ESG Trends in South Africa’s Resource Sector: What They Mean for Business, Compliance and Competitive Advantage
ESG Is Accelerating in South Africa, Even as Global Rules Shift Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations have become central to how South African resource companies are licensed, regulated, financed, and evaluated. Although parts of Europe are easing sustainability requirements to reduce regulatory burden, South Africa and much of the Global South continue to intensify […]
South Africa’s G20 Environmental Priorities: What This Means for Business and Regulation
When the G20 recently adopted environmental priorities proposed by South Africa, including a focus on air quality and environmental crime, it marked a significant milestone in the evolution of global environmental governance. For a country whose economy depends heavily on mining, energy, and industrial production, these developments are far more than symbolic. They signal a […]
Davide Bishop recognised in the Lexology Index Thought Leaders: Environment & Climate Change 2025 Report
Bishop Fraser Attorneys is proud to share that Partner and Founder, Davide Bishop, has been recognised in the Lexology Index Thought Leaders: Environment & Climate Change 2025 Report, an international ranking identifying the world’s top environmental and climate change lawyers. This recognition underscores Bishop Fraser Attorneys’ leadership in environmental law, mining regulation, and ESG compliance, […]
Bishop Fraser Attorneys’ Davide Bishop Recognised Among the World’s Leading Environmental and Climate Change Lawyers
Bishop Fraser Attorneys is proud to announce that Partner and Founder Davide Bishop has been recognised in the Lexology Index: Environment & Climate Change 2025 Report (formerly Who’s Who Legal), a global guide identifying the world’s foremost environmental and climate change lawyers. This recognition highlights Davide’s extensive expertise in environmental law, mining law, and energy […]
Jagersfontein Dam Collapse: A Turning Point for Environmental Law in South Africa
The collapse of the Jagersfontein tailings dam in September 2022 was one of South Africa’s worst mining-related environmental disasters. Three years later, prosecutions are underway, marking a decisive shift in how environmental negligence is treated by our courts. For the first time, individuals including engineers, a compliance officer, and an operations manager face criminal charges […]
Landmark Kenyan Judgment Reinforces Environmental Rights and Business Accountability
A recent ruling by the Kenya’s Environment and Land Court in Kimeu & 3074 Others v Kenya Pipeline Company Ltd & Another ([2025] KEELC 5239) has set a powerful precedent for environmental justice across Africa. The Court ordered full restoration of the Thange River riparian zone, requiring the polluters to rehabilitate land, water, soil, and […]
The State’s Duty of Care and Environmental Liability: What Barnard v Minister Means for Your Business
Case Overview On 14 July 2025, the Gauteng Division of the High Court handed down judgment in Barnard and Another v Minister of Environmental Affairs and Others (Case No. 9952/2019). The case arose after the State’s Working for Water programme (WfW) applied a herbicide, Kaput 100 Gel (containing picloram), in and around irrigation dams on […]
A Landmark Judgment for Environmental Rights: SCA Clarifies State Duties Under the Air Quality Act
On 11 April 2025, the Supreme Court of Appeal (“SCA”) delivered a pivotal judgment in Minister of Environmental Affairs v Trustees for the Time Being of GroundWork Trust and Others [2025] ZASCA 43. The case arose from the State’s protracted failure to implement regulations under the Highveld Priority Area Air Quality Management Plan; a failure […]
The Climate Change Act, 2024: A Comprehensive Legal Framework for South Africa’s Climate Response
On 17 March 2025, portions of South Africa’s Climate Change Act, 22 of 2024 (the “Act”) came into force. This landmark legislation establishes a binding framework to address the growing threat of climate change, aligning with the country’s constitutional obligations and international commitments under the Paris Agreement. Aimed at facilitating a just transition to a […]
Navigating Environmental Appeals Under the National Environmental Management Act: Insights from the 2025 National Appeal Regulations
THE UNDERLYING STATUTORY FRAMEWORK The National Environmental Management Act, 107 of 1998, as amended (“NEMA”), establishes a robust framework for environmental governance in South Africa, including provisions for appeals against decisions made under NEMA or specific environmental management Acts. Section 43 of NEMA delineates the right to appeal to the Minister, the Member of the […]