Here are links to relevant organisations where you can report problems and find out more.

Department of Environmental Affairs – www.environment.gov.za; 24-hour hotline 0800 205 005

This government department’s job is to protect our environment and conserve our natural resources. They must make sure that development is sustainable and our resources used wisely. If you see an environmental crime phone the hotline and an inspector will be sent to follow up (see Green Scorpions below).

‘Green scorpions’/ Environmental Management Inspectorate – www.environment.gov.za

This network of officials comes from several national, provincial and municipal departments and they have the power to investigate, inspect, enforce and hand over environmental offenders to the National Prosecuting Authority (see hotline number above).

Department of Water Affairs – www.dwaf.gov.za

This government department takes care of our national water resources and how they are used, and must make sure we all have access to clean water and sanitation.

The Centre for Environmental Rights – cer.org.za

This local non-profit organisation provides legal and other support to environmental organisations and aims to ensure, “every person’s Constitutional right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being, and to have the environment protected for future generations”.

The Asbestos Relief Trust – www.asbestostrust.co.za

This South African trust helps people who may have a claim for damages against an asbestos mining company, informs and helps doctors and lawyers deal with asbestos-related cases, and educates the public on the dangers of asbestos.

The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA) – wessa.org.za

This local organisation has special programmes for developing environmental awareness in schools.

Teens Turning Green – www.teensturninggreen.org

This international, student-led movement educates and advocates for environmentally sustainable and socially responsible choices for individuals, schools, and communities.

The Environmental Blog – www.theenvironmentalblog.org

This international blog has articles about environmental issues, many of them important for South Africans. The six critical current issues are: global warming, sustainable management, the population explosion, renewable energy, environmental pollution and species extinction.

There are many organisations that are involved in the protection of human rights generally in South Africa. Click here to view these organisations’ contact details.