Staff Writer 15 January 2023. NEWS FROM BUSINESSTECH. THIS IS AN EXTRACT ‘’South African executives fear the state will collapse, while global sentiment expresses concerns over the cost-of-living crisis in the short term and the climate crisis in the long term. This is according to the 2023 Executive Opinion Survey (EOS) in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Risk Report, which uses data from over 12,000 business leaders from 121 countries to determine the biggest risks posed in specific countries for the next two years. The WEF then combine the (EOS) data with data from the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) – which uses data from over 1,200 experts from academia, civil society, business, government, and the international community – to see what risks pose the greatest threat across the globe. The five biggest fears of South African executives who took part in the EOS include the following: State Collapse Debt Crisis Collapse of services and public infrastructure Cost-of-living crisis Employment and livelihood crisis South Africa is only one of three countries to have a state collapse as the biggest perceived risk facing the country – Peru – which is currently in the midst of deadly anti-government protests – and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The biggest fears for executives in popular countries that South Africans like to immigrate mainly involve economic concerns. The United Kingdom’s most significant identified risk is the cost-of-living crisis, while the United State’s concern is the Debt crisis. Canadian executives are also concerned about the cost-of-living crisis, and so to are Australian executives. Rapid and sustained inflation is a chief concern for Irish executives. The Netherlands is the exception, as the biggest risk is perceived to be their failure to adapt to climate change. On a global basis, using only GRPS data, the cost-of-living crisis is a risk that will have the most impact over the next two years. While over the next ten years, the risk with the largest perceived severity is estimated to be the failure to mitigate climate change. Outlook for the coming years The WEF notes that the aftereffects of the Covid-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have opened up a new era of rapid inflation and further normalisation of monetary policies, kicking off a period of low growth and low investment. Financial services company BNP Paribas said that South Africa would likely see minimal economic growth in 2023 due to global headwinds and domestic challenges – expecting growth only to reach 0.2% for the year. BNP Paribas also expects inflation to remain high due to a lagged effect of higher wages and disposable incomes being eaten into by higher service prices. A risk of stagflation is also looming over South Africa, which is characterised by rising prices, high unemployment, and low economic growth. In its Global Risk Report, the WEF notes that an increase in stagflation could have dire economic consequences, given unparalleled interaction with record-high levels of public debt. Moreover, even if economies land softer than expected, the low-interest rate era’s demise could have serious knock-on effects – affecting the most vulnerable members of society and increasing poverty, violence, and even the chances of state collapse. Middle-income households will also see gains destroyed by economic pressures, further fuelling discontent and political polarisation. Governments will thus have to balance protecting their citizens from the increasing cost of living without increasing inflation while meeting debt servicing costs as revenues are further stressed due to an economic downturn, a rapid shift to new energy systems, and a volatile geopolitical environment. The new economic era may thus be one where the divide between the rich and poor grow – a regression in human development after years of improvement.’’

Muzi Mkhwanazi, Pikitup Spokesman explains the problem of plastic waste left in landfill. "Plastic is not biodegradable as other kinds of waste streams like wood and such materials. So it lives for a very, very long time. Now, if you compact it, it eats (takes up space) on our landfill airspace. It's difficult to compact, It becomes a nuisance when there's wind to neighbouring or adjacent properties around this landfill site. Then we get complaints from people. It also goes into our wastewater streams ending up in the sea, contaminating water streams, killing fish in the sea. You know, it is a real, real, real problem." Whole Earth Recycling offers a service to residents, collect all your various recycling in a dedicated plastic bag and they sort it for you at a recycling centre. Whole Earth Recycling manager Carmen Jordaan says informal recycling at landfill poses health hazards to the pickers. "If we can stop using non-recyclable plastics in our packaging material, and encourage more people to start recycling we will have a better rate of recycling. Although there is sorting that takes place at the landfill, it is not ideal as it is mixed with food waste, medical waste and that is not hygienic". This week a conference in the city of Gqeberha, South Africa, will discuss how to pressure governments and big businesses to commit to a reduction in plastic production and waste as it takes a toll on the continent's environment. According to the organizers, the "Towards Zero Plastics to the Seas of Africa" will bring together top decision-makers in the plastics value chain on the continent. The conference follows the UN Environmental Assembly's resolution for the development of a legally binding treaty on plastic waste by 2024. Waste campaigner Musa Chamane says the conference is necessary to pressure decision makers to engage with the problem. "They (conferences) do make a difference because it's a platform where we manage to voice our ideas and the industries are there; the civil society are there and governments are there, we all in one room. So if we're pushing and say they have to make sure that they reduce the amount of plastics that they produce, and they even go as far as having an international treaty to make sure that they phase out plastics into the environment. It's a good thing that they are thinking of that because some countries have already banned plastic, like single-use plastics," said Chamane. A 2018 research report by the U.N. and the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research in South Africa estimated that Africa had an average waste collection rate of 55% and only 4% of it was recycled. This is below the African Union's target for municipalities on the continent to recycle at least 50% of their waste by next year. The conference is hosted by the Sustainable Seas Trust's African Marine Waste Network from 23 -27 May 2022

Pretoria - The R4 billion fleet management contract has been tainted with yet another controversy following allegations that the City of Tshwane failed to collect landfill fees estimated at R135 million from service providers responsible for waste removal. As part of the contract, the service providers “contracted by CoT’’ for waste collection vehicles were expected to pay a disposal fee to the municipality. Insiders told the Pretoria News that the metro had allowed these service providers for waste collection vehicles to continue operating for almost 11 months without adhering to certain terms and conditions of the contract, which include paying a disposal fee. The Pretoria News has seen correspondence dated May 5, 2022, written by acting divisional head for waste management Alice Mphahlele to service providers, who were reminded of payments for landfill fees. “This serves as the last reminder to make an appointment with our office for arrangement for payment of landfill fees. The last day to discuss payment arrangements for landfill fees will be May 6, 2022,” Mphahlele wrote.

Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment 18 February 2022 Chairperson: Ms F Muthambi (ANC) “In an extended virtual meeting, the Portfolio Committee received briefings on waste management from the National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, the Gauteng Provincial Government, the Eastern Cape Provincial Government, the City of Johannesburg, the City of Cape Town, the City of Ekurhuleni and the City of eThekwini. Other stakeholders included Plastics SA and the South African Waste Pickers Association. The national, provincial and metropolitan governments set out how they handled waste management and what their responsibilities were. They detailed the challenges they faced in providing new landfill sites and in funding and integrating waste management plans. They highlighted a lack of law enforcement against illegal waste practices.” …an extract … “Challenges for waste services The Committee was told that IWMPs was a key planning tool for municipalities and provinces to provide universal access to waste collection services. About 50 percent of municipalities and provinces had IWMPs. Waste collection services in metros ranged from 70 percent to just over 90 percent. The challenge was in the informal settlements. Waste collection was below 60 percent in provinces that were mostly rural. Waste collection in traditional areas was just below 40 percent because municipalities had limited influence in those areas. Average access to waste collection services across the country had remained steady at just over 70 percent over the years. Waste management suffered from pervasive under-pricing, which meant that the costs of waste management were not fully appreciated by consumers and industry, and waste disposal was preferred over other options. Ms Musekene took Committee Members through slides 21,22,23 of the presentation which gave a breakdown in figures and graphs on waste management and services per province. She said communication of roles and responsibilities was critical in an ever-changing environment. Provinces must assign responsibility for EPR schemes. There should be integration and cooperation among the spheres of government on institutional planning and implementation of waste management. The Chairperson invited Members to engage with the presentation.” Responses “Ms Musekene said …. extract …” The private sector had also invested in diverting waste away from landfills. This included composting facilities, mostly for organic waste. The DFFE had recognised that human waste made up the biggest portion of waste that ended up in landfills. New norms and standards had been developed for the generation of electricity through biogas, but this was happening on a small scale. She said a levy on plastic levy had been implemented and it had been increasing to discourage consumers from buying plastic bags. From 2023 the DFFE would look at product design. All plastics would have to have 50 percent recyclable content. It would eventually increase to 75 percent in 2025 and to 100 percent in 2027.” “She invited Ms Mamogala Musekene, Deputy Director-General: Chemical and Waste Management, to make a presentation.”