Group 17 Block D (4)

222034533 Ngcobo Nkanyiso

222007633 Sibiya Kwazi

222004220 Ndlovu Silindile

221059373 Ndwandwe Mandi

222063922 Ngubane Sanele

222106199 Nkomiyahlaba Nqobile

221007961 Nkosi Ziyanda

222076460 Nyawo Andiswa

222013464 Shabalala Awonke

222084841 Tsotets Rati

222028284 Zulu Senamile

 The SDGs In the Context of South African Society

Introduction

More than six years have passed since the 193 member states of the United Nations launched
the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at a New York summit (Ban, 2016). The goals
and principles for sustainable development have been laid out in the 2030 Agenda, which is an
audacious call to action. The scope of the 2030 Agenda's goals, targets, indicators, and methods
for monitoring and reviewing progress is unparalleled. In other words, it encompasses all the
crucial aspects of people's lives, including their relationships with their communities, their
environment, and their economic situation. It also considers national actualities, national and
developmental aptitudes, and reverence for national priority policies. This document focuses
on South Africa's recurring efforts to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In doing so, the essay will analyze the obstacles to SDG achievement in South Africa and
explain the significance of the environmental aspect in ensuring the success of the 2030
Agenda. In addition, it will choose one of the 17 SDGs and describe which specific activities
have been implemented in South Africa to ensure that specific Goal’s achievement, as well as
provide examples of interventions implemented in South Africa to promote the three R
approach in resource exploitation.

Challenges Towards Achieving SDGs in SA

It is in South Africa's best interest to work toward achieving the Sustainable Development
Goals. Nevertheless, there have been some setbacks in South Africa's efforts to meet them.
Those setbacks are climate change, inequality, and poverty. As many other countries face the
challenge of balancing economic growth and transformation with environmental
sustainability and responding to climate change, South Africa is no exception (DEA, 2017).
South Africa is vulnerable to natural disasters such as drought, flooding, extreme storms, and
fires, and has faced several devastating climate-related disasters over the last few decades the
impact of which have varied (Haywood et. al., 2019). The recent flood phenomenon in the
KZN province serves as an example.

The second major impediment to achieving one of the SDGs in South Africa is inequality.
Unpaid care and domestic work are still performed by a large proportion of South African
women. An unequal burden magnifies the shortage of women in high-paying jobs. Women
devote significantly more time to unpaid domestic and care work than men (Schotte et. al.,
2022). The aftermath of apartheid is another factor influencing inequality in South Africa.
According to reports, the Apartheid system left South Africa as the most unequal country in
the world, ranking first among 164 countries in the World Bank's global poverty database
(Chatterjee et. al., 2022).

The Importance of the Environmental Aspect

The prioritization of the environmental dimension plays a vital role in achieving the SDGs.
Everything that surrounds all lifeforms on Earth, including humans, animals, and plants, is
considered the environment (Mahajan & Singh, 2022). A majority of the SDGs have an
environmental focus or recognize sustainability issues. Taking care of the environment
requires making decisions that will provide an equivalent, if not better, standard of living for
future generations. The environment is crucial because it is the starting point for change. As a
result, the success of the 2030 Agenda is dependent on it.

Furthermore, the goal of environmental sustainability is to improve human existence while

limiting the impact on the ecosystems that support life on Earth. It is all about striking the
proper balance between mass consumption and the natural environment (Opoku, 2019). This
can be done by not wasting natural resources and not using them more rapidly than necessary.
It is also noteworthy due to the amount of energy, food, and man-made resource consumption
that occurs daily. In addition, population growth has increased agriculture and production,
resulting in unsustainable energy use, deforestation, and greenhouse gas emissions
(Scharlemann, 2022). As a result, more energy and resources are required now than ever
before.

Individuals, corporations, and government agencies are all capable of achieving

sustainability. Individuals in society can start by taking subtle but meaningful actions that
will give rise to a healthier environment and a more sustainable way of life. An example of
these steps could be using less water and switching to reusable products to reduce reliance on
single-use plastics (Arora & Mishra, 2019). Taking responsibility and informing children and
other members of communities about the importance of sustainability and resource use can
also advance the process dramatically (Arora & Mishra, 2019).

Because businesses and governments have more sway than individuals, they can also play a
role in this journey by investing monetary resources in sustainable and responsible practices
like waste reduction and paying fair wages (Lucas, 2018). They may also contribute by
switching to renewable energy in their storehouses, factories, and offices and reducing their
use of single-use plastics in manufacturing (Lucas, 2018). It will encourage people to live in a
way that produces minimal waste and regenerates some of the resources used in daily life.
Therefore, environmental sustainability is the responsible interaction with the planet to avoid
depleting natural resources and jeopardizing future generations' ability to meet their daily
needs.

Goal number 5: Gender Equality

In society, everyone has the right to live their lives as they see fit, and no one should be
discriminated against because of this. If people are treated equally, regardless of their gender,
race, or social standing, they are equal. Equality can also be defined as a condition in which
everyone has the same rights and opportunities for personal growth (Subrahmanian, 2015).
Gender equality means that one's ability to exercise one's rights and take advantage of one's
opportunities is unaffected by one's gender.

In 1994, when the majority-led government of National Unity assumed control of the
country, men and women differed significantly (Albertyn, 2019). Women, particularly black
women, were subjected to harsh treatment when apartheid and a lack of basic welfare
programs were in place (Hassim, 2006). Since its inception, the government has supported
equal rights for men and women and has therefore demonstrated its commitment to achieving
gender equality by implementing a number of specific initiatives in South Africa.

Through the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE), the South African government created
a GBV program dedicated to increasing and speeding up efforts to eradicate various types of
violence against women and children. In addition, Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South
Africa, has enacted three measures to combat gender-based violence (GBV), therefore, the
government has improved its protection of women and children and victims now have a
better chance of obtaining retribution (Unterhalter, 2021).

Moreover, The South African government has been able to fix the problem of gender
differences in education (Unterhalter, 2021). Even though men and women are treated the
same in the lower grades, girls are still the majority in the upper grades and at university.
While most women still work in areas that have traditionally been dominated by women,
more and more women are migrating into professions that have traditionally been dominated
by men (Unterhalter, 2021). This is because of policies and programs that try to close the gap
between men and women and keep girls from dropping out.
Promoting the 3 Rs

The 3 Rs are guidelines for utilizing resources in an environmentally responsible manner.

Sustainable use of resources refers to the ability of the current generation to meet its own
needs without compromising the ability of future generations to do the same. Global actions,
including those in South Africa, have been taken to help spread the three Rs approach to
resource use. The next paragraph will discuss solutions including trash collectors and water
recycling (Albertyn, 2019).

The law charges the Department of Environmental Affairs with ensuring that everyone in the
Republic of South Africa lives in a clean and healthy environment and uses their resources in
a manner that benefits both the present and future (2019, Department of Environmental
Affairs). There are now waste collectors to ensure that there is as little garbage as possible
and that the world remains clean. Garbage is collected from cities, towns, and even small
communities by waste collectors. These actions contribute to a decrease in the amount of
trash in the atmosphere. The individuals who collect trash and transport it to recycling centers
are compensated.

In recycling centers, trash is separated into distinct types, such as plastic and steel. The trash
is transported to various locations and processing facilities to be cleaned and repurposed.
Consequently, the material is recycled. This type of program is illustrated by the replacement
of wooden park benches with plastic park benches. Benches made from plastic waste
collected and reused or recycled by humans. It is advantageous because it reduces the amount
of plastic in the environment and environmental stress. Additionally, it reduces the amount of
wood consumed, ensuring that future generations will have sufficient wood (2019,
Department of Environmental Affairs).

SA is also reclaiming water as part of its efforts to promote the 3 Rs. Water is incredibly
valuable but difficult to obtain. This resource may be depleted if it is not utilized
appropriately. The three Rs contribute to water conservation. There are numerous types of
water, including groundwater, river and dam water, and so on. This water is purified so that it
can be used for drinking, bathing, flushing, etc. This water is typically discharged into the
sewers for reuse after it has been used. Typically, water that can be reused is cleaned and
treated before distribution to humans. This relieves pressure on natural water sources like
rivers and dams. Utilizing the three Rs maximizes the efficiency of water usage (2019,
Department of Environmental Affairs).
In conclusion, the 2030 agenda for sustainability encompasses all the crucial aspects of
people's lives, including their relationships with their communities, their environment, and
their economic situation. It is in South Africa's best interest to work toward achieving the
Sustainable Development Goals. Nevertheless, there have been some setbacks in South
Africa's efforts to meet them. However, the South African government has put into place
specific activities to aid its endeavors that are aimed at accelerating the country’s progress
toward achieving sustainable goals. The prioritization of the environmental field plays a vital
role in achieving the SDGs because it includes everything that surrounds all lifeforms on
Earth, including humans, animals, and plants.
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