An analysis of official government data suggests that less than 4% of all environmental authorisation applications in South Africa (SA) over the last two years were refused, with the vast majority of development projects given the green light. For example, the provincial environment department in Limpopo had a zero refusal rate in both financial years, while the refusal rate was also 0% in KwaZulu-Natal, Northern Cape and North West provinces in 2025/26. Department of Forestry, Fishers and the Environment EIA applications. (Source: DFFE)Provincial government EIA applications. (Note: These calculations are based on the total number of applications submitted during these financial years, compared to the number of applications refused during the same financial years.