Environmental compliance and sustainability in South Africa: a study of the transport industry in Johannesburg

Abstract

Environmental compliance has surfaced as being an important tool in environmental management and environmental sustainability, in not just South Africa but in many other parts of the world. It is evident that compliance occurs at various levels of government, but until recently it was only dealt with at a national and provincial level. Environmental compliance has become a crucial component of local governments such as municipalities, and has brought to the fore the importance of the role that local governance has in environmental sustainability. Literature shows that there is still very little research done on the local scale regarding environmental compliance, moreover the benefits it may have for environmental sustainability on a local, national and global scale. This evident lack of research in the field does not negate the need for its advancement. Environmental sustainability, is largely dependent on legislation, policies, and institutional frameworks that operate together harmoniously. Considering the general laissez fair attitude towards environmental degradation and its association to compliance in Africa. It is believed that a positive shift towards enhanced environmental compliance could be beneficial for future generations. This research project has sought to understand the perceived challenges and opportunities for environmental compliance and environmental sustainability in the South African Context. This is done on the backdrop of the City of Johannesburg Municipality’s new Rea Vaya (Bus Rapid Transit system) project which was initiated to curb environmental issues such as air pollution created from congested roads and outdated bus engines. Through the usage of semi-structured interviews with environmental practitioners along with document analysis, data was obtained for the study. The Interpretivist approach allowed for the lived experiences of the environmental practitioners to be studied, and interesting elements of character, legislative loop holes, power dynamics and development misconceptions were identified. It is evident that the role of environmental compliance is crucial in efforts towards environmental sustainability however, the system needs to enforce some changes on the ground that will hold entities accountable for their actions.