Deputy Speaker, one of the major objectives of the ANC-led government is to develop and use our rich mineral resources in a globally competitive and sustainable manner that will equitably benefit all citizens, as well as protecting human health, the environment and our precious, yet scarce, water resources.
Just a reminder, in case some of us in this House - particularly those on my left - have forgotten, that this ANC-led government began from a zero base in 1994 to create policies and promulgate laws that promote a healthy environment and, more importantly, focus on sustainable development.
Another reminder is that sustainable development is all about socioeconomic development and, indeed, growth that considers the environment and the people. It is a three-pillar approach.
In 20 years of ANC governance we have been listening very carefully to our people. So when they have requested some changes in approach, because of our usual democratic, caring nature of promoting investments, creating jobs and working hard to grow our economy in all sectors, we decided to amend certain laws in order to make life easy for investors and our developers.
We have heard our people's desire loud and clear - also from an investment point of view in the mining sector, in particular, as well as other sectors. They have asked for shortened and simplified authorisation processes.
We would like to reiterate the statement made by President Zuma on Thursday last week, when he addressed our nation. Let me quote what he said in his address:
... we have now streamlined regulatory and licensing approvals for environmental impact assessments, water licences and mining licences. Parliament is finalising amendments to the law to give effect to this very positive development, which will cut to under 300 days the time it takes to start a mine, from application to final approvals.
We are thankful for the good leadership of the ANC and the good story of President Zuma. After passing this Bill, it will take half the time it used to take before operations begin and profits are made for those who are in the profit-making business, but with jobs for those who want to have jobs. Jobs will be created.
We must remember that this good story was written by the ANC-led government under the leadership of President Zuma. It did not come about by accident.
The current legal responsibilities for human and environmental regulatory aspects in the mining sector are indeed very fragmented. This has created a situation where any mining operation needs to obtain authorisation for mining rights; water and environmental management reports; environmental impact assessments; waste and air quality licences; and authorisations from multiple authorities, each with a different set of administration procedures, timeframes and requirements.
It also means that different authorities are involved in this follow-up, particularly on compliance. This reality has therefore resulted in long delays, which we acknowledge. We proceeded to address these uncertainties and barriers by creating one environmental system.
The system will be regulated through the environmental provisions of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act and the National Environmental Management Act. It used to be under the Minerals Act and is now under the National Environmental Management Act.
The parliamentary processes have also ensured that we have the Bill, which we are discussing here today, on water licensing and authorisations. These original amendments, with regard to mining, came into effect in June 2013. Subsequently it became obvious that further streamlining, integration and alignment was needed. Therefore, today we are finally creating one environmental system.
The system makes the Minister responsible for mineral resources the competent authority, in terms of the National Environmental Management Act, for issuing environmental authorisations. It also makes the same Minister responsible for follow-up compliance monitoring and enforcement of the conditions of authorisations.
These include the financial provision for management of environmental damage and ongoing impact assessment during and after closure of mining operations, in terms of the environmental legislation. So it means that we will not cry after the fact or say that there is acid mine drainage - AMD this and AMD that. We are proactively dealing with this matter.
As a responsible, caring, ANC-led government we are building a solid economy that will ensure that there is environmental sustainability. Gone are the days when we had to fight and follow polluters to London and all over the world. Now we are proactively dealing with these issues. Gone are those days!
Accountability is created through the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, who now is responsible for appeals against these environmental authorisations.
Effectively, this enables the Minister and the department responsible for mineral resources to issue environmental authorisations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act. The Minister can now do so in a manner that informs and integrates public health and environmental concerns when giving consideration to issuing mining rights, permits or licences.
This will ensure that there are no delays or duplication of processes and that environmental considerations, regulatory frameworks and norms and standards set in terms of Nema are integrated in the day-to-day decision- making when prospecting, during exploration, and when mining and production rights permits are considered.
Furthermore, the Minister and the department that issues mining rights, permits and licences will also be responsible and accountable for the implementation of enforcements. To this end, the National Assembly has already passed the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Amendment Act. We know that it is currently under consideration by the NCOP.
The other aspects necessary for further integration, alignment and streamlining, to fully realise this one environmental system, are contained in the National Water Amendment Bill and the National Environmental Management Laws Third Amendment Bill, which we are debating now.
The National Water Amendment Bill enables applications for water-use licences for mining operations to be synchronised with authorisations provided for in the National Environmental Management Act and the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act.
Furthermore, departing from the Water Tribunal appeals process, the Bill enables mining operations appeals to be dealt with by the Minister to synchronise and align the regulatory processes and timeframes under the Departments of Mineral Resources and Water and Environmental Affairs.
The National Environmental Management Laws Third Amendment Bill further amends three pieces of legislation, namely the National Environmental Management Act, the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and the National Environmental Management Amendment Act.
At a strategic level, this Bill focuses on enabling a smooth transition from the current fragmented environmental management system to the newly integrated, aligned and streamlined one environmental system.
I need to state that the Bill makes provision for the different regulatory authorities to agree on integrating these multiple permits into a single authorisation, and also provides for safeguards that facilitate compliance through the competent authority in instances where complaints of nonadherence to the system are received. In line with President Zuma's announcements during the state of the nation address on cutting red tape, the respective environmental management, atmospheric emissions, water use and waste management authorisations, licences, permits and any related appeals for mining, will be issued simultaneously. They will be issued within 300 days and all internal appeal processes will be finalised within 90 days.
These strict timeframes will be outlined in regulations under the National Water Act, the National Environmental Management Act, the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, the National Environmental Management: Waste Act and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, and will bind both the state and the private sector.
These Bills are about co-operative governance and, indeed, the water environmental management aspects. Other national and provincial departments, municipalities and organs of state will also be participating to improve efficiency and effectiveness, as well as reducing red tape.
The Bill will enable us to accelerate our infrastructure expansion programme under the Strategic Infrastructure Projects, Sips, with swifter turnaround times on our licensing applications and an expeditious internal appeals process.
I would like to thank you and ask for your support for this Bill. Thank you very much. [Applause.]