Hon Chairperson and colleagues, the hon Zikalala serves on this committee but she has been called away urgently and has asked me to make a contribution on her behalf. I am delighted she asked me to do so because the Deputy Minister and I worked very closely together on the 1998 founding Act when I was the MEC for Environmental Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal. Well done, Minister and Deputy Minister, for the good job that you are still doing. [Applause.] I now proceed to read what hon Zikalala would have said had she been here.
At the outset let me say what a pleasure it has been to work on this Bill. The portfolio committee, very ably chaired by Adv Johnny de Lange, was largely of one voice on this Bill. As the IFP we believe the provisions of the National Environmental Management Act that this Bill seeks to amend are very necessary. The Inkatha Freedom Party has stated before what a great and solemn custodial duty we hold towards the management, security and welfare of our environment. All around us, we see our environment under continuous assault from unscrupulous business practices and the irresponsible behaviour of a few.
As government we have the duty to ensure that our environmental laws are adequately enforced so that we are able to act expediently if there are any transgressions. This Bill, through its amendments, seeks to remove ambiguities and impediments to service delivery as well as to protect of our environment. Of particular import is the current amendment of the provisions of section 11, which are currently not aligned with the term of office of a new government. This nonalignment will have the potential to greatly hamper our strategic planning. Clause 2 of this Bill addresses this shortcoming through the adjustment of timeframes for the preparation of environmental implementation plans by national and provincial governments departments so as to enable a five-year as opposed to a four-year planning horizon.
Our provinces, metropolitan and district municipalities are key role- players in the effective environmental management of our land. They are at the coal face of effective environmental management and we strongly support the publication of an environmental outlook report in a four-year cycle.
We call on the National Prosecuting Authority and the department to be fearless and relentless in their investigation and prosecution of any and all who contravene sections of the Act.
In conclusion, we state again that we must remain ever vigilant and mindful of our God-given natural resources. Their safe and sustainable use, coupled with our responsible footprint, will ensure the availability of resources ad infinitum for generations to come. Our environment provides our people with employment, food, shelter, medicine and spiritual wellbeing. It is all we have; it is everything we have, and we need to look after it.
Madam Chairperson and hon Deputy Minister, this is what I want to say on my own behalf: When plastic bags seem to be our national flower and rhinos are being killed in the manner they are by unscrupulous individuals and syndicates, it means there is a lot more to be done. However, in this instance, we as the IFP wholly support a safe, renewable and a healthy environment for all South Africans. I thank you. [Applause.]