Category: The Environment and the Law
New Wine in Old Skins. By Ian Cox.
The New Testament advises us not to put new wine in in old skins. Its good advice that speaks to practical experience learnt over millennia. It is often ignored. This is true even to this day. Env... Read More
The Meaning of Environment. By Ian Cox.
Some years ago Professor Alpheus Zulu responded to the call to make isiZulu the language of instruction at the University of KwaZulu- Natal by saying that this could not be done because isiZulu lacked... Read More
Obey The Rules – The Earthlife Africa Climate Change Case.
The judgement in the matter between Earthlife Africa and the South African Minister of Environmental Affairs case has caused some excitement in environmental circles because it is the first time an en... Read More
What is a Species? By Ian Cox.
One of the things South Africa is truly exceptional at is racial classification. After all we have had a lot of practice. It should come as no surprise, therefore, that the National Environmental Mana... Read More
The Role of the State as Custodian of the Environment. By Ian Cox.
The South African Constitution obliges the state to ensure, through the implementation of reasonable legislative and other measures, that South Africans enjoy an environment that is not harmful to the... Read More
Born A Crime.
Trevor Noah’s evocatively titled autobiography “Born a crime” reminded me of an article I wrote about the 2013 attempt to list species as invasive. The power behind Trevor’s title lies in the ... Read More
Are the Environmental Principles Really That Necessary?
I have concentrated in recent articles on the importance of the environmental principles set out in section 2 of the South African National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). This is because NEMA ... Read More
Fact Versus Opinion. By Ian Cox.
Trout have not been listed as invasive in South Africa, nor is it likely that they will be if the rule of law survives in this country. This has not, however, stopped the Department of Environmental A... Read More