TIPS Podcast

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast series, host Ntombi Tshabalala speaks with Nosisi du Toit, researcher at the North West Development Corporation, about the implications of the Just Transition for provincial economies, investment planning, and local industrial development in the North West Province. 

Du Toit explains how her work focuses on research, investment promotion, and analysing socio-economic trends to position the North West as a destination for investment across sectors such as mining, manufacturing, and agro-processing. Reflecting on a recent Just Transition and Green Economy training programme, she highlights the importance of understanding that the transition is ultimately about people, livelihoods, and local economic value chains—not only climate targets or the closure of coal plants.

The conversation explores how provinces will experience the transition differently depending on their economic structures and energy dependencies. Du Toit raises concerns around exclusion within green procurement systems, particularly the limited participation of black-owned SMMEs and women-owned businesses in large-scale green economy projects.

The episode also examines opportunities for the province to develop green economic hubs, strengthen skills development, and diversify its energy mix. Du Toit argues that South Africa should pursue a balanced approach that includes renewable energy alongside hydrogen and nuclear energy, particularly given the energy-intensive nature of mining and smelting industries that remain central to the North West economy.

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast series, host Ntombi Tshabalala speaks with Lilian Sefike, Unit Manager for Integrated Environmental Management at the Rustenburg Local Municipality, about the realities of implementing climate action and Just Transition strategies at local government level in the North West Province. 

Sefike explains how her work spans air quality monitoring, environmental impact assessments, climate change awareness, and environmental education within the municipality. Reflecting on a recent Just Transition and Green Economy training programme, she highlights the importance of understanding both the risks of transitioning to a low-carbon economy and the risks of failing to transition at all. She emphasises that climate change impacts are unavoidable and that municipalities must proactively prepare communities, particularly vulnerable groups, for the transition ahead.

The discussion also explores how local governments can align municipal climate strategies with broader national frameworks, including the Presidential Climate Commission’s Just Transition Framework and South Africa’s Nationally Determined Contributions. Sefike stresses the importance of policy alignment, integrated planning, and mainstreaming climate considerations across municipal departments.

The episode further examines key challenges facing municipalities, particularly the lack of funding for implementation despite growing policy support and strategic planning efforts. At the same time, Sefike points to emerging opportunities linked to green economy catalytic projects, cross-departmental collaboration, and the growing recognition that local government will play a central role in South Africa’s climate transition.

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast series, host Nothembi Mahlangu speaks with Is’haaq Akoon, Senior Manager for Climate Change at the City of Ekurhuleni, about how municipalities can translate climate policy into practical implementation through integrated planning, community-centred development, and Just Transition strategies. 

Akoon reflects on the key lessons from a recent Just Transition and Green Economy training programme, highlighting the importance of aligning national and provincial policy frameworks with local government implementation. The discussion explores how the City of Ekurhuleni is embedding Just Transition principles into its Climate Action Plan, with a focus on social protection, skills development, labour reskilling, and inclusive community participation.

The conversation also examines major municipal challenges linked to economic restructuring, unemployment, informal labour vulnerability, and fragmented policy coordination, particularly in sectors connected to mining, manufacturing, transport, and waste management. At the same time, Akoon identifies significant opportunities in public transport expansion, waste-to-energy projects, recycling initiatives, methane reduction, health infrastructure upgrades, and pilot projects that can serve as “learning labs” for scaling future interventions.

Throughout the episode, Akoon emphasises the importance of collaboration between municipalities, academia, private sector stakeholders, and institutions such as the Presidential Climate Commission to ensure that local climate action is evidence-based, coordinated, and capable of supporting a truly just and climate-resilient transition.

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast series, host Nothembi Mahlangu speaks with Motlanalo Mautla, Project Manager within the Environmental Resources and Waste Management Department at the City of Ekurhuleni, about how municipalities can embed Just Transition principles into waste management, environmental planning, and climate resilience strategies. 

Mautla explains how the City of Ekurhuleni is working to integrate sustainability into infrastructure planning, landfill management, recycling systems, and environmental compliance processes, while aligning these efforts with broader climate action goals. The conversation highlights how the Just Transition framework encourages “systems thinking” across departments, requiring collaboration between waste management, transport, energy, land use planning, and environmental management rather than silo-based approaches.

The episode also explores practical opportunities linked to circular economy initiatives, waste diversion, methane reduction, composting, and the formal integration of waste pickers into municipal systems. Mautla emphasises that a truly just transition must remain people-centred, particularly in supporting vulnerable groups such as informal waste reclaimers and unemployed youth.

The discussion further reflects on the major challenges facing municipalities, including increasing waste generation, limited landfill space, illegal dumping, ageing infrastructure, funding constraints, and gaps in environmental data systems. Despite these pressures, Mautla argues that municipalities have a critical opportunity to transform waste management into a driver of inclusive economic development, environmental protection, and climate resilience.

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast series, host Nothembi Mahlangu speaks with Dr Samukelisiwe Mdlalose, Manager for Environmental Management, about the role municipalities play in advancing a just transition and building climate resilience in Gauteng. 

Dr Mdlalose explains how environmental compliance, climate change planning, air quality management, and infrastructure development are deeply interconnected with economic growth, public health, and community wellbeing. The conversation explores how municipalities can integrate environmental considerations into planning processes from the outset to improve investor confidence, avoid costly non-compliance, and create more sustainable urban development pathways.

The episode also highlights practical local initiatives already underway, including partnerships with universities, electronic waste recycling programmes, separation-at-source waste projects, urban agriculture initiatives, and environmental education campaigns in schools. Dr Mdlalose emphasises the importance of community participation, low-cost practical interventions, and collaboration with academic institutions and the private sector.

The discussion further reflects on key challenges facing municipalities, including ageing infrastructure, limited funding, flood risks linked to urbanisation, and the need for greater investment in solar energy, rainwater harvesting, and climate-smart infrastructure. The episode concludes with reflections on future opportunities linked to agriculture, renewable energy, and the development of a proposed smart city corridor in Gauteng.

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast series, host Thobani K speaks with Modjadji Rangwato and Stanley Phahladira from the Capricorn District Municipality in Limpopo about the importance of embedding Just Transition principles into local government planning and implementation. 

Both guests reflect on how a recent JUST SA training workshop deepened their understanding of climate change, green economy planning, and the need for inclusive and restorative development approaches. The discussion explores how municipalities can mainstream climate change and Just Transition principles into Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), environmental planning, disaster management, and infrastructure development.

The conversation also highlights key challenges facing municipalities, including silo planning, limited financial and human resources, policy misalignment, and the need for stronger political buy-in and stakeholder collaboration. At the same time, the guests identify significant opportunities around renewable energy, agriculture, and coordinated planning approaches such as the District Development Model.

Throughout the episode, Rangwato and Phahladira emphasize that successful implementation depends on collaboration across all spheres of government, partnerships with communities and industry, and ensuring that no one is left behind as South Africa transitions toward a greener and more climate-resilient economy.

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast, we speak with Avantika Goswami, Programme Manager for Climate Change at the Centre for Science and Environment in India, about the evolving landscape of climate finance and development in the Global South.

Drawing on her work and recent report Beyond Climate Finance, Goswami argues that increasing financial flows alone is not sufficient. Instead, she calls for deeper systemic reforms to global financial and trade systems, alongside stronger South–South cooperation, to enable equitable and effective climate action.

The conversation explores the role of developing countries in shaping a new climate and development agenda, the challenges of accessing finance and technology, and the importance of solidarity and civil society in advancing a shared Global South vision for green industrialisation and sustainable growth. 

Please note: due to unforeseen circumstances during recording, the audio quality in parts of this episode is compromised. We appreciate your understanding.

In this episode , host Thobani Khumalo speaks with Newton Masuku, National Spokesperson of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU), about the role of the Just Transition Labour Centre (JTLC) in strengthening labour’s voice in the climate transition.

Masuku reflects on why independent research from a working-class perspective is essential as South Africa moves toward a low-carbon economy. He discusses the potential impacts of technological change and automation on employment, the importance of social protection for workers displaced by the transition, and the need for a stronger role for the state in driving green industrialisation.

The conversation also explores the challenges facing the labour movement today and the future role of the JTLC as a platform for research, education, and policy engagement that equips trade unions to participate more effectively in shaping a just transition for workers and communities.

In this episode, we speak with Waheed Hoosen of HOSPERSA (an affiliate of FEDUSA) and Vice President within FEDUSA responsible for youth and climate change.

Waheed explains why the Just Transition Labour Centre (JTLC) matters for organised labour: it strengthens unions’ ability to produce evidence-based policy positions for collective bargaining, social dialogue and legislation. He discusses why workers and communities will be among the most affected by the transition, the need for government leadership, and the importance of moving from research into implementation—while ensuring decent work, labour rights, and real pathways for re-skilling and social protection.

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast Series in the JUST SA series, host Elize Hattingh records two conversations in Kimberley with officials from the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), exploring how the province is turning Just Transition policy into practical economic strategy.

First, Elize speaks with Riaan Warie and Hendrik Louw about the Northern Cape’s renewable energy potential, the emerging Northern Cape Industrial Corridor, and ambitions for a green hydrogen cluster linked to the Boegoebaai port development. They also share practical lessons on investment planning, financing, and strategic partnerships required to unlock large-scale projects.

In the second interview, Elize speaks with Reratile Mathibe about the “just” element of decarbonisation, and the opportunities for climate-smart agriculture, employment, and skills planning in a province navigating both economic potential and persistent inequality.

About JUST SA
JUST SA is a five-year programme supporting South Africa’s transition toward an environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient, low-carbon and socially just economy. At national level, the programme advances the implementation of the Just Transition Framework and facilitates meaningful dialogue. At provincial and local levels—particularly in Mpumalanga—JUST SA supports stakeholders to design inclusive development pathways and diversify local economies. The programme also advances research, policy, and community engagement on the rehabilitation of coal mining land and water.

JUST SA is implemented by GIZ in partnership with TIPS, NBI, and WWF South Africa, on behalf of the German Government through the International Climate Initiative (IKI), in close collaboration with Indalo Inclusive, the Mpumalanga Green Cluster Agency, the JET PMU, the Presidential Climate Commission, and other partners.