Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister, hon members, especially members of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs, the environmental sector family, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the portfolio committee I extend to all of you a warm welcome to this annual debate on the Budget Vote of the Department of Environmental Affairs. I rise on this occasion on behalf of the ANC, and hopefully the portfolio committee, in unconditional support of this Budget Vote allocation to the department.
It would be remiss of me as chairperson not to start this debate by thanking all members of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs for the integrity, humanity, diligence and intellectual vigour and honesty with which they participate in the activities of the committee, with a special acknowledgement to the leaders of the various parties on the committee for their constructive engagement and support. I owe all a debt of gratitude. Thank you.
Hon Minister, as I said in the same debate last year, the department is mainly a policy-formulating department on matters environmental and, therefore, is comparatively small and well functioning. The department's finances and financial management systems are in good health. For years now, the annual financial statements have been unqualified, with problem areas being insignificant and easily dealt with. Therefore, there is little to be gained by debating and belabouring the obvious.
Without hesitation, I repeat and support this prognosis for this year. The portfolio committee's comments on this year's Budget Vote are contained in its report tabled in last Thursday's Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports. One or two new issues contained in the report require brief comment in this debate.
Firstly, the issue of waste and sanitation management has always been a worrying concern in our country, one we have arguably not come to grips with in any meaningful manner. The portfolio committee is of the view that the decision to transfer the sanitation function to the Department of Human Settlements has had many unintended consequences, especially as that department, at the time, seemingly had no legal regime or any capacity in place to perform this function. In our view, even now, a few years later, there seems to be much confusion as to what the mandates of the different departments are in relation to sanitation and waste. In fact, in our meeting the other day it was fascinating to see that not even Treasury knew where things lie. Last year's budget of R1,2 billion for rural sanitation remains unspent; the achievement of our Millennium Development Goals in the water sector seems, on available evidence, to have been seriously compromised; and it appears to the portfolio committee that overall our infrastructure and service delivery in this sector has deteriorated substantially. The portfolio committee urges an urgent and very thorough review of government's waste and sanitation policy.
Due to time constraints, I'm going to skip two issues. For the portfolio committee and the environmental sector family, the year 2011 will always be remembered as the year of climate change. This was the year when, firstly, a six-year-long policy-formulating process relating to all aspects of our response to climate change culminated in a Green and then a White Paper on Climate Change being adopted by Cabinet and then processed through Parliament, all in one year.
Secondly, South Africa not only successfully hosted the international climate change negotiations in the form of the COP 17 gathering but, more importantly, in contrast to the expectations of many, managed the COP 17 gathering in such a manner as to achieve a highly successful and historical outcome; one that is creating a new political international environment that potentially contains fewer of the challenges bedevilling negotiations than prior to Durban, thereby opening up new opportunities for future international negotiations on climate change.
I will start with the adoption of the White Paper on climate change. As we are all aware, South Africa has entered into and played a meaningful role in the arena of international negotiations on climate change since August 1997, when we ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the UNFCCC, and did so again after we voluntarily acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in July 2002. Furthermore, in December 2009, at the COP 15 gathering, President Zuma for the first time ever publically committed South Africa to the implementation of mitigation actions that would collectively result in a 34% and a 42% deviation, below its "business as usual" emissions growth trajectory, by 2020 and 2025 respectively.
The South African government captured a policy framework in which to meet its international and national responsibilities and commitments relating to climate change in the National Climate Change Response Policy, which was approved by Cabinet late last year, in October, in the form of a White Paper. The White Paper represents the culmination of an iterative and participatory six-year-long policy development process that involved ground- breaking modelling and research activities; two national conferences; numerous workshops and conferences in every province; a myriad bilateral and key stakeholder engagements; a National Economic Development and Labour Council review; and parliamentary hearings on the Green and White Papers.
In November 2011, within days of the policy's being approved by Cabinet, the portfolio committee concluded public hearings on the policy framework in the White Paper and its implementation challenges. I'll touch briefly on the portfolio committee's assessment and analysis of this White Paper.
Firstly, we are of the opinion that there seemingly exists broad consensus in our society on the principles underpinning the Climate Change Policy Framework.
Secondly, we are of the opinion that in the main the White Paper consists more of an overarching policy framework for all the policies of each department on which climate change impacts, rather than detailed policies for each department. It was noted that our department would be the point department for the overall policy framework, but the policies of each department relating to our response to climate change remained the responsibility and mandate of each department, within the overall policy framework.
Thirdly, we think the policy framework is a balanced and rational but also radical, progressive, all-encompassing, innovative, integrated and transformative response to the challenges of climate change, underpinned by progressive and integrated developmental and sustainability goals, especially for a mid-range emerging economy in a developing country like South Africa.
Fourthly, we think that for the first time in our history South Africa has adopted a detailed policy framework on carbon pricing, carbon budgets, and financial instruments targeted at reducing the creation of carbon by our business community. These are like a carbon tax, with specific targets and mechanisms being identified and adopted for achieving a low carbon economy. This response potentially places our country among the leading nations of the world that are responding boldly and decisively to the challenges of climate change. Thus, this policy framework has the potential of leading our highly fossil-fuel-driven economy in to being a low-carbon and climate- resilient economy within a reasonable and achievable period of time. But this is also conditional on our moving into the future with circumspection and caution, as decisions made in haste and without the necessary prudence can potentially cause us irreparable economic damage.
Fifthly, the portfolio committee also identified various challenges in the policy framework that may require further attention. I'll mention a few: Consideration should be given to the drafting of climate-change legislation as soon as is feasible for processing and adoption in Parliament; the policy framework is mainly silent on all aspects of the financing of our response to climate change, especially in respect of the objectives, funding and accessing of the various green funds created or which are intended to be created in future, both internationally and nationally, such as our national Green Fund; the magnitude and vastness of the policy framework requires that consideration be given to a sequencing of activities in order of priority; consideration should be given by the National Treasury to the compilation of an annual climate change budget at the time of the adoption of the annual budget, which would reflect all monies to be spent by the fiscus on our response to climate change; and consideration should be given to the establishment of climate change champions or focus persons in the provincial and local sphere of government to ensure a more integrated and co-ordinated response by the different spheres of government in achieving the goals of the policy framework.
Sixthly, the portfolio committee regards the adoption of the White Paper as only the beginning and not the end of our nation's response to climate change. Therefore, in future Parliament will, through its various committees on, for example, the environment, mining and energy have to look at and have oversight over the implementation of this policy. In this regard, consideration will have to be given to mechanisms, comprising the various portfolio committees, to co-ordinate and oversee the implementation of the White Paper. To this end the portfolio committee has decided to hold at least one week-long meeting in each half of the year to engage the department and all other relevant departments on progress in the implementation of this policy framework. The first oversight meeting is planned for the first week of June 2012. The portfolio committee is in the process of finalising the programme and inviting other committees.
We have also identified a whole host of other task implementations arising from, and within, the policy framework. Some of these are the setting up of the Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change sub-structures; implementing the flagship programmes; identifying and prioritising the key short-term and medium-term adaptation interventions that must be addressed in sector plans, and the identification of adaptation responses that require co-ordination between specific sectors and/or departments; defining desired emission reduction outcomes and/or carbon budgets for each significant sector or subsector of the economy, based on an in-depth assessment of the mitigation potential, best available mitigation options, available evidence, science, and a full assessment of the costs and benefits; reviewing, auditing and revising key sectoral implementation plans to ensure alignment with the climate change policy, and specifically the identified desired mitigation outcomes and/or carbon budgets and adaptation priorities; developing, testing and commissioning the National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory; designing and publishing a draft climate change response monitoring and evaluation system; and, lastly, appointing a multistakeholder climate financing working group.
Furthermore, through the relevant portfolio committees, each policy and piece of legislation that fall within their mandate must be reviewed to determine whether they comply with the legal requirements to support the effective and efficient implementation of the institutional and regulatory arrangements proposed in the White Paper, and to continuously ensure policy and legislative alignment with the Climate Change Policy Framework.
When the SA government went to the COP 17 gathering in Durban in December last year to negotiate a future global climate change regime, the foundational tenets of the South African negotiating mandate were to balance climate and sustainable developmental imperatives through a multilateral, rule-based, legal regime that, firstly, ensured global emission reductions that were ambitious enough to avert dangerous climate change while respecting the over-riding developmental priorities of developing countries and, secondly, prioritised adaptation, given that the world is committed to unavoidable climate-change impacts, and recognising the vulnerability of developing countries, particularly in Africa.
However, we knew from the outset that the Durban negotiations were faced by two competing paradigms for a future global climate change regime, which had emerged and crystallised into fixed negotiating positions, both of which, it was argued, could give effect to the Copenhagen Accord and the resulting Cancun Agreements. On the one hand, there was the top-down model. This is the approach used in the Kyoto Protocol, providing for a comprehensive, inclusive, multilateral, rule-based, legally binding regime with levels of ambition informed by science. On the other hand, there was a bottom-up, pledge and review model, providing for incremental, domestically determined policies, measures and rules, with the levels of ambition being informed by national priorities and circumstances and "internationalised" through the UNFCCC reporting and review procedures. The challenge South Africa faced at the Durban negotiations was to get both groupings to move from their fixed negotiating positions and to agree to a new future global climate-change regime, which included the most important features of both paradigms in such a manner as to get both groups to buy into the new, future negotiating regime. The end result was that the Durban Conference adopted 19 COP and 17 CMP decisions and approved a number of subsidiary body conclusions, known as the Durban Package.
The Durban Package in large part comprised four main elements. The first element is securing legal multilateral rules and commitments through a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol for willing developed countries. Canada, Japan and Russia indicated immediately that they would not take part in this second commitment period, so that today only 15% of global emissions are covered under Kyoto.
Secondly, the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Co-operative Action had taken certain decisions under the convention to operationalise institutions agreed to in Cancun. These included a process on options to secure sources of climate finance; the African priority for a comprehensive adaptation implementation framework under a new adaptation committee; the Climate Technology Centre and Network; the REDD+ mechanisms; the Forum on Response Measures; and progress on the modalities and guidelines for the transparency and accountability arrangements for both developed and developing countries.
The third part of the package is the adoption of the founding instrument for the Green Climate Fund and a process for its operationalisation.
The fourth element is the launch of a new negotiation process, under an Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform, of a new legal climate regime applicable to all parties by 2015 and to come into effect by 2020.
Critically for 2012 and COP 18, this decision includes, firstly, an agreement to finalise the work and terminate the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-Term Co-operative Action and, secondly, the definition of a work programme for the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform. All this has happened and is happening while South Africa continues to hold the COP presidency - that should be underlined.
I am firmly of the view that the final high-level Durban Package unlocked an historically successful outcome, which is potentially an historic turning point that strengthens the multilateral system through an agreement that significantly advances the global climate effort needed now. However, it also sets a new long-term pathway for a multiyear programme for the development of a fair, inclusive, ambitious and legal future multilateral and rules-based global climate change system, applicable to all parties - that is very important - in both the developed and developing world, which will balance climate and sustainable development imperatives.
However, we must keep things in perspective. As we look forward, into the medium to longer term, the risk of unravelling the Durban Package exists. This is firstly because of the absence of balanced progress in the work to finalise outstanding issues in each of the four package elements. The second risk is a regression to more of the same old divisions of the past during 2012, at COP 18, and into the future.
After all, when the world went to Durban, developments in the negotiations for a world climate change regime were characterised by and crystallised into two fixed competing paradigms for a future global climate change regime, namely, as I said, the top-down and the bottom-up models. However, by the time the world had left Durban, the negotiations resulted in the international community's insisting on neither fixed paradigm and instead agreeing to a hybrid, or transitional, model or paradigm for a future global climate change regime.
They did this by recommitting to a new long-term pathway for the development of a fair, inclusive, ambitious and legal future multilateral and rules-based global climate change regime, which would be underpinned by the principles of equity and a common but differentiated approach, and which would be binding on all nations. However, due to the prevailing economic and political conditions, Durban was only able to set the platform for reaching this final agreement by 2015. At the same time it was also able to achieve the retention of the Kyoto Protocol legal regime, even if it was only binding on a voluntary basis on some developed countries.
Finally, all that still remains for me to do on behalf the portfolio committee is to recognise and applaud, and loudly so, the wonderful efforts of our government and our people in having organised and concluded an historically successful COP 17 gathering. It has the potential of once again giving impetus to the meaningful conclusion of a new climate regime, one that will steer the world away from the impending climate and ecological disasters towards which we are hurtling with ever-increasing rapidity and certainty. Particular mention should be made of the special, enormous contributions made to this successful international event by our two Ministers tasked with leading the South African effort, namely Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and our own Minister Molewa. We express our gratitude to them. Congratulations, Ministers! We really applaud what you have done. [Applause.]
Good afternoon, Chairperson, hon Minister and hon members. This Budget Vote today occurs less than two months away from the Rio+20 Earth Summit, and that is the 20-year anniversary of the Earth Summit in Rio. It also occurs six months after the highly successful COP 17, which was hosted by our government in Durban last year. The world is now taking stock of its progress, and so is South Africa, when it comes to sustainable development.
New to the agenda is "the green economy". It is a contested term. I often think that government views the green economy as a subcomponent of the economy as a whole. I prefer a more holistic view of what the green economy is. It means that our economy - the whole economy - is part of the ecosystem that makes up South Africa. In other words, we should consider the whole economy as "the green economy".
The UN Environment Programme, UNEP, has developed a definition of a green economy as "one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities." The UNEP goes on to say that a green economy is one whose growth in income and employment is driven by public and private investments that reduce emissions and pollution; enhance energy and resource efficiency; and prevent the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. This development path should maintain and, where necessary, rebuild natural capital as a critical economic asset and source of public benefit, especially for poor people whose livelihoods depend more strongly on nature.
I commend the Treasury for its allocation of R800 million for the Green Fund over the next two years. I similarly commend the allocation to the SA National Biodiversity Institute, Sanbi, which is R300 million, for their project called Catalysing Access to Employment and Job Creation in Ecosystem Management.
It is my contention that policy coherence and transversal management across government is the single greatest challenge to the achievement of sustainable development. Today the chairperson recounted how our portfolio committee had worked so diligently on the White Paper on Climate Change over the last year. That White Paper was finalised by Cabinet at the end of last year, after about six years of consultation. It is a very credible document and a credit to the drafters in the Department of Environmental Affairs.
However, critical to climate change and to sustainable development is that it cannot just be the role of this department, the Department of Environmental Affairs. Indeed, all departments and all spheres of government have a role to play and it is incumbent on this particular department to ensure such transversal management and coherence.
One needs only to read the White Paper - and the chairperson has done a very good job of going through some of the key components - in conjunction with some other government policies, for example the Integrated Resource Plan 2, IRP2, already to see some of the policy incoherence. For example, in the IRP2 the energy sector has already appropriated for itself about 50% of the carbon space over the next 20 years. Now, according to the White Paper on climate change that is not feasible.
If we also look at the New Growth Path and the President's state of the nation address, both contain a very definite push to mine. Indeed, the President's state of the nation address backed that up with the necessary infrastructure investment. That is not necessarily policy incoherence, but it is certainly something that we have to look at. For example, how do the push to mine and the massive infrastructure investment fit into a sustainable development strategy? Yes, we must mine, but to what extent is the push to mine being factored into, for example, the available biodiversity, water resources and carbon space?
It comes down to having effective planning instruments and mechanisms to monitor the key environmental indicators and their subsequent changes. Therefore, it is a great credit that finally - and it did take a long time - the National Strategy for Sustainable Development and Action Plan was approved by Cabinet last year. The NSSD and the White Paper on Climate Change must not sit alongside other government policies and programmes. Indeed, other government policies and programmes need to find space within the White Paper and the NSSD.
Getting the balance right in environmental management is very important. Good developments, including infrastructure that creates jobs and improves the livelihoods of our people, need relatively quick environmental authorisations. In this regard, instruments to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of environmental impact assessment systems across the country are required.
The department has correctly identified the need for a greater number of environmental management frameworks, EMFs, particularly in areas facing high development pressures. Ideally, these EMFs need to be integrated with the integrated development plans of municipalities.
The ideal situation would be to say to developers: This is an appropriate area for you to develop; this is the carrying capacity of this area; or, for whatever reason - sensitive biodiversity or strained water resources - this is not at all an appropriate area to develop. I appreciate the Minister's comments today on the subject of environmental authorisations and the instruments that go with them.
Mining remains the elephant in the room. For too long now the Department of Mineral Resources has regarded its principal legislation, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, Act No 28 of 2002, as being able to trump other legislation.
One only needs to fly over the pockmarked landscape of Mpumalanga to see what poor spatial planning and the lack of proper consultation do to the environment. The Department of Mineral Resources has for several years now foisted unwanted mines on many local communities, with little or no meaningful consultation. So often, communities with little access to resources have been forced to take on the multimillion-rand mining houses.
In this regard it is worth paying tribute to the activists from uMtunzini to Chrissiesmeer, and from Piketberg to Lephalale, who champion good environmental governance when it comes to the authorisation of mines. I also congratulate the good men and women of the Department of Environmental Affairs, who have worked for years to improve the co-ordination mechanisms between the Departments of Mineral Resources and of Water and Environmental Affairs.
Some positive news on the front of mining law is that the Constitutional Court recently upheld the verdict of the Supreme Court of Appeal in the matter of the City of Cape Town versus Maccsand. Simply put, where mining is not permitted by a zoning scheme, the holder of a mining right cannot start to mine. It is important that municipalities and provinces all around South Africa take note of this verdict. Proper local planning and use of zoning laws should determine where mining is permitted. I have long held the view that the mining Minister should not be able to override IDPs. This verdict will have a major consequence for shale gas exploration, where these exploration applications are sometimes as large as 30 000 square kilometres - bigger than entire municipalities! We require municipal councils and provincial governments all to become more involved in mining authorisations from now on.
The scourge of rhino poaching is a national tragedy. A species brought back from extinction in the 1970s is now under assault from criminal syndicates. As at the end of April 2012, 199 rhinos had been killed by poachers. At this rate, 600 rhinos will die this year; up from 448 rhinos last year. This is a 34% increase! The reality is that we don't know what will happen to the rate in future. If what happened between 2007 and 2011 - that being an escalating rate - continues, perhaps those figures will go higher. We know that if the rate keeps on escalating, the overall rhino population will eventually decline.
I am not one for throwing around emotive words, but the rhino poaching epidemic has reached crisis levels. When armed individuals, mostly from Mozambique, enter the Kruger National Park, the jewel of our conservation crown, and kill our rhinos - already 119 dead this year and 252 last year - it is an assault on our sovereignty. It is pleasing that there are a high number of arrests. This year has already seen 122 arrests. However, as the situation currently stands, there will always be more poachers. The value of rhino horn is simply exorbitant and the rewards of poaching currently outweigh the risks. Yes, there is more that can be done in terms of compliance and enforcement. I do not believe, for example, that in the Kruger National Park in particular we are sufficiently "owning the night", which is the period when most poaching occurs. Considering the very tragic friendly fire shooting that resulted in the park between a park ranger and SA Police Service personnel on Saturday, the efforts of the law enforcement agencies are also not sufficiently co-ordinated. Of course, poaching does not occur only in government parks. Private rhino owners, who hold about 25% of the rhino population in their hands, are also affected. They are looking for support. They want the syndicates cracked and the poachers caught.
Another aspect that needs improvement is intelligence. Defence and crime intelligence, as well as park authorities, need to improve their systems of information gathering and sharing. Arresting and prosecuting syndicate bosses will do more to disrupt poaching than just catching the grass-roots poacher, as important as that is.
Notwithstanding the difficulties we face, let me pay tribute to the men and women who work every day to protect our rhinos. These are the park rangers, who go out on lonely trips in the wilderness; the soldiers who patrol our borders; and the magistrates who sit in judgment of suspected rhino poachers. Then there is the ordinary citizen who keeps rhino poaching alive in the public discourse, who raises money for rhino charities, who rehabilitates orphaned rhinos and who goes as far as to appear in court to ensure that suspected poachers do not receive bail or that convicted poachers get the strongest possible sentences, as is the case with activists from Outraged SA Citizens against Poaching.
In closing, let me make a few general comments. The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is a well-run department under the able and careful leadership of Director-General Nosipho Ngcaba. The Minister, who has been in the role for 18 months, has grasped the complexities of this department and her leadership during COP 17 and the period leading up to it was most welcome. Adv De Lange, the chairperson of our committee, has provided careful guidance. This is a committee that operates with openness, frankness and rigour. I think we are an example to other portfolio committees in Parliament. [Applause.]
The challenges of environmental governance are immense. It is tempting to grow our economy at the expense of the environment and our natural capital, but that would be unethical and irresponsible. It is far more challenging to grow our economy in a way that sustains and grows natural capital. It is the challenge that will define our future. [Applause.]
Madam Chair, people often ask why South Africa did not have a rhino poaching problem five years ago. If you thought about rhinos five years ago, you felt they were a good news conservation story here, but not in the rest of the world, not in Africa. Let me remind you that the black rhino recovered from a 96% decline at the end of 1992 and the white rhino recovered from only 434 animals left in KwaZulu-Natal to almost 20 000 now. We have 93% of the white rhinos in Africa.
In October 2011, the last Java rhino was eliminated in Vietnam. Rhinos in zoos in the United Kingdom were under threat and ancient rhino horns were stolen from a German museum. Africa Geographic devoted its whole 2012 edition to this topic. We need to congratulate them. In 1972, almost 1 000 northern white rhinos were killed in Garamba National Park and in 2007 they became extinct. In 1960, the South African white rhino population was estimated at 650 - we know that success story. However, the poaching wave moved to the south, rising in 2008 to 83 - up from only 13 in 2007. Today, we know where we stand - it has already been said here in this House.
What went wrong in 2008? Strong rumours from Vietnam that rhino horn was a cure for cancer contributed. However, according to Tom Milliken of Traffic, a lot of rhino horn from the private sector was going into trade and was not captured in the data nor officially registered with government. He says, "It is believed that large volumes of horn were illegally disposed of and moved to Asia ... in the early to mid-2000s." That stream of supply - adding horn from the legal trade - created a bigger market and a demand. But suddenly the private sector stockpiles dried up. All this happened at a time when the expanding Asian market had so much private wealth at its disposal, with less restriction. This, according to Milliken, created "a perfect storm of deadly consumption". Scientists think we shall reach a decline in 2016, should the current trend continue.
What are the solutions? Firstly, we know that we can beef up security, and I unfortunately don't have time to go into that.
Secondly, the fostering of closer international co-operation between South Africa and consumer countries is important. The Minister made reference to that this afternoon. Heads of state and diplomats should get involved. I want a more active President Zuma on this. China's ban on rhino horn in 1993 was the direct result of the involvement of President Bill Clinton and the head of state in China. Where do we stand on our treaties and bilateral agreements? In 2011, Vietnam and South Africa drafted a Memorandum of Understanding to promote co-operation on conservation and the law. The progress is so slow. When will we sign it?
A third option is to legalise the trade. This is a cry from those who believe that stockpiles, coupled with strong regulated trade, can fulfil market expectations. History has proven this to be very difficult. The killing will only stop when the market ceases to exist. Those in favour of legalising, like Michael Eustace, now want legal trade to come from natural mortalities and stockpiles, no longer from farming and hunting. Minister, we wish you all the best in your endeavours to get consensus on this topic. [Laughter.] Fourthly, let us sort out the hunting legislation and a permit system. There is too much of a difference between the styles in the various provinces when it comes to the issuing of permits. We have been hunting rhinos on permits since 1968.
In 1994, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species allowed the export of sport rhino trophies. What happened? Vietnamese hunters priced out traditional hunters. In 2010, the elevated hunting offtakes were all taken by Vietnamese nationals - many were fake hunters. We lost control on this issue. According to Tim Jackson, who wrote in Africa Geographic, "Present legislation governing hunting permits in South Africa is a can of worms", loopholes are being abused.
We need to rectify the permit system. I believe SANParks has put a moratorium on rhino hunts. What is happening in adjacent reserves that share an open boundary with the Kruger National Park? Minister, is it not time to gazette a moratorium until such time as we have cleared up the permit system, the legislation and the debate on the legal trade of rhino horn? We should tidy this up before the next Cites meeting in 2013. Albi Modise, the department's spokesperson, is so right when he says: "The issuing authority must ensure that the off-take is not detrimental to the survival of the species in the wild." That is the case for all other species in the wild when it comes to hunting.
Finally, what is happening to our elephants in Africa? In 2006, 38 000 were poached. According to Dr Michelle Henley from Save the Elephants, the current estimated annual offtake of 8% of the population due to poaching exceeds the reproductive rate of 6%. Elephant numbers are going down in Africa. There are no elephants left in Sierra Leone, and West Africa is under siege. Central African countries have lost 90% of their elephants in the last 30 years. Again, Southern Africa represents the opposite because of the ivory ban.
In conclusion, ivory prices are up by 100% since 2009. In 2007 we had a once-off stockpile sale, with no long-term positive effect. The end market just got bigger. South Africa will become vulnerable with regard to our elephants in future. Let's learn from our experience with rhino poaching and protect our elephants timeously. [Applause.]
Chairperson, our environment and the footprint we leave upon her is of paramount importance, as we are merely guardians of our sea, land and air for a very short time before they are handed over to the custody and care of future generations. Guardianship implies that we always act in the best interest of the subject under our care. Are we fulfilling the role? Are we doing everything in our power to ensure a sustainable environment for our future generations? We have made and continue to make great strides in this area, and the Minister and her department must be commended for that. However, there are still areas in which we are falling short, and it is to these that we wish to turn our attention.
The alleged revelation last week that it took the department seven months to respond to a dangerous underground fuel leak in KwaMashu, an area in KwaZulu-Natal, is cause for grave concern. Negligence of this nature at departmental level should not be allowed, as it contributes to the retardation of all the positive progress that the department is trying to achieve. This incident must be fully investigated and the guilty or negligent parties be heavily sanctioned, as this could have resulted in a tragic loss of human life and serious damage to the surrounding environment.
Rhino poaching is still a very serious concern, with 199 rhinos poached so far this year. However, the 122 arrests made to date show that we are really making progress, Minister. We call on the department to maintain the utmost vigilance and care when it comes to the protection of both our flora and our fauna. Antipoaching campaigns must be adequately resourced and stepped up, and criminal sanctions associated therewith must be increased and effectively meted out by our courts. Effective engagement with the security departments of the various buyer countries in the East must also be entered into in order to effectively cut off the head of this Hydra.
Our wetlands also require more adequate forms of protection, monitoring and rehabilitation, as these are treasure chests of biodiversity.
Engagement and awareness on a micro environmental level are also both necessary and mandatory if we are to effectively mitigate, at national and micro level, the environmental changes that are currently sweeping the planet. A recent study has indicated that the Greenland ice sheet is likely to be more vulnerable to global warming than was previously thought. The temperature threshold for melting the ice sheet completely is in the global warming range of 0,8C to 3,2C, with the best estimate of 1,6C above pre- industrial levels. Today, global warming of 0,8C has already been observed. The substantial melting of land ice could contribute to a long- term rise in the sea level of several metres and could potentially have serious consequences for our citizens and country.
Projects such as the RD2 research project currently being undertaken by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, which assesses multisector climate impacts and adaptation options, including socioeconomic costs, at 2C global warming and beyond, must be fully engaged with by the department and scenarios must be accurately modelled so that we are adequately prepared to mitigate the effects of a possible 2C increase in temperature.
In conclusion, the exploration and implementation of new energy pathways and a concerted commitment to sustainable energy production must be prioritised. Our current energy system must be transformed in line with global climate mitigation practices. Climate change remains a very real and contingent variable that every country in the world will have to take into account at some point or other. Let South Africa be an ambassador of responsible environmental practice. Let our actions speak far louder than our words. The IFP supports the budget. [Applause.]
Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, and hon members ... a re lot?heng. [Greetings.]
The UDM fully supports this Budget Vote.
The government's successful hosting of COP 17 helped to bring the dangers of climate change sharply into focus. As a nation, we emerged from the conference more informed about the steps each one of us can take to deal with and mitigate the effects of climate change. Now we urgently need to ensure that we work together to implement the COP 17 resolutions. The government should encourage the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs and the National Planning Commission to work closely together to ensure that all environmental considerations are integrated in the policies of the three spheres of government.
The UDM would like to commend the department for its renewed focus on job creation. The management of land and forest degradation and the health of rivers, among others, involves some of the praiseworthy projects that the department has used to create jobs for our people. It is encouraging to see that the department has moved beyond the point of theorising about issues to actively finding solutions to environmental challenges in ways that create jobs for the poor and unemployed. In addition to its projects, the department should consider launching green battalions, which would create jobs for community members, who would be responsible for the management of these environmental projects. The primary purpose of these battalions would be to combat and prevent soil erosion and ensure food security.
Working together with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs should make use of such projects to provide jobs for the millions of our unemployed youth. We should also utilise the food production potential of provinces such as the Eastern Cape, Free State, Limpopo and Mpumalanga. A re lot?heng. [I thank you.]
Chair, Minister MmaMolewa, hon chair of the portfolio committee, hon members, Ministers and Deputy Ministers who are here with us today, chairpersons of executives, public entities, and distinguished guests, environmental degradation, accelerated by human activities in the quest for a livelihood and developmental needs, is a global concern. Thus we have had the 40-year journey from Stockholm, Nairobi and Rio de Janeiro to Johannesburg, striving to address such challenges all the time. The outcome of this journey has been a shift from just a developmental agenda to a programme of action for sustainable development that binds all countries to prioritising the environment. That is why we developed our national framework and strategy - and had their implementation - for sustainable development, to ensure the balance between socioeconomic developmental needs and conservation of the environment for sustainability.
Our strategic plan and budget strive for a sustainable environment characterised by community-based environmental management while creating jobs, saving energy and water, creating food security and managing waste, to mention but a few. Allow me to give you a snapshot of the programmes we have implemented to address the above-mentioned key focus areas.
Our biological resources were being exploited without the involvement of and benefit to communities. Their indigenous knowledge of those resources was not being used. At the Convention on Biological Diversity at COP 10 in Nagoya, the Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing was adopted as an international instrument. From this followed the development of our regulations on bioprospecting access and benefit sharing, which ensure partnerships with communities.
Seven bioprospecting permits have already been issued to the San community, who have now received two payments arising from their partnership with a pharmaceutical company. These permits have contributed to the sustainable utilisation of indigenous biological resources, created job opportunities, eradicated poverty and improved the health of the communities.
Two other permits have been issued to allow the utilisation of wild- harvested pelargonium sidoides, which is commonly known as uvendle, for commercial exploitation in the Eastern Cape. The beneficiary of this project is the Amathole community.
We need to transform our parks and we are busy doing that. People and Parks is one of our flagship programmes aimed at transforming the sector. We launched the National Co-management Framework, which enables community participation in protected areas. We finalised four co-management agreements by management authorities, such as Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife with the communities of Ndumo, Ithala and Tembe Nature Reserves, as well as iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority with the Mdletsheni community.
We have provided skills training to 400 beneficiaries from communities in eight protected areas. The challenges faced in this programme will be addressed jointly with the Ministry of Rural Development and Land Reform, while others will be addressed at the upcoming 5th People and Parks Conference, scheduled for September. I invite you all to attend, hon members.
Concerning our wetlands, we are very concerned about their degradation - MmaZikalala has already referred to that. For that reason we developed the State of Biodiversity Report, which gave us an indication of the status of our wetlands and the number of wetlands in the country. Wetlands have created job opportunities in Makuleke Village in Limpopo and a joint management board with SANParks has been established.
Game farming is also one of our good programmes. The wildlife economy has been identified as a key component of the biodiversity sector, contributing to job creation and economic development. Game farming, or wildlife ranching, has provided employment in the provinces. In recognition of this growth, the department is undertaking an extensive policy development process to harness the benefits from the hunting sector. As part of this process the department is planning to host the hunting indaba as a way of engaging with key stakeholders in formulating a clear policy for the sector.
Our social responsibility programmes aim to address environmental challenges while creating jobs, eradicating poverty and developing skills and small, medium and micro enterprises. This programme is composed of projects such as Working on Waste, which the Minister alluded to, Working for Water, Working for the Coast, eco-towns and Working on Fire. I really commend Working on Fire. Religiously, every year, they come to listen to us and hear what is happening. Congratulations and keep up the good work! [Applause.]
We have already implemented the eco-town concept in 10 municipalities. Some of these municipalities won the national prizes in the Greenest Municipalities Competition, which is aimed at sharing environmental best practice. Through this programme a total of 3 000 work opportunities were created for 24 months, providing the beneficiaries with much needed experience to enter into the formal job market and start their own SMMEs. A total of 19 433 job opportunities were created through other projects.
The SA Weather Service is playing a significant role through community radio stations in educating communities and the commercial sector, including agriculture, about severe weather warnings, aviation warnings and marine-related forecasts for coastal and deep sea forecasts. We are collaborating with municipalities. Actually, we are taking this to municipalities because they are out there with the communities.
Regarding waste, the Minister has already spoken about it. Our efforts to collaborate with the Department of Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs and the SA Local Government Association have really yielded good results. Waste is slowly being integrated into the business of municipalities, which was not the norm before. The department is providing hands-on support to municipalities and I think we are winning the war.
Regarding the health and quality of our air in South Africa, the Air Quality Governance Lekgotla was held last year. It aimed to present an overview of the state of air quality, report progress on the roll-out of the National Environment Management: Air Quality Act, Act No 39 of 2004, and strengthen collaboration between the three spheres of government. We will be conducting a mid-term review of the status of the ambient air in the Vaal Triangle priority area to check if we are achieving our goals. Through the Basa njengo Magogo campaign we have managed to educate communities about reducing air pollution. We have employed and trained young people to educate communities.
Regarding compliance and monitoring, we have the Green Scorpions, who are doing good work. They have the responsibility of monitoring the implementation of and compliance with our environmental laws. The 4th National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Lekgotla, which was held in Limpopo recently, reflected on legislative amendments and also strengthened the powers of the Green Scorpions. It also increased penalties - there are now maximum fines of R5 million to R10 million, depending on the offence. For example, a fine of R3 million was issued to Silicon Smelters in Witbank in August 2011 and the facility spent R13 million on improvements. They got our message! The lekgotla also reflected on the Environmental Management Inspectorate's operating manual and the Magistrate's Court Bench Book to provide guidance to judicial officers in dealing with environmental cases and to update the guidelines for prosecutors. Also, 559 learners were given basic training.
In 2012 we aim to prioritise the roll-out of the Green Scorpions to local authorities and the first implementation protocol has already been signed. This was during the conference with the Limpopo provincial government.
The Green Sorpions are doing very well in regard to health care risk waste because we can see that industries are now starting to comply.
Our coastline continues to be extremely vulnerable to the impacts of major oil spills, among other things. Last year we focused on developing an ocean management strategy, which will be circulated this year. We rolled out a pilot project at Amathole District Municipality, which is the 21st SA Marine Protected Area. We are also going offshore regarding this protection - we have embarked on the process of proclaiming Prince Edward Island an MPA. This will set a good standard for our international partners. In addition to what the Minister said about youth development, we trained and employed a further 12 young people in integrated environmental management. This will go towards the roll-out of education and awareness programmes. They in turn trained 170 people to do education and awareness campaigns.
Regarding public awareness, we are partnering with the Department of Basic Education. We are working together and environmental education has been incorporated in the curriculum. We are building workshops for educators to be able to teach about environmental matters.
The Kids in the Parks programme seeks to enhance access for learners, especially the historically disadvantaged. Already 4 882 learners have access, and we are now targeting 5 000. We also have a careers outreach programme.
Working with Indalo Yethu, we have the Climate Change Train, which enables us to get feedback from the communities about the impact of climate change on them. They said that we were talking about it but we didn't know. They understand the impact it has on them and they gave examples. We are compiling that report in a booklet and you'll be getting it soon.
In conclusion, I wish to thank our Minister for providing exceptional leadership and the chairperson and members of the portfolio committee for their guidance in ensuring that we deliver on our mandate. A big thank you to the director-general and her team for their sterling work and congratulations on the awards that you received. We are proud of you. Malibongwe! [Let it be praised.] I also want to thank our public entities who are with us today. I thank our sister departments and all stakeholders for their active participation in environmental issues and for their unconditional support.
Sihlalo weNdlu, Ngqongqoshe, neSekela lakhe loMnyango wezaManzi nezeMvelo, amaLungu ePhalamende, izikhulu zoMnyango ngezikhundla zazo, nabamele izinhlelo zonke zoMnyango, izivakashi ezikanye nathi kule nkulumompikiswano namhlanje siyanemukela.
Njengoba unyaka wezi-2012 kuwunyaka wekhulu selokhu kwasungulwa uMbutho weSizwe, uKhongolose ngowe-1912, kumele siwugubhe ngokuziqhenya ngokuba yingxenye yale migubho. Njengoba sazi uKhongolose yiwona kuphela umbutho wesizwe omkhulu futhi omdala osuneminyaka eyikhulu emhlabeni wonke jikelele.
UKhongolose, yonke le minyaka uwe uvuka ukuze abantu bakithi bakhululeke bathole inkululeko. Le nkululeko yethu nayo esineminyaka eyi-18 izelwe. Yize le minyaka eyi-18 imincane kakhulu kuneminyaka engaphezulu kwama-350 siphethwe ngendlela yobandlululo lapho abamnyama babephethwe ngendlela yokubancisha amathuba. Siyabonga kakhulu kubaholi bethu abafana nobaba uJohn Langalibalele Dube, uTata Nelson Mandela nabanye abaningi abangasekho nabasaphila abalwa, babulawa, baboshwa bahlukunyezwa egameni lokuba sikhululeke ebugqileni bobandlululo.
Ngakho-ke, kuningi okusamele sikwenze siwuhulumeni oholwa nguKhongolose ukushintsha izimpilo zabantu njengoba noMthethosisekelo waseNingizimu Afrika ukubeka ngokusobala ukuthi abantu bakithi banelungelo lokuthola amanzi ahlanzekile, nokuphila kwimvelo ehlanzekile. Yingakho siwuKhongolose sizimisele ukuthi abantu bangagcini ngokwamukela nje kuphela, kodwa babe yingxenye yokusiza izwe labo ngokuthi bathole amathuba emisebenzi ukuze bazizwe bekhululekile; badle nezithelo zenkululeko eyalwelwa kwachitheka igazi, kwafa abantu kwasala nezintandane. (Translation of isiZulu paragraphs follows.)
[Ms P BHENGU: House Chairperson, Minister and Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Members of Parliament, departmental officials according to your portfolios, representatives of all the departments, visitors who are part of the debate today, you are welcome.
We must celebrate with pride the centenary year of the ANC - it was established in 1912 - as we are a part of these celebrations. We are all aware that the ANC, which is 100 years old, is the only big, long-standing party in the whole world.
The ANC has worked tirelessly all these years in order for the people to get their freedom. This freedom of ours is now 18 years old. This is a very short time compared to the more than 350 years of blacks' being discriminated against and not given any opportunities. Thank you very much to our leaders, such as Mr John Langalibalele Dube, Mr Nelson Mandela and many others who are no longer with us and who were killed, and also those who are still alive and who were arrested and ill treated in order to set us free from apartheid slavery.
Therefore, there's still a lot that we need to do as the ANC-led government to change the lives of the people, as it is clearly indicated in the Constitution of South Africa that our people have a right to have clean water and to live in a clean environment. That is why we as the ANC want people not only to receive, but to be part of helping the country by getting job opportunities so that they can feel free, and enjoy the fruits of freedom which had led to some bloodshed where people died and some were orphaned.]
The work of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs has evolved substantially and substantively in the years since the attainment of our democracy. Pieces of legislation, new institutional structures, compliance mechanisms and budgetary aspects have been dealt with well and systematically to ensure an unqualified audit. The department, in keeping with global trends and the evolutionary nature of the knowledge economy, is currently grappling with the concepts of natural capital, natural assets and natural environmental management to work in synergy with the economics that dominate global markets.
Very few countries have thus far attained this balance of locating the way in which natural resources become a commodity and valuing them. The way in which this department is ensuring that sustainable environmental management is a key part of our nation's future security is evident in the way they conceptualise issues of natural resources management and the protection of ecosystems in their programmes. One of the fairly new programmes - that of Natural Resource Management - requires some comment in this budget debate.
The key strategic priorities of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs include protecting, conserving and enhancing environmental assets and natural and heritage resources, ensuring a sustainable and healthy environment. This includes paying particular attention to ensuring that environmental assets and natural resources are valued, protected and continually enhanced, focusing on key national and international engagement.
The department continues to maintain South Africa's position as the third most biologically diverse country in the world. This is done by strengthening the regulatory framework for diversity and ecosystem services through targeted amendments that promote the objectives of conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of biological resources and associated knowledge.
In relation to natural resource management, the department's Programme 6 reflects the value attached to the environment, as well as the way in which it contributes to job creation. Furthermore, this reflected employment generation is a key priority in the department's Medium-Term Strategic Framework. It has intensified its involvement in the Expanded Public Works Programme in relation to generating green jobs.
The transfer from the former Department of Water Affairs and Forestry of the Natural Resource Management Programme, which comprises Working for Water and Working on Fire, has significantly increased the department's capacity and responsibility to create employment. This was said clearly by the hon President in his state of the nation address:
... if we continue to grow reasonably well, we will begin to write a new story about South Africa - the story of how, working together, we drove back unemployment and reduced economic inequality and poverty.
These programmes both generate critical environmental outcomes. The management of invasive alien plants, wildfires, wetlands, forest degradation, the health of rivers, the creation of value-added industries and the conversion of invasive alien plant biomass, bush encroachment biomass and waste materials into energy continue to be realised through these programmes.
At the 52nd National Conference of the ANC in Polokwane in 2007 resolutions were adopted, one of them being that water resource management had to be integral to planning by the municipalities. That is why there is a New Growth Path - it is helping our Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Mrs Edna Molewa, to focus on a long-term national water resource strategy. It provides guidelines on how to align science, technology and engineering with national growth development and equality goals.
The department has also fostered the development of the green economy by establishing the Green Fund. Its main objective is to promote environmental protection through a programme consisting of technical assistance, grant assistance, loan assistance and own funding for projects that have a substantial public interest. The fund's aim is to stimulate market development and foster projects that have a highly positive environmental impact, to strengthen institutional capacity to integrate environmental issues into the economy and society, to contribute to the associated knowledge, and to attract the resources to develop the South African green economy.
The budget allocated to ensuring the protection of our natural capital, and also to using it as a vehicle to alleviate poverty and create jobs, is Programme 6: Environmental Sector Programmes and Projects. The purpose of this programme is to promote the empowerment of designated communities by creating 201 964 work opportunities and full-time equivalents over the medium-term by implementing the EPWP projects; to contribute to sustainable employment creation and economic growth over the medium-term by facilitating skills development, employment creation and the restoration of national capital by providing more than 130 000 job opportunities; and to contribute to a greener economy by providing bridging finance to encourage the development of green economy enterprises and projects.
The Environmental Sector Programmes and Projects is actually the largest programme in the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs. As a result it receives 60% of the allocation to the department in the 2012-13 financial year. The favourable allocation for the programme should be seen in the context of this an ANC-led government's drive for job creation and the potential of the different facets of Environmental Sector Programmes and Projects to continue in this regard. Environmental degradation, poverty eradication and unemployment are long-standing, pressing issues which this programme envisages tackling. Therefore, concerns for the environment and the emerging debate over the green economy make it extremely relevant to look into the employment of this programme.
In addition dealing with to national priorities in environmental protection, South Africa is also involved at the international level in the Rio+20 Sustainable Development Conference. This conference aims to secure a renewed political commitment to sustainable development, to assessing the progress and implementation gaps in meeting already agreed upon commitments, and to addressing new, emerging challenges. The themes for the conference will be "a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication" and "the institutional framework for sustainable development". This conference will be an outcome of Agenda 21 and the 10th anniversary of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, the WSSD, referred to as the Johannesburg Summit.
In an effort to keep the WSSD legacy alive, South Africa is pursuing an outcome that will also contribute to the fulfilment of the department's strategic objectives of enhanced international governance instruments and agreements supportive of sustainable development priorities. Therefore South Africa will pursue a position that advocates enhanced UN systems to promote international co-operation for sustainable development. We will also call for the concept of a green economy to promote the participation of vulnerable communities and secure livelihoods. The focus of a green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication and an institutional framework for sustainable development at Rio+20 will afford South Africa an opportunity to pursue its position. Although substantial human resource capacity is available locally, a shortage of skills in certain areas is likely to constrain the development of a green economy. That is why a coherent strategy is needed to address the skills constraints that may prevent the expansion of pertinent sectors or the introduction of new activities. This will include worker re-skilling programmes towards greener disciplines and activities.
In conclusion, as South Africans we have to take the lead. A gradual but effective transformation of behavioural patterns, particularly with respect to resource utilisation and protection, is critical for the evolution of the green economy. It is not simply about responding to an adequate level of incentivisation or the imposition of regulations and penalties. It is about choices. South African households, businesses and government agencies will establish the momentum and progressively reinforce the greening of the economy for the benefit of all our communities. The ANC supports the Budget Vote.
Chairperson and hon Minister, the ACDP commends the department for its efficiency - it is most definitely a well-run department. Well done also for the success of COP 17! The department has a responsibility to maintain South Africa's image as the third most biologically diverse country in the world by strengthening the regulatory framework for biodiversity and ecosystem services through targeted amendments. This the ACDP also supports. The transfer from the Department of Water Affairs of the Working for Water and Working on Fire programmes has significantly increased this department's capacity and responsibility to create employment. The ACDP looks forward to the greater success of this programme in creating jobs, given the R1,1 billion additional funding given to these programmes. What is of equal importance is the huge value of the work that is being done. As the Minister pointed out, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research estimates that water to the value of R400 billion has been saved. That is no mean feat and, as we know, water is very precious.
The massive reduction in the budget allocation to the Subprogramme: Ocean Conservation is explained by the payment of the final instalment for the new polar research vessel, the SA Agulhas II. We all look forward to seeing it and welcoming it tomorrow. As South Africans, we can be proud of this new vessel as we are leaders in polar research.
Previous speakers referred to the rhino and elephant poaching crisis. Concerns have been expressed that if poaching of rhinos continues at its present pace, they could be extinct within our lifetime. Clearly, while effecting a number of arrests, the joint task team is not reducing the number of rhinos being poached. More must be done in this regard.
It is very clear that organised crime syndicates are involved. The Sunday Independent newspaper quotes a report from Reuters relating to rhino and elephant poaching - in this case, elephant poaching in particular - in the Garamba National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which a previous speaker also referred to. Here, it was a family of elephants that were killed when poachers swept over them with a helicopter gunship. The report said:
The scene beneath the rotor blades would have been chilling: panicked mothers shielding their young, hair-raising screeches and a mad scramble through the blood-stained bush as bullets rained down from the sky. When the shooting was over, 22 elephants lay dead ... their tusks and genitals removed for sale in Asia.
This is disgraceful. Rhinos are extinct in that park and elephants are to follow. We must take greater steps to prevent that from occurring here in South Africa.
For that reason, the ACDP is concerned that there is a massive reduction in the budget for the SA National Parks subprogramme in the biodiversity and conservation programme. This could escalate incidents of rhino poaching by limiting the ability of law enforcement agents to ensure relevant conservation laws are effectively implemented and enforced. We, as parliamentarians, must ensure that conservation laws are properly enforced by providing sufficient funding to these law enforcement agencies.
Chairperson, hon members and our distinguished guests, the main objective of our government is to take care of its citizens. On the other hand, citizens must behave in a manner that augments government's effort. We must exercise and enjoy our rights responsibly. We have the right to reproduce ourselves, but we must do so responsibly. Research has shown that population is an important source of development, yet it is also a major source of environmental degradation where it exceeds the threshold limit of the support system.
The uncontrollable increase in the population contributes to high levels of poverty. As far as jobs are concerned, the demand will always exceed the supply. However, government has made a remarkable move in creating and saving jobs. Many poor people depend on natural resources. This alone calls for unity in action as we are all potential victims of the situation.
This quote is taken from one of the reports on the environmental outlook of South Africa:
The environment is constantly in flux, with change driven by a variety of factors that influence and direct it in many ways - affecting the quality of our water our natural resources and the productivity of land. These factors ... arise mainly from a country's socio-economic activities. When combined with changes in the condition of the natural environment, these drivers can and do have a significant impact on the health and functioning of that environment, which, in turn, affects people's quality of life and their ability to survive.
Industrial development contributes to the creation of jobs and improves the standard of living, but their noncompliance with legislation - that is the National Environmental Management Act, Act No 107 of 1998, commonly known as NEMA - spoils the benefits of their existence. Those who comply are just a drop in the ocean. We can say it is better than nothing, but half a bottle of poison is still poison and it will kill you.
Migration and influx to South Africa result in the mushrooming of informal human settlements that have no infrastructure. People resort to unhealthy ways and means to survive. They must make fires to cook and warm themselves. They use anything: wood, cow dung and many other things. Unlike commercial industries, they have no choice and the situation has a negative impact on their health. Their lifespan is shortened. They are vulnerable to all sorts of diseases due to air pollution and contaminated water. Infant mortality is rife.
Education and awareness campaigns must be prioritised in all communities, in particular in informal settlements, the rural areas and schools.
Ambassadors of health and the environment must also advise our people on the benefits of taking care of the environment through recycling and waste management. For example, Logistic News tells you about the benefits of the increase in the paper recovery rate. During the 2007-2008 calendar year, 2 060 000 tons of recyclable paper was collected, resulting in income generation for poor members of our communities, an increased number of job opportunities and saved landfill space. Also, 40% less energy is required to manufacture paper from recovered paper. Recycling fibre reduces air emissions in papermaking by 70%.
Recycling has been hailed as one of the best environmental success stories of the past few decades. The processes that are involved turn materials that would otherwise become waste into valuable resources. The number of companies engaging in waste reduction and the amount of material reused or recycled are now growing rapidly. Hardworking people who take their recycling materials to these industries get next to nothing when we talk about rands and cents. Such groups must be assisted to establish recycling co-operatives and register their own businesses. The economic transformation policies will eventually expose them to global competitors. That is the caring ANC-led government.
In October 1998 the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism launched a national waste management campaign. Its aim is to inculcate a culture of responsibility with regard to waste and pollution management and to enable South Africa to initiate projects designed to abate waste and pollution problems. The aim of the campaign is also to create sustainable livelihoods for the poor through improved access to environmental resources; to improve the level of public awareness with regard to waste and pollution management, as well as the need for community action in the development and maintenance of green spaces and other public facilities and amenities; and to return and guarantee the dignity and humanity of the African people, in particular those living in informal settlements, by providing sustainable, appropriate and affordable sanitation.
Programme 6, which is Environmental Sector Programmes and Projects, collaborates with the EPWP by using labour-intensive methods targeting the unemployed, youth, women and people with disabilities. A key objective is to empower small, medium and micro enterprises during the implementation of four focus-area projects. Working on Waste creates sustainable livelihoods through the recycling of waste and waste disposal technologies. "Sustainable livelihoods" also concentrates on the clearing of alien vegetation, the rehabilitation of wetlands and the creation of livelihood opportunities through the sustainable use of protected areas to conserve natural resources and heritage.
Inasmuch as government wants to attract foreign investment, there is no compromise on compliance. Property developers must adhere to the environmental impact assessment policy. Government aims to ensure that development does not take place at the expense of our health and wellbeing in general. The mining industries are included in compliance. This is an attempt to strengthen environmental governance and the sustainability of our developmental growth path. Section 23 in Chapter 5 of the National Environmental Management Act, NEMA, states that all stakeholders have the right to be consulted on impact assessment. It means the social, economic and environmental impact of activities must be considered and the affected communities must be consulted before development takes place.
My speech would not be complete if I didn't - to follow previous speakers - mention the pivotal role played by South Africa under the leadership of the ANC-led government at the Durban conference on climate change recently in 2011. The country was united in persuading countries that were resistant to participation in efforts to deal with this global environmental hazard.
Even though the process is still continuing, I just want to mention one of the outcomes. The Durban conference adopted 19 COP and 17 CMP decisions and approved a number of subsidiary body conclusions. Although these outcomes cover a wide range of topics, the final high-level Durban Package unlocked a historically successful outcome that strengthened the multilateral system through an agreement that significantly advances the global effort needed now. However, it also sets a new long-term pathway for the development of a fair, inclusive, ambitious and legal future multilateral and rule-based global climate change system that can balance climate and development imperatives.
Looking back to the history that led to the Durban conference on climate change, I feel there is only one conclusion: South Africa is in good hands. Give the ANC another chance to lead South Africa. We need one another as political parties. We need one another as a country. Together we can do more.
Good evening, Chairperson, Madam Minister, Deputy Minister and hon members. Appropriate waste management remains a substantial challenge in South Africa - we are a wasteful country. The legacy of uneven development has also resulted in substantial service backlogs. As of 2007, about 61% of households have had access to kerbside domestic waste collection, but access has been skewed in favour of urban and more affluent areas.
Waste management is a function of local government, but national government has an important role to play in providing norms and standards and monitoring compliance.
Progress in this regard has been made over the last year. The Minister must be commended for finalising the National Waste Management Strategy in November 2011. This is a legislative requirement of the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, Act No 59 of 2008, and its purpose is to realise the objectives of the Act.
There is growing pressure on the outdated waste management infrastructure in South Africa, and at the municipal level there are declining levels of capital investment and maintenance. There are no permits for more than half of the 1 300 landfill sites in South Africa, while about 90% of the nonpermitted landfill sites are owned by municipalities. We also know that about 80% of the waste ends up on creaking landfill sites, while the norm for developed countries is about 20%.
The challenges of building capacity at the municipal level are great. Many of our municipalities are not able to carry out their most basic functions. Waste management for such municipalities is usually conducted in the cheapest possible way, dumping refuse in landfills or on open dumps, with little consideration given to supervisory and regulatory measures. Making use of the full waste management hierarchy in descending order of priority, including waste avoidance and reduction, reuse and recycling, recovery and treatment of disposal as a last resort, is more expensive and more burdensome for local authorities.
All municipalities are now required to have integrated waste management plans, while the relevant MECs are required to support and monitor the development and implementation of these plans. The capacity challenge at local government is particularly acute and for this reason it is noteworthy that the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is committed to delivering training and expert advice for local authorities. Oversight over the implementation of the National Waste Management Strategy will be an important role for Parliament in the period going forward. Arguably, the Treasury allocation for activities related to improving waste management across the country is too little for the next three years. I am confident, though, that if the department can show success, it can make a case for greater appropriations in this regard in the future.
The management of health care risk waste in South Africa remains a considerable concern for the DA. This is a hazardous category of waste. While there may be enough treatment capacity across the country, it is regionally skewed, requiring the transport of hazardous waste across provincial boundaries in search of treatment facilities. When available treatment facilities fail, or are undercapacitated, localised crises occur that sometimes result in illegal dumping by unscrupulous service providers. Worse, ethical service providers, who go out of their way to comply with the complex regulations and laws, are sometimes forced into transgression.
This sector is crying out for greater management by provincial health authorities, who award the tenders for government health care facilities to health care risk waste service providers. There have been irregularities in at least four provinces over the last two years, where government has awarded contracts to providers who either cannot do the job of treating and disposing of medical waste or government has not awarded the contract to the cheapest bidder. The Department of Water and Environment Affairs, which arguably has the greatest understanding of the global medical waste landscape in South Africa, needs to be involved in working with the health departments to ensure that the tenders go to ethical service providers that can do the job in the best interest of the environment.
Waste management poses significant challenges in South Africa but, if appropriately planned and regulated, it can provide significant opportunities. Most significantly, it can be a creator of jobs, particularly in the recycling sector. These opportunities are only starting to be realised. The Minister and her department have done substantial work in laying the foundations; now for the implementation. [Applause.]
Chair, hon Minister, Deputy Minister, hon members of the House, guests and friends, our environment provides us with a range of goods and services that are essential for human survival, wellbeing, cultural diversity and economic prosperity. In terms of the January 8 statement of 2012, the obligation to strive for a clean and healthy environment has been placed on the national agenda, as awareness of the environmental rights of and responsibilities towards citizens is growing. The ANC-led government has adopted various policies on environmental management, with special attention to those issues that contribute to creating a better life and more sustainable use of resources, not only for the present generation but also for future generations.
However, human activities are having significant impacts on the environment, ranging in scale from the local to the global. For example, the growing human population is consuming resources and discarding waste at a rate that we have never experienced in the past. The ability of the earth to sustain us is diminished by, inter alia, accelerated rates of deforestation, soil erosion, desertification and increasing levels of air and water pollution. This means that the increasing pace of human-induced environmental change is altering the ability of the environment to provide essential goods and services. This in turn impedes progress towards sustainable development.
I will now deal with various public entities within this department. The mandate of SANParks is, according to a biodiversity website,"to conserve, protect, control, and manage national parks and other defined protected areas and their biodiversity." In an effort to fight the recent escalation in rhino poaching, particularly in the Kruger National Park, the National Wildlife Crime Reaction Unit was established between SANParks, the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, the SAPS, the NPA and provincial conservation authorities, led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. To reduce poaching and increase awareness about the importance of conservation, the entity plans to increase the number of junior rangers from 520 in 2011-12 to 620 in 2014-15.
SANParks received a total of 4,5 million visitors in 2011-12, which it targets to increase to 4,8 million by 2014-15 by upgrading and expanding tourist facilities in the various national parks. As economic conditions start to improve, the entity expects that its upgraded tourist facilities will contribute to an increase in the number of visitors. It has identified cost-effectiveness measures to ensure its financial stability without compromising on the ability to deliver on its mandate. Savings of R35 million over the MTEF period are expected from cost-reduction measures.
SANParks approved the establishment of 3 646 posts, which were all filled as at September 2011, and accounted for 53,3% of its total budget of R1,1 billion in 2011-12. Revenue increased from R1 billion in 2008-09 to R1,2 billion in 2011-12 and is expected to increase to R1,4 billion over the medium term, due to inflation and an increase in the number of tourists visiting the various parks.
Our ecosystems are the basis of our society and our economy. Healthy ecosystems provide vital services to people. Wetlands purify water and control floods. Plants remove pollutants from the air and absorb greenhouse gases. Wetlands are essential in a water-scarce country like South Africa, yet an estimated 50% of South Africa's wetlands have been destroyed or converted. This means they can no longer provide the ecosystem services of flood control, improvement in water quality, water storage and maintaining biodiversity.
A major focus area of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority has been developing infrastructure and land rehabilitation in a way that has simultaneously improved the conservation and biodiversity of the park and maximised the number of local community jobs and the use of local community SMMEs. Labour-intensive methods are used wherever possible. With an estimated 4 000 temporary jobs created, over 60 small and medium enterprises have been supported and over 100 direct permanent and 230 indirect permanent jobs have been created.
The focus over the medium term is to continue increasing revenue and creating jobs. ISimangaliso Wetland Park had a total budget of R94,8 million in 2011-12, of which 51,9% was used for infrastructure, land care and park establishment. It aims to increase the amount of revenue generated from its operations to decrease its reliance on government funds.
The SA National Biodiversity Institute has also taken positive steps to protect our biodiversity, but increasing population pressure and consequent changes in land use, overexploitation, invasion by alien invasive plants, land degradation and the threat of climate change are placing the continued provision of ecosystem services at risk. The institute continues to lead in conservation through controlling the emergence of invasive species and rehabilitating wetlands. Working with the various botanical gardens, it expects to have a large number of invasive species under control by 2012- 13. The target thereafter is to find and monitor five invasive species a year. As at 30 September 2011, the entity had a total establishment of 709 posts, 633 of which are funded through its budget allocation and 76 by donors.
The SA Weather Service's main activities are the maintenance, extension and improvement of the quality of meteorological services, and training; providing risk-management information that is essential in minimising the impact of disasters; collecting meteorological data over South Africa and the surrounding southern oceans; and fulfilling the government's international obligations. The service currently has a forecasting and warning service accuracy level of 70% and plans to increase this to 74% by 2014-15. It plans to achieve its target by upgrading existing equipment and increasing the number of weather stations around the country. It had 373 filled posts in 2011-12 and this number is expected to rise to 398 over the medium term, driven by the need for specialised skills to complement core competencies in the organisation.
Over the past years the department has been working on far-reaching programmes to transform the way it operates and to turn itself into a model of effective and accountable delivery. The Minister and the departmental officials always ensure that they not only spend the budget they have been allocated, but do so in a manner that makes the best use of scarce resources to the benefit of all South Africans. After all, the good intentions reflected in the policies of this government will remain an empty dream unless they are matched with public managers who are capable of translating them into the desired outcomes. In this regard, I want to commend the director-general and her team for continuously receiving a clean audit.
The ANC will continue to provide leadership on environmental issues, including working with progressive forces in South Africa and throughout the world, to ensure that environmental issues continue to receive the prominence they deserve. The ANC supports the Environmental Affairs Budget Vote.
House Chair, thank you very much for this opportunity and the great words coming from the portfolio committee. As usual, we are enriched by your comments and your invaluable input, not just in this debate but throughout. First of all I would like to acknowledge all the inputs made by all hon members. In the interest of time I will not go into detail. However, there are a few issues that I think require a direct comment from me.
We do agree with and acknowledge the work done after the climate change policy hearings, and also with the entire programme of work that the committee has identified. In this regard we are really looking forward to working with you, because you will be calling all the other committees whose work relates to this. Work will be done in particular around the legislative reform programme and a coherent, integrated financing strategy, as well as developing consensus around climate change action, priorities, sequencing and all the other issues that I am not raising now.
Similarly, the issues raised by hon Morgan relating to the overarching nature of our policies as the department for the environment, are invaluable and indeed deserving of attention. Those are some of the issues that we will need to discuss in that broad framework that will include the other departments that are relevant to the work we do. As you stated, climate change policies do not necessarily have to be under the National Strategy for Sustainable Development. It is, in fact, our agreement and understanding with the Department of Mineral Resources that the National Environmental Management Act is not a subservient Act. Even within the permit system they will have to consider the Act, with us, the department responsible for the environment, being the appeal authority and taking our rightful place.
On the issue of rhino poaching, I listened to your comments very carefully. I understand that we are all concerned. Like the hon Morgan I would like to say a big thank you to the people who spend sleepless nights in order to help us conquer the scourge of rhino poaching. However, I want to say that the Kruger National Park is, I think, something like 2 million ha. It is actually three or even five times bigger than the province I come from. Imagine if you have to "own the night" in a big place like that. It is not an easy thing.
We actually took journalists and left them there in the bush. They came back saying they did not understand how we managed to make the arrests we do succeed in making. It is not an easy thing, but because we have dedicated teams, they do make arrests and they make us proud. [Interjections.] Yes, hon Koornhof, even given the arrests we have made, we understand that one rhino killed is one too many. We do not want that to happen. However, we are really trying, using every means. Regarding that famous quotation by Albi Modise, he was quoting from several new measures that I had announced. By the way, they include the possibility of a moratorium.
Two MECs, from Gauteng and North West, are present in this august House. They were part of the discussions at Minmec level when we agreed that if an area did not show improvement in regard to how we deal with the closing of the loopholes that we see in the permit system, the Minister could move to implement a moratorium. However, at this stage, as far as a blanket moratorium is concerned, we are really careful and extra sensitive for various reasons. These reasons include, as you have been explaining, how trading happens, including opening up that trading potential. We are asked questions and have been pushed from all sides to allow trading. We do not think we are ready for that. We believe it would cause the situations you have referred to with the elephants and the lessons we have learnt from that ...
Hon Minister, I am giving you one minute to conclude.
We consider the waste management issues that have been raised to be very serious. We have to work together. Ours is really an opportunity to deal with waste once and for all. We must capacitate our municipalities to deal with all the other issues relating to our historical background that we have identified.
Finally, we do think a case needs to be made and that dealing with hazardous waste is an area we need to deal with. Thank you very much, chairman of the portfolio committee, for all the good work that you have been doing. You are saying we are doing good work, while we are saying you are doing good work! All of us, put together ...
Mabogo dinku a a thebana. Re a leboga. [We appreciate this co-operation. Thank you.] [Applause.]
Debate concluded.