Environment — Protection of the environment — Relationship between the protection of the environment and development — Concept of sustainable development — Recognition of sustainable development by the international community — Principle of integration of environmental protection and socio-economic development — International environmental law and sustainable development — Concept of sustainable development in the law of South Africa

Human rights — Economic, social and cultural rights — Right of everyone to safe and clean environment — Inter-generational and intra-generational equity — Constitution of South Africa, Section 24 — Environment Conservation Act 1989 — National Environmental Management Act 1998 — Obligation to protect environment and promote economic and social development — Interrelationship between environment and development — Environmental authorities — Nature and scope of obligation on environmental authorities to consider socio-economic factors — Delegation of duties to local council — Whether environmental authorities fulfilled their statutory duty — Whether environmental authorities had properly considered impact of proposed development on socio-economic conditions

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Environmental law — International law on environmental protection — Relevance in interpreting and applying domestic environmental law — The law of South Africa