Hon Deputy Speaker, Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members and all our visitors, marine and coastal environmental assets provide and sustain a wide range of economic, social and ecological services that are the foundation of the livelihoods of millions of South Africans, which underpin national and international transport, coastal tourism and fisheries industries.
South Africa's policy and regulatory framework to facilitate sustainable coastal development and conservation is outlined in the 2009 Integrated Coastal Management Act, which enables the ANC government to focus on the formulation of coastal management strategies, spatial development and management plans, norms and regulations that guide sustainable development and conservation programmes. In essence, the policy aims to achieve sustainable coastal development through a dedicated and integrated coastal management approach, in partnership with all South Africans.
In this regard, the 2012 ANC National Policy Conference recognised that the pursuance of the environmental protection agenda is an important element of the sustainable development agenda, food security and the promotion of economic growth, and that it would require, amongst others, long-term coastal planning.
Deputy Speaker, the question is often asked: Why is there a need for dedicated coastal management legislation? Is the coast not simply part of the general environment, and is it not already covered by existing environmental legislation?
The coast is a unique part of the environment. It is the meeting place of the land and sea, a limited spatial area that supports many human activities. The coast is a distinctive system in which a range of considerations, biophysical, economic, social and institutional, interconnect in a manner that requires a dedicated and integrated management approach.
In 1992, the year in which the World Summit on Sustainable Development took place in Rio de Janeiro, and Agenda 21 was published, the ANC government embarked on a process to change the way South Africa's coast would be managed, from an ad hoc and fragmented approach to an inclusive and integrated approach.
The amending Bill offers a new and fresh approach to managing the activities of poor people in the coastal zone and is based on a national vision for the coast, which includes the socially justified sharing of benefits derived from a resource-rich coastal area without compromising the ability of future generations to access those benefits.
A welcome addition to the Bill is the provision for improved management of estuaries. In terms of the Bill, an overarching national estuary management protocol will be established to ensure that estuaries are managed in a co- ordinated and standardised manner, and that minimum requirements for estuarine management plans are provided.
The amending Bill presents an opportunity to proactively reduce incidents of illegal developments and inappropriate and unsustainable land use, planning and practices along the coast, thus reducing potential future loss of life and property due to storms and other ocean dynamics.
In this regard, the Bill states that: "When determining or adjusting the inland coastal boundary of coastal public property, the Minister must take into account" a variety of factors, among which, "are the dynamic nature of the shoreline", the need to make appropriate allowance for... the periodic natural movements in the high-water mark; and... the erosion... of the seashore".
The use of the term "coastal public property" was a shift away from resource-centred management, and placed the ownership of large areas of the coastal zone, which is vested in the citizens, in trust by the state. The intention of coastal public property is to prevent exclusive use of the coast by facilitating access to and sustainable use of the productive coastal resources for the benefit of all South Africans. The amending Bill defines the exact composition and purpose of coastal public property, which are to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems.
What is of great importance is that no organ of state may reclaim land for the development of state infrastructure unless authorised by the Minister, and that reclaimed land may not be utilised other than in accordance with the purpose stated in the original application and conditions of the authorisation. An application for reclamation for purposes other than the development of state infrastructure will only be considered in exceptional circumstances which are not contrary to the purpose of coastal public property.
Hon Speaker, this amending Bill signals a fundamental shift in thinking about our coast and ushers in a new era for coastal management. It is rooted in the understanding that our coast is a national asset and belongs to all the people of South Africa. It recognises that our coast is a place of value, opportunity and potential, and that it is a diverse, special and distinctive place and is also a driving force in the national economy, with an enormous future development potential. To harness this potential, we need to manage our coast wisely.
The ANC supports the Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]