LCP4805 Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026 (281570) Due 20 March 2026

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA
College of Law


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LCP4805: Environmental Law

Assignment 1 — Semester 1, 2026

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LCP4805
Module Code:
Environmental Law
Module Name:
[Student Name]
Student Name:
[Student Number]
Student Number:
Assignment 1
Assignment:
20 March 2026
Due Date:
Semester 1, 2026
Semester:
University of South Africa (UNISA)
Institution:




Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements
for LCP4805 Environmental Law — UNISA 2026

,UNISA | LCP4805 Environmental Law — Assignment 1



Contents


1 Question 1: Climate Change as a Criterion Under Section 24O of NEMA 4

1.1 1.1 Reading Section 24O in Context . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.2 1.2 The Principles in Section 2 of NEMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

1.3 1.3 The Thabametsi Judgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1.4 1.4 Fuel Retailers and the Broader Principle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

1.5 1.5 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6


2 Question 2: The Six Categories of Persons to be Notified in the EIA Public Participation
Process 8

2.1 2.1 Category 1: Organs of State with Jurisdiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.2 2.2 Category 2: Owners and Occupiers of Land Affected . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

2.3 2.3 Category 3: Registered Interested and Affected Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

2.4 2.4 Category 4: Organisations Representing Interests of Affected Persons . . . 9

2.5 2.5 Category 5: Any Person Whose Rights or Interests May Be Affected . . . . . 9

2.6 2.6 Category 6: The Relevant Municipality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9


3 Question 3: Did Shell Fulfil the Requirements of the Public Participation Process? 11

3.1 3.1 The Legislative Framework for Public Participation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

3.2 3.2 Shell’s Position and the Court’s Response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.3 3.3 The Specific Failures Identified in the Judgment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3.4 3.4 The Interplay with EIA Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

3.5 3.5 Outcome of the Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

3.6 3.6 Conclusion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14


Table of Cases 16



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, UNISA | LCP4805 Environmental Law — Assignment 1


Table of Legislation 17


Bibliography 18




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