1. Regulatory Framework
1.1 Key Environmental Protection Policies, Principles and
Laws
Laws Regulating Environmental Management and
Protection
Various laws regulate the protection of the environment in South
Africa
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
(Constitution), which is the supreme law, enshrines the right of
all South Africans to an environment that is not harmful to health
or wellbeing and to have this right protected, for the benefit of
present and future generations through reasonable legislative and
other measures.
Various national, provincial and local level laws reflect these
legislative measures. The national framework environmental
legislation is the National Environmental Management Act, 1998
(NEMA) which must be read together with the "specific
environmental management acts" (SEMAs), namely:
