Good morning, Chairperson, hon Minister, Deputy Ministers, hon members and our guests in the gallery. This month has seen our country celebrating days of both national and international historic importance, namely Workers' Day on 1 May and Africa Day on 25 May. On these selfsame days other important events also took place. On Workers' day, the Olifants West Conservation Trust, in partnership with Transfrontier Africa, the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Rhino Mercy, inducted seven young people into an anti-poaching combat team. Of significance, four of the Black Mambas, as this group is known, are women.
Collet Ngubeni, one of the inductees, when asked why she had joined the team, responded that, had she not joined the team, there would be no inheritance from her to be passed to the next generation; that tourism and the economy of that region would be affected; and that it would severely impact on further job creation.
We have many such initiatives where our young people are answering the call to help save our country's most endangered species. However, we should continue developing these communities, closest to the nature reserves, in conservation. It has been widely reported that the rhino population in Mozambique, in April this year, has been annihilated.
Just as horrifying, is the fact that as of 21 May, 353 rhinos have been killed in our country - well on track to surpassing the 663 killed in 2012. Over the past three years, 55 000 - and I repeat, 55 000 - elephants have been killed on the continent, a major catastrophe!
The date 25 May saw us celebrating Africa Day. On that day, the first reported killing of an elephant in our country took place in KwaZulu-Natal. Tragically a ranger was also shot in the same province, but thankfully he is in a stable condition and our thoughts and prayers go to his family.
The scourge of elephant and rhino poaching has crossed our borders. Equally worrying is that our rangers are daily at risk. It would appear as if the open fence agreement has introduced an open season on our wildlife and rangers. Hon Minister, how prepared are you and your department to combat the imminent wave of elephant poaching, because it is coming? Also, when will the directive be given to re-erect the boarder fences?
On 26 May, for the first time in Africa, a Falcon Drone was sent into the night skies over the Balule Nature Reserve. The significance of this is that its night vision capabilities enabled poachers to be detected, allowing for the effective deployment of rangers. I believe that the drones have the capability to dramatically reduce the number of attacks on, and the killing of rangers and wildlife. Minister, would you consider looking at the alternative prevention techniques such as the use of a Falcon Drone or even satellite tracking? Because right now, despite numerous interventions, it looks like we are losing the fight. We are now facing an invasion of a different sort from north of our borders. A plant of the species Parthenium, known as Famine Weed in Ethiopia, was found in northern KwaZulu-Natal. This plant is known to cause respiratory distress and allergic dermatitis in humans. Several research documents have attributed the death of cattle, water buffalo and other livestock to it. Prof MacDonald, a conservationist and environmental consultant, came across three plants outside the Mkhuze Game Reserve during a survey on alien plant invasion earlier this year.
Nine weeks later, to quote his words, he said that there were thousands on the same spot. He was shocked to find two Black Rhinos in the Phongolo Game Reserve, seen grazing in the fields overgrown by this reed, exhibiting inflamed and swollen eyes, and bright pink lips and nostrils.
The spread of this weed poses major problems to the farmers, particularly subsistence farmers. It is said that this weed can reduce maize yield by 40% to 60%. It can also reduce the amount of pasture in a grazing area by 90%. Hon Minister, would you regard this invasion as a serious threat, with far-reaching consequences to our farmland and livestock? Will you deal with this matter urgently?
Cope understands the urgent need to improve infrastructure and access to essential services as envisaged in the National Development Plan. However, despite the expressed obligations in section 24 of the Constitution and the National Sustainable Development Plan adopted by Cabinet in 2011, the draft Infrastructure Development Bill seemingly disregards decades of national policy development in relation to environmental management, sustainable development and government's commitment to this. Minister, granted the fact that this is not your Bill, will you stand for the environment in the face of an invasive infrastructure development?
According to the KPMG report, South Africa ranks number six in terms of carbon and climate change, ahead of countries such as Australia, Finland and Singapore.
Eskom has stated that it will need 120 million tons of coal before 2020. What does this mean for South Africa's low carbon footprint and our emerging green economy? Will Eskom's decision impact negatively on South Africa's ranking?
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the portfolio committee and its chairperson, hon De Lange, for being consistently vigilant and for asking the probing and sometimes uncomfortable questions on the workings of the department.
In conclusion, I would also like to quote Wangari Maathai when she said, and I quote:
We owe it to ourselves and to the next generation to conserve the environment so that we can bequeath our children a sustainable world that benefits all.
I thank you. [Applause.]