbon tax (page 50) will
The great global weather patterns have no change big business’ habits, or if a new Sales: Charles Felix, Nazeem Hoosen, David Johnson,
respect for national borders. plan to protect biodiversity by attracting Meryl Klein, Alec Rompelman
private sector investment will succeed (page
23). What we can do, however, is celebrate PRODUCTION
those who are making a difference, in
sectors such as building design (page 59) Production Editor: Shamiela Brenner
and food waste (page 52). Advertising Co-ordinator: Johan Labuschagne

Figuring out what works locally, nationally Subscriptions and Distribution:
and internationally is as important as Shumiera Fredericks, [email protected]
pointing out what’s wrong. Because no
matter what it feels like, we’re all in the Printing: Novus Print, Gauteng
climate crisis together.
MANAGEMENT
Adam Oxford
EDITOR Management Accountant: Deidre Musha
Business Manager: Lodewyk van der Walt
General Manager Magazines: Jocelyne Bayer

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GREEN 3

APRIL 2020
W W W.BUSINES SMEDIA M AG S.CO.Z A

OFFG-OGIRNIDG Cover image:
Has renewable energy’s The BW2 Gouda Wind
time finally come for Power facility as seen
South Africa from Riebeeck West.
Image courtesy of Gareth
Griffiths Imaging©.

CONTENTS MARCH 2020

3 IN IT TOGETHER 29 CLEANING UP AFTER 51 A CLEANER WAY FOR BUSINESS
Environmental disasters can seem COMPUTERS DIE Will the carbon tax change
a long way away. They aren’t Dealing with SA’s growing corporate SA?
e-waste problem
6 A RISING STAR 53 WASTE NOT, WANT NOT
The time for large-scale renewable 33 BUTT OUT Meet the Nigerian entrepreneur who is
energy is here Cape Town’s campaign to rid the helping to prevent food waste
streets of stompies
9 CHANGING PRIORITIES 54 REINVENTING OUR CITIES
Climate change is now the number 36 SUSTAINABLE, SARTORIAL A look at Pretoria’s newest
one fear for big business SOUTH AFRICA green city
Local clothing labels that source
15 PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE and manufacture the 57 CLEAN AND GREEN
The farmers who are investing in eco-conscious way How do eco-friendly household
climate resilience now products compare?
43 OCEANS OF PLASTIC
17 FROM SOIL TO SOUL To save the seas, we need to 58 A GREEN FIRST
How to grow your own warming winter rethink how we handle waste What it takes to win a six-star
veg, whatever the weather on land eco-building award

23 INVESTING IN LANDSCAPES 47 WILL THE MASTER WATER 17
Two NGOs have a novel approach to PLAN WORK?
protect biodiversity Is the government’s water and
sanitation master plan effective
25 INTO THE WILDS enough to stave off a national
The reclamation of one of Joburg’s water crisis
best green spaces

54

43

4 GREEN



A RISING ENERGY

STAR Renewable energy in South Africa is a
complex issue with many role-players,
complicated by confusing acronyms.
GARETH GRIFFITHS investigates

Seen from Riebeeck West, the BW2 Gouda Wind Power facility supplies 138 MW
and makes for an interesting landscape blend with agriculture.

H as the time for renewable Procurement (REIPPP) programme Bid Window DOM WILLS
energy finally come in South 5 would also be initiated.
Africa? After years of stop-start “IN OUR VIEW, RENEWABLE POWER
talk about renewables, the In the eyes of many informed South Africans, WILL DOMINATE GENERATION IN
president used his recent State the regulation of the renewable energy industry AFRICA, AND WORLDWIDE, IN THE
of the Nation Address to throw his weight behind seems complex involving multiple role-players. NEXT FIFTEEN YEARS. AFRICA HAS
many issues renewable that campaigners have The REIPPP was launched in 2011 and allows A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN SOLAR,
been asking for. for the independent supply of a specified RECEIVING 40 PER CENT OF ALL THE
number of megawatts of electricity by SUN’S ENERGY.”– DOM WILLS
The measures announced were bold: commercial bidders, breaking Eskom’s monopoly
processing the amending of the legislation to over power generation. It is now in its fourth
allow municipalities to purchase power from bid window (BW) phase. But this phase is
producers other than Eskom and the speeding up behind schedule, thanks to stalling from
of the processing of licences for private own-use various stakeholders.
power generation above one megawatt (MW).
Eskom’s monopoly remains a stumbling block
The president also committed to the for the entry to trade for independent power
Integrated Resource Plan 2019 (IRP 2019), producers (IPPs) who are not free to trade
which calls for large wind and solar power and their power with consumers in an open market.
other investment in generation by 2030. The Instead, they have to supply their power into
Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer the Eskom-owned and operated grid at a regulated

6 GREEN NTOMBIFUTHI NTULI

RENEWABLE ENERGY

DID YOU KNOW? Our wind power sector has attracted over R80.6-billion investment and B-bBEE
equity shareholding has increased with each round. South Africans own over 50 per cent equity in all
IPPs, while black citizens own, on average, 33 per cent of project equity.

THE IRP MAPS OUT SOUTH AFRICA’S According to SAWEA, the value of R300-billion NTOMBIFUTHI NTULI
ENERGY MIX FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS excludes specific investments that will be attracted
AND SEES OVERALL ELECTRICITY by the local value change, such as manufacturing, generation projects connected directly to customers
PRODUCTION CAPACITY RISING transportation and logistics investment. These that can be independent of the national grid.
SIGNIFICANTLY BY 2030. AMONG investments will flow into a number of sectors
MANY OTHER THINGS, IT SPELLS OUT A including construction, manufacturing, and “The key to this vision is that the grid becomes
ROLE FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE transportation and warehousing as well as finance independently operated,” says Wills. “An independent
POWER MIX. and professional services. The B-bBEE impact of grid operator can run an energy market on a ‘willing
these investments will also be substantial. buyer, willing seller basis’. This market can have a
price set by the National Energy Regulator of SA, spot price for energy sales, but there could also be
another state-owned enterprise (SOE). “We are happy (with wind share of the new IRP mix), futures and derivative products. A completely open
as we transition to a clean energy future. With the market will allow economics to dominate and multiple
A significant step forward has come in the bulk of the increase coming from renewable sources, sellers of energy to enter the market. This is a robust
publishing of the South African Cabinet’s approved it is a promising sign for our country as it faces solution, as there are multiple companies that
IRP. The IRP maps out South Africa’s energy mix pressure to reduce its carbon emissions and provide provide energy to the country instead of relying on
for the next 10 years and sees overall electricity cheaper power,” comments Ntuli. one as is the case currently.
production capacity rising significantly by 2030.
Among many other things, it spells out a role for While there are plenty of areas that have consistent “In our view, renewable power will dominate
renewable energy in the power mix. Energy analysts enough wind to meet these targets, the key to generation in Africa, and worldwide, in the next
will point out that the current IRP has been a slow- dependable renewable energy is to use a mix of fifteen years. Africa has a great opportunity in solar,
boiled egg, much to the chagrin of the supply chain in different resources. Today, there’s a total of 6.4GW receiving 40 per cent of all the sun’s energy. As
the renewables sector, some of whom were forced of renewables licenced from a total of 112 different storage technology improves, the grid penetration
to close shop. IPPs. Of this, 45 per cent comes from solar: both of renewables will tend to 100 per cent by 2050,”
photovoltaic (PV) panels, and the larger concentrated he concludes.
The IPPP Office, a specialised REIPPP solar power (CSP) plants. CSP generates solar
interdepartmental government unit, reported in power by using mirrors or lenses to focus sunlight
mid-2019, that wind contributes 52 per cent of South onto a receiver to generate heat for powering
Africa’s renewable supply. There were 36 preferred steam turbines.
independent wind power producers with a collective
capacity of 3.6 gigawatts (GW) – or at least there will Dom Wills is CEO of the SOLA Group, one of the
be. Some BW4 projects are still under construction, downstream operators in the PV value chain. The
so right now there are about 900 individual turbines SOLA Group is not part of the REIPPP programme
capable of supplying 2GW to the grid. supplying energy to the Eskom grid. Instead, it
specialises in “microgrid” systems across the
By way of comparison, the UK started investing in continent. Microgrids are small-scale, local
wind power resources as far back as 2003, beginning
IMAGES: GARETH GRIFFITHS IMAGING©, SUPPLIED with an offshore facility in Liverpool Bay. Today, it THE CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT OF ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE WIND
has an onshore and offshore wind installed capacity POWER GENERATION
of 22GW (more than double the capacity of the
proposed nuclear power programme here) and plans Project Drawdown has placed wind power generation as the second most impactful measure the world
to double that by the year 2030. could take to reverse the growth of greenhouse gases in the planet’s atmosphere by the year 2050. This
is not a glib statement, but science-based research done by some of the most brilliant minds in the world
IN THE AIR recruited into the Drawdown Fellowship. All it would take would be to install onshore wind turbines from a
level of 2.9 per cent of the global grid to 21.6 per cent by 2050. Such a project would permanently remove
The IRP proposes an added 14.4GW of wind power 84.6 gigatons of reduced carbon dioxide from the business as usual trajectory at a cost of $1.23-trillion to
to the South African grid by 2030, which would the world, resulting in a saving of $7.4-trillion by displacing other more expensive methods of generation,
constitute 18 per cent of total capacity. including fossil fuels. Drawdown envisages a plausible scenario combination of at least 80 different
activities. And wind turbines would contribute eight per cent towards a global drawdown goal, where the
“This will have positive spin-offs for the country’s upward trajectory of carbon-equivalent gas into the atmosphere would reverse. Additionally, the universal
economy as this capacity is expected to attract more adoption of offshore wind power should move its share of the global energy mix to just 4 per cent (2016
than R300-billion in investments, create jobs across figure at 0.1 per cent only) to draw down another 14.1 gigatons of carbon by 2050.
the industry value chain, and deliver cheap electricity
to consumers,” says Ntombifuthi Ntuli, CEO of the (Source: Drawdown, the most comprehensive plan ever proposed to reverse global warming. Book edited by Paul
South Africa Wind Energy Association (SAWEA). Hawken, 2017)

GREEN 7



BUSINESS

A t its annual gathering in Davos, D av os, Switz erland 20 20
Switzerland earlier this year,
the influential World Economic CHANGING
Forum (WEF) acknowledged that
climate change is the top business PRIORITIES
risk that its members face. Every year, it publishes
the Global Risks Report, which reflects the views
of business leaders and governments around the
world. This year, the message was clear: the impact
of a changing climate is the thing that’s keeping
members up at night.

In the intervening months, coronavirus may have
taken the top spot in terms of short-term perils,
but that doesn’t change the long-term concern.

The acknowledgement was overdue, says Barry
Bredenkamp, general manager for energy efficiency
and corporate communications at the South African
National Energy Development Institute (Sanedi). “I
think it is at least five years overdue. The writing has
been on the wall for the last twenty to twenty-five
years that climate change is becoming more of a
problem,” Bredenkamp says.

The implications of climate change are getting
through to those whose job it is to worry about the
long term. “It isn’t a surprise that environmental
issues ranked highly. It is the scariest thing I have
seen,” says Old Mutual MD of Asset Management
Khaya Gobodo. “This is as scary as what the
prospect of nuclear disaster must have felt like at
the time of the Cold War. That is how serious this is.”

Gobodo has attended several WEF on Africa

“MY DAUGHTERS WILL REPRIMAND Climate worries now top the list of things that
ME IF THEY SEE ME WITH A STRAW businesses fear the most. JUSTIN BROWN looks at what
IN MY HAND. THEY RECOGNISE THE
ECOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF they are doing about it
WHAT THAT KIND OF WASTE DELIVERS
AND SO WE OWE IT TO THEM TO TAKE pressing questions because Old Mutual looked “THE CHALLENGE IS THAT WE HAVE
THESE ISSUES INCREDIBLY SERIOUSLY after more than R1-trillion of South Africa’s and TO MARRY THE ECONOMICS, THE
AND ACT WITH A SPEED AND A Africa’s savings, Gobodo says. ENVIRONMENT, THE SOCIO-IMPACT
PURPOSE.” – KHAYA GOBODO AND START TALKING WITH ONE VOICE
Bredenkamp said that the fact that the SO THAT WE CAN BRING ABOUT THIS
events, but this year was his first visit to Davos. WEF report put the spotlight on the CHANGE IN BEHAVIOUR IN THE BROAD
There was an increasing urgency from business to state of the climate as a top issue PUBLIC.” – BARRY BREDENKAMP
would play a role in business and
do something, he adds. society in future.
Gobodo recently took part in a responsible
“I think the [WEF report] is going
business subcommittee meeting of the Old Mutual to play a role. We already see signs of
board, where climate change was one of the changes in South Africa. For example,
significant issues on the agenda. we have seen the introduction of the
carbon tax.” (see page 50)
“We spent a good hour talking about how do
we think about coal? How do we think about PEER PRESSURE
our exposure to coal? How do we think about
new investments into coal? How do we think South African corporates
about the just transition? Those are the major were feeling the results
questions because coal is a big contributor to of the general heating
carbon dioxide,” he adds. These were particularly of the planet, especially
companies with head

KHAYA GOBODO BARRY BREDENKAMP GREEN 9

BUSINESS

offices based in Europe and the United States Greta T hunberg
that face public and investor pressure to act,
Bredenkamp adds. DID YOU KNOW? About 50 South African leaders from government, politics, business, and the
media were among the more than 3 000 people who attended the World Economic Forum (WEF)
“I see this filtering down to their branches meeting in Davos, Switzerland in January.
in South Africa, and we are already seeing the
companies implementing what is already tried and cost them a combined total of nearly $1-trillion in might come to the fore in future in South Africa.”
tested at their head offices abroad.” the case of non-action. Bredenkamp says that he is ecstatic about what

Well-known Swedish environmental activist “I think $1-trillion is a vast underestimate. I don’t the WEF has published in its latest report.
Greta Thunberg was at the WEF this year; as was the think the world has done enough work around “Most of the doom and gloom messages have
world’s best-known climate change denialist US the economic consequences of a failure to act,”
President Donald Trump. says Gobodo. “We can all agree that it is going to come from environmental lobby groups, and
be catastrophic. It is not clear exactly what the people have called them tree huggers. Now that
Bredenkamp believes that Thunberg has a large economic consequences will be.” it is coming from an authoritative institution like
following and has the ears of the most influential the WEF, which meets every year to digest what
businessmen and businesswomen in the world. Is there enough of a public outcry in South Africa is happening in the global world of business, I
to drive change? think it is a fantastic step forward. It will make an
“I think her message is getting across. So I think impact in countries like South Africa. I think we will
more of her type of activism will bring about a bit “We don’t have a green party. Most countries in see businesses taking it seriously. Hopefully, that
of behavioural change. What she says is based on Europe have a green party,” Bredenkamp points will filter down to their employees and the larger
science and make sense,” he says. out. “In Germany, for instance, the Green Party is society,” he concludes.
very, very strong. So they can direct policy. This
Gobodo has two daughters, aged eight and ten
years old. “My daughters will reprimand me if they
see me with a straw in my hand. They recognise
the ecological consequences of what that kind
of waste delivers and so we owe it to them to take
these issues incredibly seriously and act with a
speed and a purpose.”

“In South Africa, we don’t have enough resources
to go around, but we can’t ignore the future
because the present is challenging to manage,”
Gobodo says.

SLOW TO TURN?

“The challenge is that we have to marry the
economics, the environment, the socio-impact and
start talking with one voice so that we can bring
about this change in behaviour in the broad public,”
says Bredenkamp.

But it’s the financial imperative which may
ultimately force businesses to rethink their
sustainable policies.

The WEF report said that over 200 of the world’s
largest firms estimated that climate change would

WHAT THE WEF SAYS IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Climate change and extreme weather events are now rated by the world business community as their top risks.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) released its Global Risks Report 2020 in Davos in January and, for the first time, climate change and extreme weather

events were rated by the world business community as the top risks.
The report is based on a survey of about 800 WEF members and more than 200 members of the WEF Global Shapers Community.
In terms of top ten risks by likelihood, extreme weather and climate action failure are the top two risks, and in terms of top ten risks by impact, climate action

failure is ranked number one and extreme weather number four.
Borge Brende, WEF president, wrote in the report: “We note with grave concern the consequences of continued environmental degradation, including a

record pace of species decline.
“Respondents to our Global Risks Perception Survey are also sounding the alarm, ranking climate change and related environmental issues as the top five

risks in terms of likelihood – the first time in the survey’s history that one category has occupied all five of the top spots,” he added.
“Climate change is striking harder and more rapidly than many expected. The last five years are on track to be the warmest on record, natural disasters are

becoming more intense and more frequent,” the executive summary of the WEF report states.

10 G R E E N









AG R I C U LT U R E

H av ing liv estock helps to reduce farm income
risks while adding v alue to crop rotation systems.

PREPARING FOR
THE FUTURE
D anie Slabbert checks an electric fence
used to control animal mov ement in
ultra- high density graz ing.

Agriculturists must take the lead in the fight against climate change, “REGENERATIVE FARMING IS
writes GLENNEIS KRIEL NEVERTHELESS EXTREMELY
COMPLEX BECAUSE THE SOIL AND
T he agricultural industry is adapting a decade and regenerative farming for the past ENVIRONMENT ARE DYNAMIC. THERE
faster to changing climatic conditions four years, says these systems have significantly IS NO RECIPE OR QUICK FIX. FARMERS
than most other industries, perhaps reduced his fuel usage due to reduced tillage and HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY ADAPT
because of farmers’ close dependence spray applications and cut down fertiliser and THEIR FARMING PRACTICES AS THE
on the elements and natural resources. pesticide costs. Regenerative farming more so than SYSTEM CHANGES.” – DANIE SLABBERT

Over the past five years, the use of nets, for conservation farming.

example, has rapidly expanded in most provinces as He says that regenerative farming is nevertheless The SmartAgri plan was developed by the

farmers try to protect orchards and vineyards against extremely complex because the soil and environment WCDoA in collaboration with the Department of

hail, sunburn and wind damage. Water use efficiency are dynamic: “There is no recipe or quick fix. Farmers Environmental Affairs and Development Planning to

has also improved on many farms, thanks to improved have to continuously adapt their farming practices as promote climate-resilient low-carbon production,

technologies resulting in better irrigation scheduling the system changes.” strengthen climate disaster risk management, lead

and water delivery. Industry and government are also doing their strategic research and ensure good co-operative

Emerging technologies are helping too. FruitLook, share in improving the resilience of the sector. In governance and institutional planning for effective

a Western Cape Department of Agriculture-sponsored 2008, the South African fruit and wine industries, climate change response planning.

online service that uses remote sensing to alert with the support of the Western Cape Department The Western Cape has been pioneering resource-

farmers of stress in vineyards and orchards, has of Agriculture (WCDoA), became the first to develop smart agricultural for many years now. Dr Ilse

reportedly increased users’ irrigation efficiency by a tool that allows farmers and agribusinesses to Trautmann, chief director research and technology

10 to 30 per cent since its launch around 2011. measure and identify ways to reduce their development and project leader of SmartAgri, says

Meanwhile, an increasing number of grain farmers carbon emissions. their work on conservation agriculture started

are also using conservation farming practices, such The initiative, called Confronting Climate Change 23 years ago with long-term crop rotation trails

as minimum-to-no-tillage, crop rotation and stubble (CCC), currently has over a 1 000 registered users, on grain, which has since expanded to their potato

retention to reduce water evaporation and improve ranging from fruit and wine farmers, berry and research and pastures for milk production research.

soil health, with the emergence of precision farming vegetable producers to cellars and packhouses. Trautmann advises other industries to work with

technologies bringing even greater efficiencies to In 2016, the Western Cape became the first climate change, not against it: “Get to know your

the system. province to release a sector plan aimed at fostering resources and implement methods and practices to

Conservation farming has since been taken to a climate resilience in the agricultural sector. be more resource-smart.”

IMAGES: GLENNEIS KRIEL, SUPPLIED new level with regenerative agriculture – where the

aim is no longer to merely maintain the soil, but also DID YOU KNOW? Regenerative agriculture entails the use of traditional conservation farming practices, such
to restore and create a healthy farming system. as minimum-to-no-tillage, crop rotation and stubble retention, but takes this a step further by also including

REGROWTH AND REPAIR the use of multispecies cover crops, intercropping and natural ways to boost soil health, such as compost or
compost teas. An animal factor is often included to add value to cover crops, for ultra-high density grazing, or
Danie Slabbert, a Free State farmer who has been to use the animal’s manure for making compost.

practising conservation farming for more than

G R E E N 15



FOOD

FROM

SOIL TO SOUL

Self-sufficiency is top of mind at the moment, so what food can you grow at
home during winter? Gardening expert MELANIE WALKER reveals all

T here are so many good reasons to
grow your own food: so you can
be aware of what you’re putting
into your body; indulging in the
pleasurable task of being in the
garden; and working towards improving your
environment and creating a sustainable lifestyle.

Winter is a great time for vegetable gardening,
especially in the sunnier areas of South Africa.
And what better way to get rid of the winter chills
and sniffles than soups and stews packed full of
great nutrients from plants you’ve grown in your
own backyard.

G R E E N 17

FOOD

WINTER VEG and turnips. If you have a large enough pot, you can COMPLEMENTARY CROPS
grow them in there too.
Depending on where you are in the country, you’ll Whether you’re growing in your dedicated veggie
Broad beans are another great bet, as they’re patch, in among your flower beds or in a pot,
need to take a couple of things into account. You are chock-full of great nutrition. Just make sure that remember that certain plants grow better when
your soil is fertile and you get them established planted near to each other, as they improve each
going to need at least 4–6 hours of full sun, so no before the winter cold sets in. Pop them into a sunny other’s wellbeing and protect one another from
spot sheltered from the wind. attack by insect pests. Companion planting is a
growing in shady areas. great way of using a small space for maximum
SMALL GARDENS production of healthy plants and vegetables.
We’re a water-stressed country, so planting
For those of you with limited or no garden space, So, put your brassicas alongside lettuce and
varieties that are more drought-resistant is a good you can still grow a number of veggies and herbs beetroot, but keep away from climbing beans
on a sunny balcony or window sill. Microgreens and and garlic. Carrots and radishes, complemented
way to go. Rainwater tanks are also essential, and if sprouts are really easy to get going, all you need to do by parsley, sage and dill, will be perfectly happy.
is follow directions on seed packets. Don’t do all the Leeks and beetroot will be happy together, as will
large enough can keep food growing through even seeds at once though. Once every week or two, do your lettuce and spinach.
another “succession planting” so you’ll always have
the driest of Joburg winters. fresh produce on the grow. garden soil that is particularly heavy or clayey, you
will need to improve drainage either by adding lots of
Cape vegetable patches, meanwhile, will be happy Don’t forget herbs. People have been using herbs organic matter like compost, or by growing herbs in
for their healing and culinary properties since the raised beds or containers.
with the winter rains in that part of the world. year dot. And the resurgence of a gentler, more caring
and natural way of living is being evidenced not only If you want to add something special with a cool
But, wherever you are, the number one priority is by people wanting to grow their own food and buying grey hue into your garden, go for one of SA’s best
ethically farmed products, but also by the renewed medicinal plants, Artemisia afra (wormwood). This
getting your soil right. This is the medium from which interest in having your own bouquet of herbal tonics common South African shrub, which actually grows
right outside the back door. as far north as Ethiopia, has the ability, it seems, to
your plants get their nutrients, air and soothe most ailments, from coughs and colds, fever,
There’s no excuse for not having herbs growing various head and earaches to intestinal worms, loss
water through their roots. in your space. You can find a sunny spot even in the of appetite and colic. Traditionally part of the herb
smallest apartment to grow your favourite. garden, these silvery grey-green plants are easy to
So what to plant? At this time grow and tough as nails, handling winter weather with
Life in today’s culinary herb garden is not no problem.
of year, look no further than just about common herb plants like Basil and
French Tarragon, but also about luscious more During the winter, a great place for herbs is inside
the cruciferous veg family – exotic herb plants like African Blue Basil and Sweet the house next to a cool, sunny window, where they
Spanish Tarragon. can get about three or four hours of direct sunlight
your brassicas. Cauliflower, every day. Conditions inside most houses during the
Most herbs grow best in a well-drained, moderately winter months are dry, so mist plants or place them
cabbage, Brussel sprouts, rich garden soil. However, some of the most popular in trays on top of watered pebbles to increase the
herbs, such as rosemary, lavender, bay and winter humidity level. And don’t forget to make sure they
Melanie kale, and broccoli – along savory, are woody plants native to the Mediterranean have just enough water.
Walker with the leafy greens such region. These herbs prefer a gritty, sharply drained
as lettuce, spinach, Chinese soil. Good drainage is extremely important because
standing water around the root crown of plants can
greens and Swiss chard, especially cause them to rot. To keep these plants happy in

Bright Lights for that extra pop of colour

if you’re planting in among your “normal” garden.

For the brassicas, seriously consider buying

seedlings rather than growing from seed as they have

a good chance of settling in nicely before the winter

cold and frosts hit.

ROOT CROPS

Garlic and turmeric are a couple of the easiest
to plant and grow winter veggies, and are full of
immune-boosting properties. However, you’ll have
to be patient as they have quite a long growing time,
so will probably take until spring to mature, and
totally ready to be harvested in summer. Other root
crops to look at would be carrots, beetroot (you can
eat the leaves like spinach too), radishes, parsnips

SOIL TREATMENT IMAGES: ZELENO/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM, SUPPLIED

Healthy soil is the first start when it comes to providing your plants with all the nutrients and water they
need to make sure you get the best out of them. Well-nourished, well-composted and properly mulched
soil is the foundation of a garden that will help your plants to tolerate drought and give them the nutrients
required to provide you with the benefits you need. Adding organic matter to the soil will help the soil
retain moisture, conserving water and saving you effort.

Conditioning soil is easy. For years, we’ve heard gardeners saying “compost, compost, compost”. It’s
not a marketing ploy, it’s the best start you can give your garden. Mix a bit of coarse river sand into your
clay soil to improve drainage and air flow. For sandy soils, you’ll have to work in additional fertilisers too, as
sand is generally low in nutrient value.

Don’t overdo the enrichment though. Plants will generally only take what they need and the excess ends
up polluting our groundwater, lakes and rivers. Add in the right amounts by following the instructions.
Finish off with a 7–10 cm deep organic mulch of rough compost or bark chips on top, which will reduce
evaporation and gradually break down and enrich your soil further.

18 G R E E N



ADVERTORIAL

Tetra Pak, Mpact, Detpak

PAPER PRODUCERS
AND IMPORTERS
INVITED TO

JOIN FIBRE CIRCLE

S ince its launch in August 2019, Collective investment and collaboration is
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responsibility organisation
(PRO) for the paper and paper MULTIPLE PAPER collectors to get their money’s worth,” says
packaging sector, has been GRADES, DIFFERENT Marais. “While there is an environmental
engaging producers and importers on the CHALLENGES imperative, there must also be economies of
importance of belonging to an extended scale and critical mass.”
producer responsibility (EPR) programme. “All types of paper contain fibre – virgin, recycled
or a combination – and they have varying Fibre Circle is currently working on a prototype
“Sustainable EPR demands a collaborative degrees of recoverability and recyclability,” of a cup recycling bin. Made to look like a giant
and collective approach to the shared explains Marais. coffee cup, the bin has three compartments
problem of waste,” says Fibre Circle manager for liquids, high-impact polystyrene lids (also
Francois Marais, adding that EPR can As an example, liquid board packaging recyclable) and paper cups. “In this way, we can
assist in the establishment of infrastructure (LBP) – recyclable in South Africa by two mills amass such recyclables in one place. Firstly, in
and alternative systems to support waste in Gauteng – is both difficult to collect from one bin,
minimisation and improve the collection and other regions and difficult to recycle. LBP, but also by having multiple bins installed in
reprocessing of recyclables. comprises layers of paperboard, aluminium and one complex such as an office building or
polyethylene (plastic). For this reason, it needs shopping centre.”
Industry bodies in the paper and packaging specialised repulping technology to separate the
sectors are currently in consultation with paper fibre from the other layers. Fibre Circle aims to make recovery, recycling
the minister of environment, forestry and and end-use solutions possible. “We need the
fisheries around Section 18 of the National Beverage cartons are largely used in packaging value chain – from producers or
Environmental Act, which moots EPR households and businesses, where separation- importers of the material to brand owners and
measures and responsibilities for identified at-source is inhibited by a lack of awareness retailers – to put their money where their
products or classes of products. and formal programmes. The other challenge is products need to be – and that is off the streets
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Fibre Circle already runs a voluntary cartons as a high-value product.
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papers, liquid board packaging, sacks difficult to recover. “Think about the journey of
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backing paper. drink it in the car or while you’re walking to work, www.fibrecircle.co.za
or watching your child’s soccer match. It will
“All importers and manufacturers of any either be thrown away – at work, at home or in a
type of paper-based product ought to pay an public bin, or dropped as litter.”
EPR fee on the products they place on the
local market,” notes Marais. This money INVESTMENT IN PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ORGANISATION
can then be used to develop solutions INFRASTRUCTURE • PAPER • BOXES • BAGS • BEVERAGE CARTONS •
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to make it commercially viable for recycling

20 G R E E N





BIODIVERSITY

LINAVNESDTSINCGAINPES:

WHO WILL PAY?

Protecting biodiversity is not cheap. Money has to come from somewhere
says SAMANTHA BARNES

IMAGES: SUPPLIED P rotecting the environment is an CANDICE STEVENS involved. These would include the investment
expensive business. The big question: sector, banking, legal, development, academia,
who will finance it? South Africa faces public and private sectors,” says Stevens. “This civil society, national fiscal policy and the national
a 64 per cent financial shortfall to is the critical lever that WWF SA and WFA seek to environmental mandate.
address a multitude of environmental facilitate through the coalition.”
challenges, reckons the South African Natural Innovative finance mechanisms will “include
Biodiversity Institute. “This is critical in providing enduring benefits testing new sustainable financial mechanisms,
for people, biodiversity and the economy,” says developing and attracting more investment into
Addressing the challenge of funding requires Hendrik Pfaff, co-chair of the coalition. Pfaff heads bankable projects, new key partnerships across
innovative thinking. One shot at this is coming Sustainable Finance and Investment Solutions financial and environmental sectors, and providing
from Wilderness Foundation Africa (WFA) and at WWF SA. increased access to diversified funds, for example,
World Wide Fund for Nature SA (WWF SA), which debt finance and not just traditional funding
announced a new partnership at the end of last “WWF would like to see a South Africa that models for NGOs or government fiscal allocations
year to try and find new ways of encouraging nurtures ecological integrity for the benefit of for government agencies,” says Stevens.
investment in ecological infrastructure, the people and nature, which this innovative landscape
Sustainable Landscape Finance Coalition. finance initiative will support,” he says. “BIODIVERSITY WITHIN
MULTIFUNCTIONAL LANDSCAPES,
“The current underspend on environmental “If landscapes are to reach their full potential WHEN SAFEGUARDED, CONTRIBUTES
efforts is a critical shortcoming in addressing the environmentally, socially and economically,” TO CLIMATE CHANGE RESILIENCE,
global environmental crisis,” says Candice Stevens, Stevens explains, “they require long-term financial IMPROVED HUMAN WELLBEING, AND
fellow-chair for the coalition. “South Africa faces sustainability and a cohesive conservation finance EMERGING GREEN ECONOMIES.”
a substantial lack of financing and resources to sector dedicated to this end.” – CANDICE STEVENS
ensure sustainability of our landscapes.”
Domestic and industrial waste clogs our rivers The coalition will address numerous
Stevens is Innovative Finance lead at Wilderness and ends up in our oceans. Alien vegetation takes environmental challenges simultaneously. “Most
Foundation Africa (WFA) and a biodiversity over tracts of land and sucks up vast volumes of notably, biodiversity within multifunctional
finance expert. She introduced the first effective water. Development is occurring in what should be landscapes, when safeguarded, contributes
biodiversity tax incentive into the South African protected wetlands. to climate change resilience, improved human
protected areas network, and together with wellbeing, and emerging green economies,”
government, received the Pathfinder Award The coalition believes that there is huge potential says Stevens.
Special Commendation for this global innovation. and value in protecting biodiversity in South Africa,
which can be unlocked if key sectors become WWF SA and WFA have a dual vision to see
“Many landscapes,” she cautions, “present a risk sustainable finance for landscape conservation
for critical ecological services such as water, and become a reality. Pfaff says: “This initiative will
for the livelihoods of millions of people, directly or support the funding, redirecting and influencing of
indirectly affected.” financial flows towards conservation and supports
WWF’s vision of building a sustainable future in
BENEFICIAL AND INNOVATIVE which people and nature thrive.”
FINANCE SOLUTIONS

“We need innovation and collaboration between
thought leaders, experts and stakeholders across

G R E E N 23



C O N S E RVAT I O N

INTO THE

WILDS

BETH AMATO uncovers the story of a neglected
Joburg park that underwent a renaissance
thanks to a passionate citizen

T he rev italised park
is well maintained
and kept free of
weeds.

G R E E N 25

C O N S E RVAT I O N

J ames D elaney is a hoping to also clean
up the east side of the Wilds Park.

I tstarted seven years ago with Pablo, I t’ s a rare piece of safe, green space in the city. Once Delaney had cleared the walking paths
a tan Labrador puppy. His human owner, (the removal of weeds and invasive species is
artist James Delaney, had recently moved “We tend to hold the belief that the authorities a continuous process), painted the benches,
into Killarney – an area in Johannesburg or those in power must do something. We don’t installed colourful sculptures of animals, including
dominated by flats. believe we can take action because of rules and giraffes, owls, and monkeys, other people started
Delaney was in a quandary: the closest open regulations, or apathy. Yes, there is a lot of red to volunteer their time and resources.
park to walk Pablo was The Wilds. The 16-hectare tape, but the trick is to do it anyway and to form
park, which covers the ridges of Parktown, partnerships along the way. No one should fear Now, there are regular guided walks (including
Killarney and Houghton, was once a green haven starting anything in their local area,” says Delaney. a morning session for seniors), exercise classes
for the surrounding communities. The expansive and yoga events. The so-called “Blossom Bridge”
lawn was home to family picnics on a Sunday and ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP RATHER is a place that knitters and crocheters have
after-school banana splits at the very top of the THAN COMMUNITY BUY-IN decorated with yarn flowers. Craft lovers have
koppie overlooking Roedean school. found a community in The Wilds, gathering to
When it comes to transforming public spaces, the walk together and knit and crochet various items
The park also held significant ecological go-to model is extensive community engagement to place on old tree stumps and on the lawn. In
value with indigenous and even endemic bugs, and public participation. While this is useful in addition, people have donated seeds and plants
creatures, trees, grasses and plants. One could some respects, the consultative processes are to the once empty nursery and offer to pull the
safely amble to the top of the koppie near the laborious and seemingly interminable. ubiquitous weeds growing in the park’s nooks
Munro Drive viewpoint on the east side of The and crannies.
Wilds and brush up against the centuries-old “I find that it’s passionate people who make
yellowwood trees and red-hot poker aloes. It was the change and continue the momentum. I think The Friends of The Wilds Facebook Group
also an active conservancy, with a greenhouse to the best model is active citizenship and a strong provides a platform for knowledge-sharing.
grow and nurture local flora. culture of volunteerism,” says Delaney. “I am not a landscaper or a biodiversity expert, so
when I need to know something, such as the name
But something went terribly wrong and for of an indigenous species, I ask the community. If
almost three decades, The Wilds was a no-go we need to get someone to volunteer their time
area with a reputation for being crime-ridden, to map out the section of the park, we ask our
overgrown and generally hazardous due to community. The Rosebank Scouts group and other
poor maintenance. Instead of waiting for the schoolchildren helped revitalise the compost
authorities to overhaul and reclaim the park, heap. We always find someone to help us,”
Delaney took the initiative to bring it back to life says Delaney.
and to make it a community asset.
Remarkably, over R100 000 was raised through
crowdfunding to restore the east side of The
Wilds, which still needs a lot of work.

A MODEL FOR THE COUNTRY’S GREEN LUNGS? IMAGES: SUPPLIED

Delaney has been called by many active and passionate citizens – from Orange Farm to the Karoo
– wanting to regenerate their local park. Delaney offers advice about matters such as negotiating
permission with authorities, planting low maintenance trees, or partnering with NGOs to channel funds
raised for upgrading activities.

“The Wilds is a great case study and an ongoing passion project,” says Delaney.

26 G R E E N





E -WA S T E

Second- hand appliances are being sold at tax i ranks.

A ppliance Bank trains people to fix old electronics.

CLEANING
UP AFTER

COMPUTERS

JOANNE CAREW finds out what happens to your old Recycling appliances cuts down on e- waste and
electronics that end up in the bin prov ides working goods at a low cost.

B ack in the early 2000s, Keith Anderson collection is critical of all end-of-life items,” recycled ends up in landfills and is exposed to
was working as a director at one of the explains Anderson. the elements.
largest privately-owned IT distribution
companies in South Africa. It was E-waste is the fastest growing waste stream This causes the heavy metals – like lead, mercury
during this time – working with so in the world, faster than any other waste stream, and solder – to leach into the soil and contaminate the
much IT equipment every single day – that he began he continues. According to a report by the United groundwater and, later, our rivers.
wondering where all of this hardware ends up when it Nations, around 50 million tons of e-waste is
reaches the end of life. generated around the world every year, growing at Wale Arewa, CEO of IT asset disposal business
around four per cent a year. Xperien, says that given the fact that it is possible
Today, Anderson is the chair of the e-Waste to reclaim most materials from e-waste, it hardly
Association of South Africa (eWASA), an industry The UN estimates that the average person, globally, makes sense for old electronics and appliances to be
group that promotes best practices in e-waste generates an estimated six kilograms of e-waste each mindlessly discarded.
disposal. “Don’t get me wrong, I love technology year. eWASA calculates that South Africans generate The local industry is divided into various stages
and believe that it is a strong enabler. But, slightly more than average, a cumulative 330 000 – the collectors/dismantlers, the processors of
we need to ensure that safe disposal and tons of e-waste annually, of which only about downstream waste, and then the exporters. Across
12 per cent is recycled. Much of what is not these stages, old hardware is dismantled into glass,

DID YOU KNOW? In 2019, the World Economic Forum described e-waste as an environmental challenge that desperately needs our attention. The United
Nations calls the current situation “a tsunami of e-waste”. According to the UN, the amount of e-waste could more than double to 120 million tons by 2050.

G R E E N 29

E -WA S T E

plastic, ceramic, metals and heavy metals. These raw
materials are sent to industries that reprocess the
waste. Where this isn’t possible, the waste is exported
to countries that are equipped to handle it.

South Africans’ neglect of the waste stream can
be attributed to a blend of apathy around waste

WHAT IS E-WASTE?

South Africa defines e-waste as anything that C omputer and A V hardware in the A ppliance doesn’t want. A 2020 discussion paper from the
used electricity or a battery to operate that Bank’ s storeroom. Brenthurst Foundation, a Johannesburg-based
has been discarded. E-waste is further broken think-tank established by the Oppenheimer family,
down into different categories. These include: management and lack of awareness, says Kate Stubbs cites Nigeria and Ghana as Africa’s major e-waste
• small household appliances: vacuum of Interwaste. “It’s cheaper to dispose of something dumpsites. The port cities of Lagos (Nigeria)
in a landfill,” she points out. Add in the relatively few and Accra (Ghana) are reported to receive
cleaners, coffee machines, toasters, irons. opportunities provided for collecting such waste, as 60 000 and 150 000 tons of illicit e-waste imports
• large household appliances: washing well as the lack of assistance in this regard, and it’s respectively per annum. Despite both countries
easy to see why most of us feel it’s easier to hide that being signatories of the Basel Convention (an
machines, refrigerators, dryers, broken microwave in the back of the garage, rather international treaty regulating the transboundary
air conditioners. than disposing of it responsibly. movement and disposal of hazardous waste), both
• office and ICT equipment: TVs, VCR/ Nigeria and Ghana have poor e-waste legislation
DVD/CD players, hi-fi sets, radios, coin slot THE ECONOMICS OF E-WASTE: and are easily exploited by developed nations.
machines, parking ticket equipment. AN AFRICAN EPIDEMIC?
• lighting equipment: Fluorescent tubes and According to the Brenthurst Foundation paper,
lamps, sodium lamps. Given the numbers outlined by Anderson, it’s addressing the global e-waste epidemic requires
• electrical and electronic tools: drills, safe to say that there is big business in e-waste. a transition to a circular economy. This means
electric saws, sewing machines, Unfortunately, Africa often becomes a dumping developing and designing products that are more
lawnmowers, large stationary ground for whatever the rest of the world durable, that last longer and with recyclability in
tools, machines. mind. It also demands that electronics producers
• security and healthcare equipment: introduce buy-back incentive programmes that
surveillance and control equipment, encourage consumers to return their old devices to
medical instruments and equipment. the manufacturer instead of throwing them in the
rubbish. It is also possible to extract raw materials
UPCYCLING E-WASTE TO CREATE EMPLOYMENT from e-waste in a way that is practical and safe. IMAGES: ANNA LUSTY
This, in turn, creates decent job opportunities in a
When customers return appliances like toasters, kettles or hairdryers, many of these “broken” or “faulty” formalised sector.
items just get tossed in the bin. Not only is this incredibly bad for the environment, but it’s also a waste of
resources as many returned electronics can be repaired or the parts can be reused. Keen to address this There are many opportunities ahead.
issue, Tracey Chambers and Tracey Gilmore founded The Appliance Bank to teach people how to repair
these returned household appliances and sell them for a profit. WHERE TO PUT IT

The Appliance Bank provides a two-year training programme for unemployed men or women who are What can you do with your old cellphone
looking to establish their own businesses. It forms part of nonprofit organisation, The Clothing Bank, and or toaster?
was piloted in 2015 through a strategic partnership with the Clicks Group. “Last year, the participants in our
programme made R5-million worth of profits in their businesses. And this was stock that otherwise would There are many places you can safely dispose of
have gone to landfill,” explains Gilmore. e-waste. Desco Electronic Recyclers, for example,
has placed e-waste bins in various Makro car
In addition to teaching more technical skills, the programme also includes financial, business and life parks across the country. Consumers also can
skills training, as well as coaching and mentoring to help the programme participants on their business hand in their e-waste at their nearest Incredible
journey. “We want to create real income-generating opportunities for unemployed South Africans. And to Connection or HiFi Corp store where the
help informal traders make their businesses a success.” electronics will be safely disposed of or recycled.

Computeraid, meanwhile, focuses on recycling high-tech components. Since its establishment in 1997
(when e-waste had yet to become a serious consideration), the company has provided over 260 000
computers to needy communities in over 100 countries. “We have also started refurbishing old mobile
devices, taking even more e-waste out of the system. Every laptop we reuse saves 19kg of carbon dioxide;
every PC saves 37kg and every monitor saves 11kg,” says Premie Naicker, CEO of Computeraid South Africa.

Additional reporting by LISA WITEPSKI

30 G R E E N





LITTER

BUTT installed branded, concrete

OUT cigarette butt bins a few years

ago and placed them in core

pedestrian areas, including in front

of large corporate buildings and

call centres

ur cleaners remove around

g of butts from our bins

every month, but an enormous

amount of butts still land up on the

ground, vangelinos adds

ltimately, we want people to

Cigarette butts are the most littered dispose of their cigarette butts
item on earth. JOANNE CAREW digs
responsibly and the idea is to
deeper into the problem
provide them with the necessary

infrastructure to do so,

he continues

O n eptember There was a time when nobody

, cigarette thought twice about using

butts were on the menu during a straw because we didn t really

lunch hour at t eorge s all understand how bad they are for

arlier in the day, hilip orris the environment ut as awareness

employees and others collected has been raised and we have all

cigarette butts across the Cape Town C D and learned about the impact of straws

placed all the litter they found in the centre of this on the environment, we ve started

busy pedestrian wal way The pile of cigarette to change our behaviour,

butts weighed g The demonstration was part Some of the more than 30 0 branded, concrete butt says a ee hen it comes to
bins placed in areas around C ape T own’ s C BD . cigarette butts, we need to raise
of cigarette and tobacco manufacturing company

hilip orris outh frica s nsmo e similar awareness

campaign and was run together with the Central and does enormous damage to the environment, nd, so far, it seems to be wor ing

City Improvement District CCID and City of e plains Tasso vangelinos, C of the Cape Town ccording to a ee, the bright yellow nsmo e

Cape Town Central City Improvement District hat we ve branding on these cigarette bins has made the

The display aimed to raise awareness about found, adds Rishaad a ee, head of corporate brand and the initiative that much more visible

the massive cigarette butt litter problem that communications at hilip orris outh frica, o much so that they get regular requests from

affects cities and towns across outh frica This is that there are many smo ers out there who business owners as ing how they can have more

litter eventually lands up in our seas and rivers simply haven t internalised that a cigarette is, in bins placed outside their offices

fact, litter hen you re dealing with a problem of this

hich is why cigarette butt litter has become magnitude, it is not something that a single player

such a massive problem can resolve on their own, concludes a ee It

Cigarette butt litter is quite bad in the C D of requires government, business and civil society

Cape Town, especially in public or pedestrian areas, to wor together because ultimately the hope of

stresses vangelinos For this reason, the CCID cleaning up our communities is a common goal

I RI , I D TASSO EVANGELINOS FIVE REASONS YOU SHOULDN’T BE DROPPING BUTTS

“OUR CLEANERS REMOVE • ost cigarette filters, the part of the cigarette that loo s li e white cotton, are actually made of
AROUND 300KG OF BUTTS plastic fibres, which can ta e up to a decade to decompose
FROM OUR BINS EVERY
MONTH, BUT AN ENORMOUS • hile ultraviolet rays from the sun will eventually brea filters down into smaller pieces, the to ic
AMOUNT OF BUTTS STILL material never disappears
LAND UP ON THE GROUND.”
– TASSO EVANGELINOS • ome of the to ic compounds found in cigarette butts include arsenic, lead, copper, formaldehyde,
nicotine, chromium, cadmium and a variety of polyaromatic hydrocarbons s
I:
• Cigarette butts leach chemicals and heavy metals into the environment These chemicals and metals are
to ic to fresh and saltwater fish

• Discarded cigarette butts have been lin ed to wildfires, which destroy wildlife, vegetation
and homes

G R E E N 33

A GLOBAL LEADER
IN SUSTAINABILIT

Philip Morris International has been recognised by CDP

as a global leader in sustainable action

P hilip Morris International Inc and encouraging as we continue our ABOUT CDP , CDP
(PMI) has once again been transformation,” said Huub Savelkouls, PMI’s
recognised as a global leader chief sustainability officer. “Our work toward CDP
in sustainability performance achieving a smoke-free future isn’t just about
and disclosure by CDP – an transforming our product, it’s also about ,
international nonprofit that collects data to completely transforming the value chain V
help decision-makers reduce risk, capitalise and keeping sustainability at the heart of
on opportunities and drive action toward everything we do. We intend to accelerate our US
a more sustainable world. In CDP’s most efforts for even greater impact.”
recent rankings, PMI earned a position on the O CDP
prestigious Water Security A List, recognising PMI’s water strategy accounts for the CDP
the company as a global leader in water security. risks it faces – including from natural T
PMI has also been placed on CDP’s Supplier disasters, water scarcity and agricultural ,
Engagement Leaderboard, designating it as a supply chain instability – and drives action ,
global leader in engaging with its suppliers on towards responsible use of water as a shared
climate change, and has achieved a ranking of resource, taking into consideration the needs MB CDP
A- for its Forest disclosure. of local communities. As PMI increases
its manufacturing capacity for smoke-free CV
PMI also ranked – for the sixth year in a row products – which requires more water than for CDP
– on CDP’s A List for climate change. PMI was cigarettes – the company is evolving its water
acknowledged for reducing its environmental strategy, with clean technology investments
impacts, end to end, amid its historic enabling water savings and water recycling.
transformation toward a smoke-free future. The One example of this is PMI’s implementation
company has been recognised for its actions of the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS)
and strategies to reduce emissions and manage standard. In 2017, PMI became a member
climate risks in its supply chain in the past of AWS; one year later, it certified its first
reporting year. PMI’s sustainable commitments manufacturing site, in Brazil, to the AWS
have also been documented as part of the 50 standard. Five additional factories were AWS
Sustainability and Climate Leaders initiative. certified in 2019, and the company is making
good progress toward its goal of certifying all
“Being recognised by CDP for our factories by 2025.
sustainability efforts is both humbling

34 G R E E N

ADVERTORIAL

In addressing the A List companies, Paul chain. The CDP recognition energises us to Improvement District to address cigarette
Simpson, CEO of CDP, said: “Congratulations further focus our efforts to mitigate climate butt litter (CBL) in the city. The initiative
to the companies that achieved a position change and the scoring process will continue to aimed to raise awareness about CBL
on CDP’s A List this year for leading in inspire us and guide our progress.” and encourage smokers to dispose of
environmental performance and transparency. cigarette butts responsibly. As part of
The business risks from the climate emergency, Philip Morris South Africa (PMSA) has its Agricultural Labour Practices (ALP)
deforestation and water insecurity are vast implemented several measures to drive its programme, PMI aims to improve the
– as are the opportunities from addressing sustainability objectives locally. The company working and living conditions of workers
them – and it’s clear the private sector has a launched its smoke-free alternatives in South within its tobacco supply chain. In South
vital role to play at this critical time. The A List Africa in 2017 and is actively pursuing its vision Africa, PMI recently completed a project to
companies are leading the market in corporate of making South Africa smoke-free. Marcelo improve farm labourers’ accommodation.
sustainability, tackling environmental risks Nico, PMSA MD, says: “We are focused The project has delivered 246 new rooms,
and setting themselves up to thrive in on replacing cigarettes with less harmful 400 renovated rooms, and 92 new or
tomorrow’s economy.” alternatives as soon as possible.” renovated toilets, as well as electricity
installation on 31 farms – benefitting over
This is also the third consecutive year that This core business transformation is at the 1 000 workers and their families on 44
the CDP has recognised PMI as a leader in heart of PMSA’s commitment to sustainability. farms. PMI has succeeded in providing
supplier engagement. With more than 36 000 At the same time, PMSA is also actively adequate accommodation to all contracted
contracted suppliers, PMI’s total supply chain managing and improving other important social farms in South Africa ahead of its global
has a significant environmental, social and and environmental aspects of its value chain. timeline of end 2020. ■
economic footprint that calls for comprehensive
programmes to address risks and achieve Last year, PMSA partnered with the
improvements. These programmes have seen City of Cape Town and the Central City
the company rate among the top three per cent
of organisations assessed by CDP. PMI is now
included among the fewer than 160 companies
on the leaderboard.

PMI has developed a zero deforestation
manifesto and aims to have a net positive
impact on forests associated with its tobacco
supply chain by 2025. Additionally, as part
of PMI’s Good Agricultural Practices, the
company’s tobacco suppliers are expected to
prevent biodiversity loss.

“Our commitment to a smoke-free future
has enabled us to make significant strides in
our transformation into a more sustainable
company,” said Laurence Ruffieux, PMI’s
director of operation sustainability. “We’ve given
great attention to the roles that water, forest
and supplier engagement play within our value

DELIVERING A SMOKE-FREE FUTURE CONTACT DETAILS
021 527 4840
PM I PMI
PMI 3 Bridgeway, Century City,
, , Cape Town, 7441
www.pmi.com

,

,

US PMI

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PMI

F,

G R E E N 35

SUSTAINABLE, SARTORIAL, UP IN THE ERRE

SOUTH AFRICA Silhouettes that don’t date and locally
In a world of throwaway fashion, LISA WITEPSKI finds local labels that are produced, sustainable natural fibres are
distinguished by their accent on conscious sourcing and production central to the ethos of Carina Louw and
Natasha Jaume, the brains behind Erre.
H ouse of L ucent “Imust be one of the only business But it’s their business philosophy that
owners who makes and markets truly stands out.
a product, but hopes that no one
buys it,” laughs Allistair Barnes of “If your product doesn’t aim to grow the
fashion house Ballo. His focus on local economy, you’re fighting a losing battle,”
zero waste has made him keenly aware of the says Louw. “To be truly sustainable, you
cost the earth pays for our clothing whims. This need to have a multifaceted approach: your
is why Ballo’s own range is produced in small runs business must be financially sustainable,
from natural fibres like hemp and linen and is paying fair wages and supporting the
manufactured locally. community, growing local economies (like
The range came about after Barnes’ search for our support of the South African mohair
a pair of shorts took him to the V&A Waterfront. manufacturing industry), and you need to
Finding nothing that ticked his boxes, he decided focus on skills development and
to produce his own – and, when the compliments cultural preservation.”
came in, he made more.
South African designers face their fair
The clothing slotted neatly into his Ballo label, share of challenges in meeting these
a range of locally-produced, durable sunglasses, criteria, ranging from the dearth of local
with the added plus of being able to fit prescription textiles to the perceived value of garments
lenses, made from sustainable materials like hemp. among local consumers.

Barnes says that his Cape Town base gives him “Unfortunately, natural fibres are
a definite edge as a purveyor of sustainable expensive,” says Louw. “In a world of cheap,
fashion: the international tourist market is not only fast fashion it takes some time to convince the
more educated about this niche, but also has more local market that the price tag is worth it.”
income to spend on it. “The need for education
aside, the local market is very price-sensitive,” That said, Louw notes that the industry has
he comments. That’s why he’s looking to take the taken several strides in recent years.
label to markets like Europe and the United States; Fashion Week director Lucilla Booysen
although he’s more interested in “growing strong” has established a strategy to make the
than growing big. event more sustainable within five years.
There’s also been the introduction of the
Twyg magazine sustainability awards,
which will influence both designer and
consumer mindsets, and the commitment
of Mohair South Africa in educating local
designers and connecting them to local fibre
manufacturers and suppliers.

H ouse of L ucent

H ouse of L ucent E rre

36 G R E E N

CLOTHING

IMAGES: SUPPLIED LIGHTING THE WAY Sitting Pretty INDUSTRY TRAILBLAZER

Laura Ferreira, creative director of Lucent, says that PRETTY POWERFUL “A staggering 150 billion new garments are
she didn’t set out with the intention of creating a produced locally every year, and 50 per cent of
sustainable label. “The process flowed organically. Fashion is changing, says Sitting Pretty’s these are burnt or end up in landfills only one
I knew that I had specific objectives, and it so Emma Longden: one has only to look at the year after being made,” reports Lunar’s Nicola
happened that these added up to a sustainable and introduction of fabrics like pineapple and Luther. The fashion industry’s crimes further
environmentally-conscious brand.” mushroom leather, or the use of 3D printing for include the release of half a million tons of
samples, for proof. plastic microfibres when synthetic fibres are
Ferreira maintains that many other South washed, which, ultimately, end up in the sea.
African designers share this ethos. “Our country There’s still some way to go, though. South
is absolutely on the right track when it comes to Africans have bought into the concept of fast This explains Lunar’s insistence on using
sustainability; it’s almost if the characteristic of fashion because it provides a false sense of 100 per cent natural fibres; a philosophy that was
care is ingrained in us through our African roots. wealth – and with every polyester garment already in place when the label was established
There are so many signs of hope and actions that has a short shelf life, our landfills grow. 22 years ago. This makes Lunar South Africa’s
of promise, and it’s beautiful to see so many That’s before you consider the conditions of the eco-fashion frontrunner – but this impressive
local designers promoting sustainable methods workers who produce these items. “Sadly, the status doesn’t grant immunity from challenges.
and ethical practices, taking the time to add buzz from buying new outweighs the concerns
value to the supply chain and revive a once around factory conditions and environmental “It’s difficult not to feel overwhelmed by the
booming industry.” impact, and it’s difficult to change people’s issue of climate change,” says Luther. “We often
shopping habits when they’re constantly feel like we don’t know what to do or where to
Her plans around sustainability are encouraged to buy more.” start. Most of the actions you can take have both
far-reaching, starting with partnering with pros and cons and there is often conflicting
factories that genuinely care for their workers and Longden’s approach to the problem has information regarding sustainable practices.”
prioritise equality. Linked to this, the label aims evolved over time. She admits that she knew
to create two small, trans-seasonal collections, little about sustainable or ethical clothing Lunar’s approach has been to focus on
which sets a slower pace for the design team and when she established Sitting Pretty 10 years researching and educating as far as possible,
allows them to source sustainable fabrics and ago, but as she became more aware of the then doing whatever it can to become more and
manufacturing methods while minimising waste – environmental impact of the fashion industry more sustainable.
an antidote to fast fashion. – and developed an increasing discomfort with
how this sat alongside her values – she made a “We are not perfect, nor do we have to be. We
At the same time, Lucent favours eco-fabrics deliberate decision to source only natural and do, however, need to improve constantly and do
such as Tencel, linen, hemp and organic cotton, environmentally-friendly fibres. This ethos has better than we did yesterday,” Luther says. She
as well as fibres grown without the use of toxic carried through to the production side, where laments the lack of a sustainable infrastructure,
pesticides and synthetic fertilisers. All garments the accent is on producing a versatile look that which would enhance the label’s efforts (and
are packaged in biodegradable materials, with a remains wearable over a long time, rather than those of other designers). This is where the
minimal environmental footprint. Leftover materials focusing on what’s “on-trend”. consumer has a part to play: “If we all demand
are used to create blankets for the homeless and sustainable practices from the businesses we
pencil bags for underprivileged children, so that support, suppliers will come through to fill these
less waste goes to landfill. Lucent has, furthermore, gaps in the market. After all, the market is based
joined a green-efficient printing partner with a low on supply and demand. We all need to make
carbon factory so that the printing ink contains responsible choices about what we support and
no harmful chemicals. Finally, the brand gives where we spend our money.”
a nod to social projects with last year’s women
empowerment initiative, the #IamWomanTee.

H ouse of L ucent

G R E E N 37











RECYCLING

PLASTIC POLLUTION IN NUMBERS

• million tons of plastic pollution is added

to the oceans annually. (Source:

CleanSeas campaign)

• rivers in frica and sia carry per cent

of the plastic ending up in our oceans.

(Source: Africa Impact)

• bout shipping containers of waste is

dumped in Africa monthly. (Source: Africa Impact)

• nly per cent of all trash produced in

Africa is recycled. (Source: Africa Impact)

• frica recycled tons of plastics into

OCEANS OF raw material in 2018. (Source: National Plastics

PLASTIC Recycling Survey 2018)

• lastic waste collected in provided

7 800 direct jobs and another 8 500 income-

generating jobs. (Source: Plastics SA)

Plastic pollution of the oceans, is intrinsically linked to behaviours on land, In South Africa, it’s the economy that is driving
recycling as an industry, says Anton Hanekom,
finds SAMANTHA BARNES executive director at Plastics SA. “[That’s] unlike
T ackling the problem of plastic pollution Europe where recycling is an environmental principle
in the ocean is going to require plenty The African continent has a way to go. Two years subscribed to by most citizens and local councils and
of innovative thinking. In the Americas, on, and only nine countries (out of 54) have signed is seen as ‘the right thing to do’. Recycling in South
for example, cleanup organisation the #CleanSeas pledge. The signatories are Benin, Africa needs to be financially viable to succeed. The
Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Seychelles, costs include manual labour to sort, wash bays to
wash polluted materials, and high electricity costs.”
4Ocean partly funds its mission to Sierra Leone, South Africa and Sudan.
There are many opportunities to grow the sector
scoop up plastic waste from the sea by recycling the BEYOND THE SEA that still need to be explored.
materials to create fashion bracelets, for which it
“Many metropolitan households do not have
charges $20 a pop. To overcome ocean pollution, we need to start regular refuse removal, much less a two-bin waste
collection system where recyclables are collected
It’s a good idea, but against the scale of the by changing behaviours on land, says CEO of the separately,” says Hanekom. “According to StatsSA,
34 per cent of South Africans do not have access to
problem it is – pardon the pun – a drop in the ocean. Sustainable Seas Trust Tony Ribbink. waste management services.”

It’s currently estimated that the largest “ocean “The real issues are not what happens in the In 2019, the South African Initiative to End Plastic
Waste was established. This includes the entire
garbage patch”, areas where currents drag waste until oceans, but where people live,” Ribbink says. “People packaging chain – from the chemicals sector, polymer
and raw material producers, to retailers, fast-food
it collects and breaks down, reaches across 1.6 million born into areas where they are surrounded by plastic franchises and other organisations.

square miles. The Ocean Cleanup project estimates and waste can be helped to recognise plastic as a “THE REAL ISSUES ARE NOT WHAT
HAPPENS IN THE OCEANS, BUT
that this patch contains 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, valuable resource – then collect the trash for cash.” WHERE PEOPLE LIVE. PEOPLE
BORN INTO AREAS WHERE THEY
most of which are around the size of your fingernail or “The first step for consumers,” says Ribbink, “is to ARE SURROUNDED BY PLASTIC AND
WASTE CAN BE HELPED TO RECOGNISE
smaller. Some of the waste is more than 50 years old. become well informed.” PLASTIC AS A VALUABLE RESOURCE –
THEN COLLECT THE TRASH FOR
Plastic waste in the seas inevitably finds its Ideally, recycling bins should be readily available. CASH.” – TONY RIBBNIK

way into the food chain and causes great harm. The African Marine Waste Network (AMWN) is helping

Reducing it is going to take a lot of effort from a lot municipalities and businesses to increase the number

of different stakeholders. of recycling bins.

In December 2017, for example, South Africa Ribbink says the country is on its way towards

joined the UN Environment’s #CleanSeas campaign, meeting its global obligations. “It’s taking time

announcing drives to increase recycling. The to adapt, but with Barbara Creecy, Minister of

campaign aims to “turn the tide on plastic” by Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, at the helm, we

inspiring action from governments, businesses and have confidence that South Africa will reach

individuals on ocean pollution. its goals.”

IMAGES: SUPPLIED DID YOU KNOW? The second annual African Marine Waste Conference takes place in Port Elizabeth
from 20 to 24 April 2020. The conference will focus on developing action plans for countries in Africa.

G R E E N 43

ADVERTORIAL

I n the TV series Mad Men, there is an Plastics pact signing
infamous scene where mother and wife
Betty Draper shakes out a litter-filled PUTTING AN END TO ASTE
picnic blanket onto a pristine lawn. Before SA PLASTICS PACT CHARTS
that, her husband Don is seen casually
tossing his empty beer can into the shrubbery NE COURSE
before the family heads off in their 1960s
gas-guzzler – leaving a trail of waste behind The idea of a “circular economy” is one that draws its inspiration from nature
them. The makers of this ‘60s period drama where nothing goes to waste, instead, staying within an ecosystem to be
were clearly aiming to elicit a gasp of shock from
contemporary viewers. But are we really doing reused and repurposed over and over again. Now the newly-launched South
that much better today? African Plastics Pact is taking steps to make this thinking a reality.

Our sensibilities may have moved on, but The SA Plastics Pact signatories have with annual public progress reporting. This
the amount of plastic waste washing up on already taken a bold step by committing to includes setting up collaborative action groups to
our beaches, choking our rivers, and feeding taking action on problematic or unnecessary identify the most problematic and unnecessary
mountains of municipal waste in landfills are plastic packaging through redesign, plastic packaging, develop end markets for
indicative of what is known as a linear economy innovation or alternative (reuse) delivery recycling and ensuring all packing is 100 per
that reaches straight back to the 1960s when models. Their 2025 targets include ensuring cent recyclable or reusable.
plastics were first becoming popular. This is that 100 per cent of plastic packaging is
a “take, make, waste” linear system, whereby reusable, recyclable or compostable; The SA Plastics Pact will be managed and
we carelessly extract finite resources from the 70 per cent of plastic packaging is effectively delivered by GreenCape in partnership with
environment, turn them into commodities for recycled and that there is a 30 per cent WWF-SA and the UK’s WRAP, with the founding
our use, and discard what we no longer perceive average of recycled content across all plastic members committed to a series of ambitious
to be useful without worrying about packaging (to ensure there is a ready market targets for 2025 to prevent plastics from
the consequences. for the recycled material). becoming waste or pollution. To learn more, go
to www.saplasticspact.org.za. ■
TOTAL RETHIN NEEDED And these are no idle promises. To achieve
these targets, some problematic plastic items CONTACT DETAILS
To turn this on its head, we really need to will have to be designed out of the system. Cape Town: 021 657 6600
completely rethink the notion of “waste” and Reuse models will have to be developed to Johannesburg: 011 339 1152
begin moving towards what is called a circular reduce the need for single-use packaging.
economy, says Lorren De Kock, who is the And all plastics will need to be designed Hilton: 033 343 1464
project manager for Circular Plastics with WWF to be reusable, recyclable or compostable Website: www.wwf.org.za
South Africa. Put simply, this means finding ways in practice and at scale, with a concerted
of keeping what we would traditionally think of effort on both the design and the after-use
as waste inside the system – much in the same side. By delivering on these targets, the SA
way nature does when it repurposes everything Plastics Pact also has the potential to create
within an ecosystem. new livelihoods and opportunities in product
design and reuse business models.
To this end, WWF-SA has been working
behind the scenes with a range of partners to Next steps are for the newly formed
put together the newly formed South African secretariat to develop a roadmap for 2025
Plastics Pact that was launched in Cape Town towards collective action in the local market
in January this year. The pact, which is part of
a global network, boasts an impressive line-up
of signatories from plastic manufacturers to
retailers and recyclers, all of whom have agreed
to take collaborative action to tackle the
waste issue.

De Kock explains: “Waste is an indication of
significant system inefficiencies. We would like
the term waste to be replaced with secondary
material, which has many lifetimes, stays at its
highest value and remains in a circular economy.
Through the SA Plastics Pact, we can support
the development of a secondary resource or
circular economy in South Africa. This will
drive investment in infrastructure, support
livelihoods and keep our environment free of
plastic pollution.”

44 G R E E N



REGULATING THE
ENERGY INDUSTRY

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) makes a valuable contribution to the socioeconomic
development and prosperity of the people of South Africa by regulating the energy industry in accordance with
government laws, policies, standards and international best practices in support of sustainable development.

NERSA is a regulatory authority established as a juristic person in terms of Section 3 of the National Energy
Regulator Act, 2004 (Act No 40 of 2004). NERSA’s mandate is to regulate the electricity, piped-gas and petroleum
pipeline industries in terms of the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006 (Act No. 4 of 2006), Gas Act, 2001 (Act No. 48 of

2001) and Petroleum Pipelines Act, 2003 (Act No. 60 of 2003).

NERSA’s mandate is further derived from written government policies as well as regulations issued by the Minister
of Mineral Resources and Energy. NERSA is expected to perform the necessary regulatory actions in anticipation of

and/or in response to the changing circumstances in the energy industry.

The Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy appoints members of the Energy Regulator, comprising part-time
(nonexecutive) and full-time (executive) regulator members, including the chief executive officer (CEO). Staff under

the direction of the CEO support the Energy Regulator.

Jacob Modise, Maleho Nkomo, Chris Forlee, Full-time
Chairperson Deputy Chairperson Regulator Member and Chief

Executive Officer

Yusuf Adam, Nomfundo Maseti, Muzi Mkhize, Fungai Sibanda,
Part-time Regulator Full-time Regulator Member: Full-time Regulator Member: Part-time Regulator
Piped-Gas and Electricity
Member Petroleum Pipelines Member

@NERSAZA @NERSA_ZA

Kulawula House, 526 Madiba Street, Arcadia, 0083 P O Box 40343, Arcadia, 0007 | Tel: (012) 401 4600 | Fax: (012) 401 4700
Website: www.nersa.org.za | E-mail: [email protected]

WAT E R

Parched land at the
Lower Sabie reservoir in
the Kruger National Park.

WILL THE MASTER

PLAN WORK?

The national plan to deal with drought has been cautiously welcomed, but
is it too little too late? asks MPHO LUKOTO

I n 2017, many South Africans were jolted to while a changing climate and natural water shortages supply and demand could be between 2.7 and
attention about SA’s water situation by Cape are an issue, the current shortages have been 3.8 billion m3 per annum by 2030. That’s the
Town’s Day Zero water campaign to deal exacerbated by “insufficient water infrastructure equivalent of about 17 per cent of currently available
with its water crisis. The campaign not only maintenance and investment ... inequities in access to surface and ground water. It estimates that R33bn
succeeded in getting the residents of Cape water and sanitation, deteriorating water quality, and per year in investment is needed over the next
Town to reduce their water consumption, saving a lack of skilled water engineers”. 10 years to achieve water security.
the metro from the doomsday scenario of the taps
running dry, it also raised awareness of South Africa’s The scale of the problem is intimidating. This, it says, will be achieved through
water predicament. a combination of improved revenue generation and
SOBERING ANALYSIS a significant reduction of costs.
The country ranks as one of the 30 driest countries
in the world with an average rainfall of about 40 per The document provides a sobering analysis of The plan has been well received, with the general
cent less than the annual world average rainfall, the water crisis. It notes that only 64 per cent of consensus being that the government is finally
according to government figures. households have access to a reliable water supply. showing the will to address the crisis.
Between 1999 and 2011, the extent of main rivers
While the taps did not run dry in Cape Town, areas in South Africa classified as having a poor ecological DID YOU KNOW? South Africa receives an annual
such as QwaQwa in the Free State and several other condition increased by 500 per cent, and some have rainfall of 492mm while the rest of the earth
regions in Limpopo, Northern Cape and Eastern Cape been pushed beyond the point of recovery. South receives 985mm. This is nearly half the earth’s
have spent weeks and even months without water. Africa has lost over 50 per cent of its wetlands, and of average. South Africa is, therefore, classified as a
Every day is essentially day zero. the remaining 3.2 million hectares (ha), one-third are water-stressed country.
already in a poor condition. Source: Waterwise
To tackle the issue long-term, the Department of
Water and Sanitation has released a master plan. In The plan notes that if water demand continues
the document, the department acknowledges that to grow at current levels, the deficit between water

G R E E N 47

WAT E R

Theewaterskloof Dam

SAMIR RANDERA-REES to show the country that they are prepared to do the effort to raise the required estimated R900bn over IMAGES: SUPPLIED, UTOPIA_88/ISTOCK.COM, EVAN HALLEIN/ISTOCK.COM
work to make it happen,” says Samir Randera-Rees, the 10 years will be to raise water use tariffs. Le Roy,
“THERE ARE INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES WWF SA’s manager for water source areas. however, cautions against this, saying that water
THAT ARE AFFECTING EVERY LEVEL prices in South Africa are already high – comparable
OF THE WATER VALUE CHAIN. IT “There are institutional issues that are affecting with prices in central Europe even though SA’s gross
IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THAT every level of the water value chain. It is encouraging domestic product is a fraction of that of the central
THE MASTER PLAN RECOGNISES to see that the master plan recognises this as a European countries.
THIS AS A FUNDAMENTAL fundamental strategic pillar, and has put the principle
STRATEGIC PILLAR, AND HAS PUT of creating an enabling environment at its centre,” Winter says that to achieve water security, the
THE PRINCIPLE OF CREATING AN says Randera-Rees. government needs to be transparent and keep
ENABLING ENVIRONMENT AT ITS everyone informed. The success of Cape Town’s Day
CENTRE.” – SAMIR RANDERA-REES Benoit Le Roy is the CEO of campaign group Water Zero campaign was underpinned by the open sharing
Shortage SA. He says previous plans were mere “copy of data – the public knew what was at stake and was
In an article published on the University of Cape and paste jobs”. He says the new document is in able to reduce their water consumption.
Town’s (UCT) news site, Dr Kevin Winter, a water effect a catch-up effort, which is not a bad thing as
expert from the Future Water Institute at UCT, the department is admitting that the government has, GETTING THE IMPLEMENTERS
describes the plan as an ambitious attempt to put over the years, underinvested in the sector. ON BOARD
South Africa back on track to achieve sustainable
water security. “Seldom do we see a department A QUESTION OF The delivery of water services falls to local
being so forthright in acknowledging a challenge,” he IMPLEMENTATION government, whose challenges around service
says. “The fact is, any plan is a good start.” delivery, skills expertise and widespread corruption
While the plan is a good start, concerns have been are well-documented. To address the water
WWF South Africa (WWF SA) has also welcomed raised about its financial feasibility. Le Roy says that crisis, the government will have to help struggling
the plan. “Its early adoption indicates that the new the methodology used to calculate the investment municipalities. But there are also Catchment
dispensation is willing to make bold commitments needed is unclear. Both Winter and
Randera-Rees also raise concerns Management Agencies (CMA), introduced in 2014
about this amount. to assist with allocating resources. Or at least there
should be. Only two of nine proposed CMAs have
“Where is government going to get been formed, “leaving a vacuum in effective
that R33bn per year?” asks Winter. water resource management in large swathes of

“The plan to deal with this shortfall the country”, Randera-Rees says.
seems inadequate at the moment and Establishing the missing CMAs this
there is fear in the water sector that year will be one of the first tests of the
without this funding, this will simply master plan. By the end of the year,
become another document full all nine should be operational. If
of broken promises,” says they aren’t, it’ll be another example
Randera-Rees. of critical targets missed.

While the plan says water BENOIT LE ROY
is currently underpriced,
suggesting that part of its

WATER SECTOR NEEDS AN INDEPENDENT REGULATOR

Currently, the Department of Water and Sanitation is responsible for the regulation of the use of raw water across the country, setting prices, volume and quality
standards. However, Water Shortage SA CEO Benoit le Roy believes that government should not be allowed to regulate itself, as it is currently failing in its duties. For
example, no blue drop reports have been made public since 2014, bringing into question the quality of SA’s water.

Along with Outa, Water Shortage SA has called for an independent regulator for the sector. “The water and sanitation department cannot be both player and
referee, he says, adding that the country’s water crisis has been characterised by failing municipal infrastructure, lack of long-term planning and implementation, the
growing failure of sewage treatment plants across the country and a lack of accountability.

Le Roy says an independent regulator will provide price, quality and volume. The regulator would ensure a zero-based costing around tariffs to ensure that water
users don’t pay for government inefficiencies and corruption. The independent regulator will also ensure best practice pricing for water that is not cost-plus. He says
water prices are currently very high – R30–R40/m3. This is inhibiting investor interest in SA, he says.

48 G R E E N