TIPS Podcast

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Elize Hattingh speaks with participants from the Western Cape cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. 

This episode is the first part of the full selection of interviews from the Western Cape. You can find the second part here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2340124/episodes/17536984-just-transition-to-a-decarbonised-economy-for-south-africa-just-sa-western-cape-edition-prt-2

For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Elize Hattingh speaks with participants from the Western Cape cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. 

This episode is the second part of the full selection of interviews from the Western Cape. You can find the first part here: 

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2340124/episodes/17536969-just-transition-to-a-decarbonised-economy-for-south-africa-just-sa-western-cape-edition-prt-1

For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

In this episode of TIPS Talk, we sit down with Cheryl Phillips, Senior Manager of Economic Development and Tourism at Drakenstein Municipality, to explore how local government can lead in making the transition to a greener, more inclusive economy.

Hosted by Elize Hattingh, the conversation highlights how Drakenstein—one of the Western Cape’s most dynamic municipalities—is integrating Just Transition priorities into its planning, partnerships, and service delivery.

Cheryl offers valuable insights into how municipalities can balance economic growth, environmental responsibility, and social equity—grounded in local context.

Learn more at www.tips.org.za

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Ntombifuthi Tshabalala speaks with participants from the Free State cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

In this episode of the TIPS Podcast Series, we explore the role of young people in South Africa’s just transition and what the green economy could offer in terms of jobs, skills, and long-term opportunity.

Host Lesego Moshikaro-Amani speaks with Dr. Sinazo Ntsonge, a sustainable development economist at TIPS and former consultant to the Presidency, about how the country can meaningfully include youth in the shift toward a more sustainable and inclusive economy.

Together, they unpack:

The reforms needed in education and training systems
How to make green jobs viable, aspirational careers
The evolving role of TVET colleges in a greener skills landscape
The importance of advocacy, partnerships, and funding
Why youth must be seen as co-creators, not just recipients, of the transition

Whether you’re a policymaker, educator, or youth advocate, this episode offers fresh insight into building a future that puts young people at the center of economic transformation.

Visit www.tips.org.za for more from Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies.

In this episode hosted by Siyamthanda Nyulu, four dynamic South African women entrepreneurs discuss the challenges and opportunities of running small businesses in the green economy. The panel features Sibongile Sithole of MLPC Projects, Nomthandazo Mpande of Phoki Holdings, Susan Kone of PWK Waste Management, and Phumudzo Muthanyi of MicGalaw. Each woman brings a unique perspective from sectors like solar energy, disability-inclusive consulting, waste recycling, and sustainable fashion. The conversation highlights key barriers such as limited access to finance, technology, and markets, especially for township-based and rural enterprises. The participants also emphasize how these challenges are compounded for entrepreneurs with disabilities and women operating in underserved communities.

Despite the obstacles, each guest shares how their work is actively addressing environmental and social issues. From solar energy installations and recycling cooperatives to youth clean-up campaigns and upcycled fashion products, their businesses are rooted in local impact and climate action. They call for more inclusive support from government and private stakeholders—especially in the form of financial backing, market access, incubation, and training tailored to their contexts. Encouragingly, some have received early-stage support from private foundations and enterprise development programs, but all agree that a more robust and sustained effort from the public sector is essential to grow and sustain their work, create jobs, and build a more circular, equitable economy.

In this episode, recorded at the 2024 TIPS Forum, TIPS Senior Economist Lesego Moshikaro-Amani sits down with Elize Hattingh, a sustainability specialist, and Amélia Machava, a researcher and teacher at Eduardo Mondlane University.

Lesego Moshikaro-Amani joined TIPS in July 2019. Lesego earned a Master’s degree in Economics specialising in Development Economics from the University of Cape Town (UCT). Prior to joining TIPS, Lesego worked as a Crisis Response Fund (CRF) researcher and data analyst at CIVICUS and as a graduate research assistant at the Land Restitution Evaluation Study (LRES), launched by SALDRU.  Her expertise lies in industrial policy, battery energy storage value chains and the emerging sector of new energy vehicles (NEVs) in South Africa, including a strong emphasis on skill development within the NEV industry. Other areas of focus include skills development for industry and promoting employment in the development of SMMEs.

Elize Hattingh is a sustainability expert with over 15 years of experience promoting sustainable development, particularly in Africa. She holds a Master's Degree in Sustainable Development and Management from Stellenbosch University’s School of Public Leadership in partnership with the Sustainability Institute. She has actively participated in numerous initiatives to decarbonise the economy and supported marginalised groups such as youth, women, and black-owned enterprises. She founded Green Talent, a sustainability career consultancy, and has been involved in various roles, including business coaching and developing green economy entrepreneurial development curricula. She works with Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) as a Sustainable Researcher focusing on sustainable growth and the green economy. Her previous roles include developing a Green Economy Literacy Program for the Youth Bridge Trust and business coaching for Future Females Business School.

Machava is a teacher at Eduardo Mondlane University, Mozambique, where she is a PhD student in Development and Society.  She has a Master's degree in Rural Sociology and Development Management from the same university. Her research focuses on perceptions of Nacala Special Economic Zone’s contribution to local socio-economic development. Her other research interests focus on development policies, particularly the Special Economic Zones policy and industrialisation in the Southern African Development Community.

Nokwanda Maseko is a Senior Economist at TIPS. Her work at TIPS is at the intersection of industrial policy, gender and the just transition. Her recent publications include an analysis of the petroleum-based transport value chain for the Sector Jobs Resilience plans and technical reports for the Presidential Climate Change Commission on gender and inequality in the just transition. Before joining TIPS, she worked as a Budget Analyst at the National Treasury and Assistant Director at the national Economic Development Department (EDD) focused on industrial policy.

Hosted by TIPS Communications Officer Nondwe Majundana. Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) is an independent, non-profit, economic research institution established in 1996 to support economic policy development. TIPS undertakes quantitative and qualitative research, project management, dialogue facilitation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. Its two areas of focus are trade and inclusive industrial policy; and sustainable development.

As South Africa moves towards a greener economy, the Just Transition agenda has become critical in ensuring that no one is left behind. In this special edition of the TIPS podcast series, Siyamthanda Nyulu speaks with participants from the Gautrain cohort of a recent TIPS training initiative. This program, part of the multi-year Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa (JUST SA) initiative, equips provincial and local government officials with the tools needed to drive an inclusive, sustainable future.

Tune in to hear first-hand insights from the training, reflections on the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and how South Africa is shaping a just and evidence-based approach to decarbonisation. For more knowledge on the Just Transition, visit the TIPS open knowledge portal:

https://www.tips.org.za/just-transition

An artist, philanthropist, and avid upcycling and vintage enthusiast, Vas Putter is the founder and curator at Planet Art People Pty Ltd. After earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Durban-Westville (now UKZN), Vas began tutoring first-year Fine Art students in History of Art and Theory of Art. In 1994/95, she contributed to the Peace and Reconciliation through Art mural project across KZN during the Truth and Reconciliation Talks, which led to a career as a full-time muralist, display artist, chillout DJ, and event organizer.

In 2009, Vas became a dedicated volunteer for people living with disabilities, earning The National Tribune Award for Women in the Disability Sector in 2011. Motivated by social and environmental concerns surrounding unethical production and recycling practices, Vas launched various upcycling initiatives and eco-tourism ventures within her community in 2020, promoting sustainability and eco-conscious consumerism. In 2022, she was the runner-up in the UN Women and Climate “She Reigns Tech Award.”

One of her most recent projects was for the Annual Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies Forum in Pretoria, where she crafted table centerpieces entirely out of discarded materials. Each piece tells a story about barriers faced by marginalized entrepreneurs in the green economy landscape.

Hosted by TIPS Communications Officer Nondwe Majundana. Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS) is an independent, non-profit, economic research institution established in 1996 to support economic policy development. TIPS undertakes quantitative and qualitative research, project management, dialogue facilitation, capacity building and knowledge sharing. Its two areas of focus are trade and inclusive industrial policy; and sustainable development.