Category: Africa

By Narend Singh

South Africa stands at an important crossroads. As we confront the realities of climate change, rising resource costs, unemployment, and increasing pressure on municipal waste systems, we face a simple choice: continue with an outdated economic model that treats resources as disposable, or embrace a circular economy that transforms waste into opportunity.

The choice should be clear.

For decades, our economy has largely followed a linear path: we extract, manufacture, consume, and dispose. While this model has supported industrial growth, it has also generated enormous environmental costs and placed increasing pressure on our natural resources and public infrastructure.

Today, the circular economy offers a different vision. It challenges us to see waste not as the end of a product’s life, but as the beginning of a new economic opportunity.

Around the world, countries are recognising that circularity is no longer simply an environmental ambition. It has become an important driver of competitiveness, innovation and industrial resilience. South Africa cannot afford to be left behind.

Fortunately, we have already begun laying the foundations for this transition.

Government’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Regulations represent one of the most significant policy interventions undertaken in the waste management sector in recent years. These regulations require producers to take responsibility for the environmental impacts of their products throughout their life cycle, creating incentives for better product design, greater recycling and stronger investment in collection systems.

Importantly, EPR is about far more than regulatory compliance.

When implemented effectively, it creates jobs, supports small enterprises, stimulates innovation and reduces the financial burden on municipalities that are increasingly struggling to manage growing waste volumes. It strengthens local manufacturing by returning valuable materials to productive use while reducing dependence on virgin resources.

The plastics sector provides an excellent example of this opportunity. 

Too often, plastics are viewed only through the lens of pollution. Yet plastics remain essential to modern society, supporting industries ranging from healthcare and agriculture to construction and food security. The challenge is therefore not the material itself, but how we manage it. 

Keeping plastics circulating within the economy through reuse, repair and recycling reduces pollution while unlocking significant economic value. It creates new business opportunities, strengthens local value chains and supports thousands of livelihoods across the recycling economy.

This is why partnerships between government, industry and Producer Responsibility Organisations such as Polyco have become increasingly important. Their work demonstrates what can be achieved when regulation is matched by innovation, investment and collaboration.

Government remains committed to strengthening these partnerships.

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is currently reviewing the implementation of the EPR Regulations after five years to ensure that the system remains effective, transparent and responsive to emerging challenges. At the same time, through support from the Global Environment Facility, we are identifying practical interventions that can accelerate South Africa’s transition towards a circular plastics economy.

These initiatives align closely with the country’s broader industrial development agenda, which increasingly recognises circular economy principles as central to long-term economic competitiveness. However, regulation and policy alone will not deliver the transformation we seek. 

Success will depend on collaboration across society.

Municipalities require stronger waste management infrastructure. Businesses must continue investing in product innovation and recycling systems. Communities need greater access to separation at source programmes. Waste pickers, who already make an invaluable contribution to recycling, deserve greater recognition, formal integration and fair economic opportunities.

Most importantly, we must change how we think about waste itself. 

Across the country, encouraging examples are already emerging. Wastewater is being transformed into a valuable resource that strengthens water security. Former landfill sites are being repurposed to generate renewable energy. Materials once destined for disposal are creating employment, supporting entrepreneurs and reducing environmental pollution. 

These are not isolated success stories. They are early signs of the economy we can build.

South Africa also has an opportunity to provide leadership beyond our own borders. Through our role as co-chair of the Africa Circular Economy Alliance, we are working alongside our continental partners to mobilise investment, strengthen circular economy initiatives and promote more sustainable approaches to resource management across Africa.

The transition to a circular economy is therefore not simply an environmental imperative. It is an economic development strategy, an industrial policy opportunity and a pathway towards greater resilience. Protecting our environment and growing our economy are not competing objectives. When approached thoughtfully, they reinforce one another.

The circular economy allows us to reduce pollution while creating jobs. It enables us to conserve resources while strengthening industrial competitiveness. It supports climate action while improving the quality of life in our communities.

This is precisely the kind of inclusive growth South Africa needs.

Our shared challenge now is to move beyond viewing sustainability as a compliance obligation and instead recognise it as a catalyst for innovation, investment and prosperity.

If government, industry, municipalities and citizens continue working together, we can build an economy that wastes less, creates more and leaves a healthier, more prosperous country for future generations.

*Singh is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

 

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Renting a home comes with rights and responsibilities for both tenants and landlords. When disputes arise, the Rental Housing Tribunal provides a mechanism for resolving them without either party having to pay a fee.

The Rental Housing Tribunal is an independent body appointed by a provincial MEC in terms of the Rental Housing Act. Tribunals are established in all nine provinces to provide free, effective and efficient services to resolve disputes between tenants and landlords in residential rental properties.

What can the Rental Housing Tribunal do?

The Tribunal has a range of powers to resolve rental disputes. These include determining whether a matter falls within its jurisdiction, summoning or subpoenaing a tenant or landlord to a hearing or mediation, and conducting hearings either in person or virtually.

It can also issue mandatory or prohibitors interdicts requiring a tenant or landlord to comply with provisions of the Rental Housing Act.

Tribunal rulings have the same force as a judgment of the Magistrates’ Court. The Tribunal can impose fines, make determinations on fair rentals and issue spoliation orders, among other measures.

Who can lodge a complaint?

A tenant, landlord, group of tenants or landlords, or an interest group may lodge a complaint with the Tribunal.

A prescribed complaint form can be submitted:

•    In person at a Rental Housing Tribunal office;
•    Electronically to the Tribunal or an established Rental Housing Information Office;
•    At a Rental Housing Information Office operated under a local authority or municipality; or
•    Through another method permitted by the relevant Tribunal.
•    What happens after a complaint is lodged?

Once a complaint is registered, the Tribunal conducts a preliminary investigation to determine whether it has jurisdiction and whether the matter constitutes an unfair practice.

Both parties are then notified, and mediation is scheduled in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

If the parties reach an agreement, the mediation agreement can be made an order of the Tribunal.

If no agreement is reached, the matter is referred to the Tribunal for a hearing, known as arbitration. The Tribunal then makes a ruling that is binding on the parties, unless it is an interim order.

Where a party fails to comply with a mediation agreement or Tribunal ruling, the aggrieved party may approach the Tribunal for assistance in enforcing it through the Magistrates’ Court.

A party dissatisfied with the Tribunal proceedings may take the matter on review to the High Court.

What constitutes an unfair rental practice?

The Tribunal can deal with practices that unreasonably prejudice the rights or interests of tenants or landlords.

These include:

•    Illegal lockouts or unlawful disconnection of water, electricity or other services;
•    Failure to refund a deposit;
•    Illegal evictions;
•    Exploitative rentals and disputes over fair rentals;
•    Forced entry into a rented property;
•    Lack of maintenance and repairs;
•    Harassment and intimidation;
•    Discrimination by a landlord against prospective tenants;
•    Failure to issue rental receipts;
•    Unlawful seizure of a tenant’s goods;
•    Damage to property;
•    Causing a nuisance;
•    Overcrowding and creating health hazards;
•    Demolitions and conversions;
•    Non-compliance with house rules;
•    Non-payment of rent; and
•    Prohibiting the establishment of tenants’ committees or tenant activities.

Important: The Tribunal does not have jurisdiction to hear applications for eviction orders.

Does the Rental Housing Act apply to your home?

The Act applies to residential dwellings, regardless of who owns the property. It does not apply to business or commercial properties.

A dwelling can include a house, hostel room, hut, shack, flat, apartment, room, outbuilding, garage or similar structure leased for residential purposes.

A storeroom, outbuilding or demarcated parking space may also form part of the leased dwelling where this has been agreed between the landlord and tenant.

What are tenants’ rights?

Tenants have a right to privacy and protection from unreasonable interference with their person and property.

Among other protections, a tenant has the right:

•    Not to have their person searched;
•    Not to have their property searched; and
•    Not to have their possessions seized without a court order.

What are a tenant’s responsibilities?

Tenants are expected to:

•    Pay rent and other charges when they become due under the lease agreement;
•    Use the premises principally for residential purposes;
•    Keep the premises reasonably clean and tidy;
•    Notify the landlord as soon as possible of damage or the need for repairs;
•    Vacate the premises when the tenancy ends;
•    Remove their belongings and rubbish;
•    Return keys, security cards and other access devices provided by the landlord;
•    Leave items provided by the landlord at the premises, and
•    Leave the premises in the condition in which they were found, allowing for fair wear and tear.

What are landlords’ rights?

Landlords have the right to receive regular payment of rent and other charges in terms of the lease.

They may recover unpaid rent and other amounts due after obtaining a Tribunal ruling or court order.

A landlord may also terminate a lease on grounds that do not constitute an unfair practice and are specified in the lease agreement.

Once a lease has been terminated and the necessary order obtained, the landlord may repossess the property and claim compensation for damage caused to the premises.

What are a landlord’s responsibilities?

Landlords must provide the rented premises in a reasonable state of cleanliness and maintain them in a reasonable state of repair, taking into account the age and character of the property and its expected period of habitability.

They must also comply with applicable building, health and safety requirements.

Where a property does not have a reticulated water supply, the landlord must provide adequate means for collecting and storing water.

In certain circumstances, a landlord must compensate a tenant for reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out urgent and serious repairs, provided the damage was not caused by the tenant and the tenant notified the landlord, or made a reasonable attempt to do so.

Landlords must also take reasonable steps to ensure that other tenants do not interfere with a tenant’s reasonable peace, comfort or privacy.

They may not terminate or interfere with the supply of gas, electricity, water, telephone services or other services to a property, except where such interference is necessary to prevent danger or enable maintenance or repairs.

However, landlords are not obliged to repair damage or compensate tenants for repairs where the damage was caused by the tenant.

Is there a fee to lodge a complaint?

No. There is no cost to either the tenant or landlord from the time a complaint is lodged through the mediation or hearing process.

The Rental Housing Tribunal therefore provides an accessible mechanism for tenants and landlords to resolve rental disputes and understand their rights and obligations under the Rental Housing Act.

Know your rights. Know your responsibilities. Know where to get help when a rental dispute arises. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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The Department of Human Settlements is taking its “Know Your Rental Rights: Student Edition” campaign to institutions of higher learning across the country to equip students with knowledge about their rights and responsibilities as tenants.

The national awareness campaign, led by the department, in partnership with Rental Housing Tribunals (RHTs), will run from 6 – 16 October 2026. It is aimed at providing students with information on rental rights, landlord and tenant responsibilities, and free dispute resolution services available in all nine provinces.

The initiative forms part of a broader national education and awareness programme aimed at addressing challenges experienced by students using private accommodation, including unfair rental practices, unlawful evictions, payments, and disputes between tenants and landlords.

The department said engagements with Rental Housing Tribunals across the country have highlighted cases in which unscrupulous landlords exploit student tenants.

It said there are also instances of students failing to honour their rental obligations, despite receiving funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and other funders.

The awareness drive is being implemented in partnership with NSFAS, the South African Union of Students (SAUS) and the South African Technical and Vocational Education and Training Students Association (SATVETSA).

“The activation will include presentations, information sharing sessions, exhibitions and direct engagement with officials from the Rental Housing Tribunal. Students will have an opportunity to learn more about their rental rights, responsibilities and the mechanisms available to resolve rental disputes,” the department said.

The initiative follows a commitment made by Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane in her 2026 Budget Vote speech to empower student tenants and landlords through a nationwide Rental Housing Tribunals awareness campaign.

The Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements also called on the department in June to intensify awareness of the role and services of Rental Housing Tribunals.

The need for greater awareness was further highlighted at the National Student Accommodation Indaba held in Durban in July, where student bodies called for urgent education on students’ rental rights and obligations.

The department said the campaign will also strengthen collaboration with student organisations and institutions of higher learning, while informing students that Rental Housing Tribunals provide free dispute resolution services.

The first engagement will be held at the University of Mpumalanga’s Nelspruit Campus on Tuesday, followed by engagements at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein on 9 October.

Further sessions will be held at Walter Sisulu University’s Mthatha Campus and King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College on 15 and 16 October, respectively.

The department said the campaign forms part of its broader education and awareness programme aimed at promoting fair rental practices and ensuring that both landlords and tenants understand their rights and obligations. – SAnews.gov.za

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Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has called for a fundamental shift in how government measures the success of skills development programmes. 

Manamela made the remarks during his recent appearance before Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training. 

The Minister stressed the need for government to track learners beyond enrolment and completion to establish whether they entered employment, continued studying, established enterprises, or acquired skills that improved their livelihoods. 

“A learner who enrolled must be counted as enrolled. That does not mean that the learner completed, qualified or entered employment,” Manamela said. 

He said this approach should inform the implementation of the Skills Revolution, including reforms to Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), the National Skills Fund (NSF) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.

“Public investment must be judged by the opportunities it creates for people, not only by participation recorded in a report,” the Minister said. 

Manamela said Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) reform must improve employer participation, grant management and learner progression, while the National Skills Fund must combine its developmental role with reliable project oversight and verified delivery.

For TVET colleges, he said reforms must link relevant programmes with capable lecturers, modern facilities and workplace opportunities, while community education remains part of that programme, and “not an afterthought.”

“For universities, we must safeguard access and quality while confronting financial sustainability and governance pressures.”

On the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), Manamela said sustainable financing and reliable administration must advance together, with funding policy supported by functioning decisions, appeals, accommodation, and allowance payment systems.

“As we prepare for the next academic year, this work must produce practical assurance: correct funding decisions, functioning registration systems, safe accommodation, and timely allowance payments.

“We must identify risks early and resolve them before students carry the cost. Readiness must be demonstrated through tested arrangements, not declared through general assurances that everything will be in place,” Manamela said. 

The Minister also called for greater clarity in reporting on irregular expenditure, saying a “declining register does not, by itself, prove that money was recovered or that non-compliance was prevented”.

He said reporting should distinguish between actual recoveries, investigations, referrals, authorised write-offs and other adjustments, with appropriate consequences where wrongdoing was established.

To strengthen implementation across the portfolio, Manamela said he will require a consolidated response linking Auditor-General recommendations, current findings and outstanding commitments from Parliament’s previous Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report.

“Each significant matter must have an accountable official, a deadline, an interim safeguard where needed and evidence of completion,” he said.

He said the Ministry will regularly review progress, while internal audit and audit committees test implementation rather than merely record assurances. 

“Parliament must receive complete, timely information on what has changed and what remains outstanding. Our responsibility is to make these arrangements work between parliamentary appearances, not only when we prepare to attend them,” Manamela said. – SAnews.gov.za
 

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