From authorisation to outcomes: EIA follow-up and sustainable development in South Africa - bridging theory and practice

Environmental impact assessment is a widely promoted planning instrument for sustainable development, yet its contribution depends on what happens after environmental authorisation. This article examines how Western Cape EIA follow-up practices, particularly monitoring, evaluation, role clarity and practitioner competence, shape post-authorisation support for sustainable development. A qualitative, practice-based study in the Western Cape used a focus group, questionnaire responses, targeted interviews and instrumental case evidence from the Plankenbrug Main Outfall Sewer project. Thematic analysis identified recurring issues, with descriptive frequencies used for selected questionnaire patterns. The findings show that EIA follow-up is weakened by unclear responsibilities, uneven professional recognition, limited mentorship and an over-emphasis on compliance assurance at the expense of learning and adaptive management. These weaknesses reduce EIA’s capacity to move from authorisation conditions to implemented mitigation and, to sustainable development outcomes. Drawing on the empirical findings and international follow-up principles, the article presents an authorisation-to-outcomes framework in which monitoring evidence is evaluated, responsibilities are defined, practitioners are competent, corrective action is triggered, and learning feeds into future EIAs, environmental management programmes and regulatory practice. The South African case offers analytically transferable insights for jurisdictions where post-decision follow-up remains under-specified, fragmented or compliance-led.