Leading provider of specialist environmental consulting services

Savannah Environmental was established in 2006 with a clear objective to provide services to the infrastructure development sector, with environmental advisory expertise from development through to operations.

The company has over the last 18 years achieved this objective and is a leading provider of integrated environmental and social consulting, advisory and management services.  We have the practical expertise and capacity to provide environmental management services at all stages of project development.

The company is wholly woman-owned, with a 51% black woman shareholding.  Our head office is located in Woodmead, in Gauteng. We have a proven track record of successfully consulting on developments in all nine Provinces of South Africa, as well as in neighbouring southern African countries.

Our service offering includes

  • Pre-feasibility site assessment and risk evaluation
  • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) processes
  • Public participation and facilitation
  • Identification of environmental management solutions and mitigation/risk minimising measures
  • Strategic environmental management advice
  • Due diligence assessments
  • Compliance advice/auditing in terms of environmental best practice and relevant Standards
  • Project permitting and advising on meeting regulatory obligations (including water use licensing, waste licensing, biodiversity permits, etc.)
  • ECO and EO role for on-site compliance monitoring and reporting during construction and operation

Our approach to consulting services

As an independent environmental assessment consultancy, we are able to competently provide environmental consulting services in accordance with the requirements of the environmental legislation.  The company has a core team of consultants who, through their diverse skills, experience and exposure to various projects, have an ability to successfully tackle multidisciplinary projects.

Where specific expertise is not available within our skills base, we are able to bring on board specialist consultants with appropriate skills while maintaining overall responsibility for the project.  A developed network with leading experts in other environmental-related disciplines strengthens this consulting team, depending on the client’s needs and the nature of the service required, enabling the provision of a quality service.

In order to enable the decision-making authorities to make informed decisions, the project management team ensure the compilation of world-class reports.  Through previous involvement as part of large projects, projects funded by funding agencies as well as public-private partnerships, the team understands the requirements which must be met to provide bankable reporting.

Empowerment

Savannah Environmental is wholly owned and led woman enterprise which is also committed to black economic empowerment and capacity building of Historically Disadvantaged Individuals (HDIs). It is rated as Level 2 Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Contributor as an Exempted Micro Enterprise (EME). The company reflects this not only in its shareholding and management control, but also in the conduct of business and transfer of skills. Savannah Environmental employs less than 50 employees and is therefore not required to obtain a Certificate of Compliance in terms of the Employment Equity Act, however we diligently endeavour to attract HDI candidates in our recruitment processes.

Professional Memberships and Awards

Our senior consultants are registered with the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNSAP).  We contribute strategic advice to industry bodies through our memberships to the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa (IAIAsa) and the Water Institute of Southern Africa (WISA).

We are proud to have been awarded the Leading Environmental Consultant on Wind Projects by the SAWEA in both 2013 and 2015.

DIRECTORSHIP

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Mampiti Matsabu

Mampiti Matsabu is a Fellow of the Water Institute of Southern Africa (FWISA). She holds  MSc. and   BSc. degrees in Civil Engineering and serves in an advisory capacity to water sector institutions in the areas of water supply and sanitation, water resources and environmental management. Over the past decades, Mampiti has applied her skills, knowledge, and commitment to sustainable development to serve on the boards of state-owned institutions such as the DBSA Development Fund, Bloemwater Water Utility, the South African Water Utilities Association,  and the Water Research Commission. She currently serves as the Chairperson of the Environmental Monitoring Committee for the Olifants River Water Resources Development Project (Phases 2a – 2d). She is also involved in other initiatives aimed at enabling sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation across the country.

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Jo-Anne Thomas

Jo-Anne Thomas has a M.Sc. in Botany from the University of the Witwatersrand, and is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist with SACNASP.  She has gained experience in the field of environmental assessment and management, and the management of large environmental assessment and management projects since 1997.  During this time she has managed and coordinated a multitude of infrastructure EIAs, and is also well versed in the management and leadership of teams of specialist sub-consultants and dynamic stakeholders.  Jo-Anne has been responsible for providing technical input for projects in the environmental management field, specialising in Strategic Environmental Advice, Environmental Impact Assessment studies, environmental permitting, public participation, Environmental Management Plans and Programmes, environmental policy, strategy and guideline formulation, and integrated environmental management; with a key focus on the integration of specialist environmental studies and findings into larger engineering-based projects, strategic assessment, and providing practical and achievable environmental management solutions and mitigation measures.  Her responsibilities for environmental studies include project management; review and manipulation of data; identification and assessment of potential negative environmental impacts and benefits; review of specialist studies; and the identification of mitigation measures, and the compilation of reports for environmental studies in accordance with all relevant environmental legislation.

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Karen Jodas

Karen Jodas has a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in Geography (Geomorphology) from Rhodes University, and is registered as a Professional Natural Scientist (Pr.Sci.Nat) with the SACNASP in the field of Environmental Science.  She has gained experience in the field of environmental management, impact assessment and compliance since 1997.  Karen’s experience includes projects associated with electricity generation and transmission, wastewater treatment facilities, mining and prospecting activities, property development, and national roads, as well as strategy and guidelines development.  Her key focus is on strategic environmental assessment and advice; management and co-ordination of environmental projects, which includes integration of environmental studies and environmental processes into larger engineering-based projects and ensuring compliance to legislation and guidelines; compliance reporting; the identification of environmental management solutions and mitigation/risk minimising measures; and strategy and guideline development.

Contact Savannah Environmental

If you would like further details, please do not hesitate to contact any member of
our Environmental team at +27 (0)11 656 3237

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