14/04/005 : Speech During
National Council of Provinces Policy Debate
on Budget Vote 27: Environmental Affairs &
Tourism, By Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, Minister
of Environmental Affairs & Tourism, on
14 April 2005.
Introduction
It was environmentalist Richard St. Barbe
Baker known in Kenya as Baba Wya Miti (the
Father of the Trees) - who said that our generation
may either be the last to exist, or the first
to have the vision, the daring and the greatness
to play no part in destroying our world.
As we examine the achievements and advancements
of our first ten years of freedom, and celebrate
fifty years of the Freedom Charter, we must
closely consider the question of our shared
future, and how best to ensure that the legacy
of our democracy and development is not one
of irreparable harm to our natural environment.
The most pertinent question in 2005 is not
What has been achieved but rather What are
the conditions we must create to sustain and
extend our freedoms in the Second Decade?
Our Department aims to answer this question
through action bringing together the interests
of people and the environment.
R385 million to create 12 000 new Job Opportunities
in 2005
Chairperson, although the Budget Debate in
the National Assembly last Wednesday was both
positive and constructive there was one Member
who chose to question the value and importance
of our Departments poverty relief efforts,
saying that we remain too focused on job creation
and empowerment. Allow me to say that we will
never apologise for creating jobs, and we
will never falter in our efforts to use conservation
and tourism to lift people and communities
out of the wilderness of the Second Economy.
I would very much like for such people to
leave behind their comfortable desks and journey
to the real South Africa, to meet real South
Africans facing the realities of life. I would
like for them to meet amazing individuals
like Rosinah Moagi from Section MM in Soshanguve.
Unmarried she supports her own child and six
adopted children as a contractor at the Dinokengwetland
rehabilitation project. With only Grade 11
behind her she now employs 11 other people,
has built a house for her family, and is a
hero in her community.
I would like for them to meet people like
Pilot Malele from Casteel in the Bushbuckridge
Local Municipality in Limpopo. Mr Malele is
a contractor in our Save the Sand project,
employs 12 other people, and has also built
a house, bought a car, and is now able to
pay for the school supplies to give his children
a brighter future. I would like those who
argue against our poverty relief programmes
to tell these people why they should not directly
benefit from the work of our Department and
this Government.
I am very pleased to announce that far from
taking the advice of such people, we will
be intensifying our participation this year
in the Expanded Public Works Programme. In
addition to the R370 million spent last year
we will spend another R385 million in 2005/6
on our poverty relief and social responsibility
projects. In doing so, we aim to create more
than 1,38 million temporary job days, 12 000
job opportunities, 120000 training days, and
more than 300 permanent new jobs. These employment
opportunities will, at the same time, directly
promote and benefit our environment. This
is the power of delivery and the true embodiment
of democratic freedom.
Fresh-Air Imbizos Series for 2005
Mr President, the entry into force of the
Air Quality Act (Clean Air Act) must stand
out as one of the most important environmental
milestones of this Parliament since 1994.
For the first time in our history, South Africa
has the scientific basis in place for the
establishment of minimum air quality standards
and for the persecution of those across South
Africa who are constantly polluting the lungs
of our families.
[Chairperson, the passage into law earlier
this year of the Air Quality Act, stands as
one of the most important environmental achievements
of this Parliament since 1994. For the first
time in our history South Africa has in place
the basis for scientifically setting minimum
air quality standards and for punishing those
who continue to pollute the lungs of our families
across the country.]
As the Honourable Members are aware, the
next important challenge is to create the
capacity at provincial and local level to
implement and enforce these new standards.
Another challenge is to create awareness and
understanding about the new laws in local
communities. I am therefore pleased to announce
that our Department will this year be launching
a new series of community Fresh-Air Izimbizo.
Starting in National Environment Week in June,
we will travel to the communities across South
Africa that are worst-affected by air pollution.
We will, with our provincial and local colleagues,
meet with communities to hear their specific
air quality concerns, priorities and suggestions.We
will be guided by them and will share with
them our plans for local implementation. I
would like today to extend an invitation to
Members to join us at these events in their
respective constituency areas.
Cracking down on illegal developments
Chairperson, the environmental impact assessment
(EIA) process remains governments most important
tool for ensuring that development is environmentally
sustainable. Although government has been
streamlining and fine-tuning this tool to
increase its efficiency and effectiveness,
environmental sustainability is being undermined
by developments that have not been properly
assessed and authorised. Since 7 January this
year, these developments are officially illegal,
and their developers may face fines of up
to R5 million, but in the interest of compliance
promotion we have , together with the provinces,
provided a 6 month window-period for these
illegal developments to make application,without
fear of prosecution, and to come into compliance.
However, should this opportunity not be taken,
we will crack down on illegal developments
negatively impacting the environment with
the full force of the law.
Green Scorpions Unleashed
Cutting-edge laws and standards mean little
however without the muscle to enforce them.
Chairperson, South Africa is about to take
a major stride forward in protecting and enforcing
the necessary conditions for freedom in our
communities. The National Environmental Management
Act, anticipated to come into force within
weeks, empowers us to designate officials
in all spheres of government as Environmental
Management Inspectors (EMIs). In other words
Chairperson, the Green Scorpions are about
to be unleashed on polluters, poachers, illegal
developers and all other environmental criminals.
I would like to take a moment to recognise
the presence in the gallery today of a group
of very special individuals. Allow me to introduce
to you the first Green Scorpions. These men
and women will be designated with a range
of enforcement powers from routine inspections,
to powers of search and seizure, establishing
roadblocks and the power to arrest suspects.
They will also be given the power to issue
formal notices to individuals or corporations
breaking our environmental laws or not complying
with the terms of their licenses. Failure
to comply will bring severe criminal consequences.
From our Department, SANParks, all provincial
environment departments, provincial parks
boards, and municipalities, the Green Scorpions
will be everywhere. What makes the Green Scorpions
so effective is that, for the first time,
environmental enforcers will be part of a
national network including park rangers, conservation
and air quality officers, marine and coastal
enforcement officials, pollution and waste
enforcement officers and officials monitoring
urban developments. I would like to thank
our provincial and local authorities for the
enthusiasm and support that they have already
given to this important enforcement partnership.
Not only will our EMIs cooperate closely
with other enforcement bodies like the SAPS,
NIA, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the Scorpions,
we are also working in partnership with the
US Environmental Protection Agency and the
UK Environment Agency to develop an intensive
training course. This will focus on environmental
law, human rights, investigation and evidence-gathering,
as well as effective legal skills.
Targeting Increased Investment in Tourism
Infrastructure
Chairperson, the freedoms guaranteed to our
people by the Constitution and the legacy
of the Freedom Charter, mean little unless
there is economic growth and job creation.
Tourism may well be the silver-bullet for
poverty but only if we can grow the industry
sustainably, spread the benefits to all provinces,
and expand ownership into all communities.
This is one of the reasons why our BEE Scorecard
for tourism is so important, and will officially
be launched at Indaba this year.
Tourism is for all South Africans Black,
White, Colored and Indian, women and women.
We must open up tourism to all South Africans.
[Tourism belongs to all South Africans, black,
white, colored and Indian, men and women.
We must open up tourism to all South Africans.]
I am very pleased therefore to announce that
the official international tourist arrival
figures for 2004 are in fact higher than we
had expected. Members may recall that we anticipated
growth of about 2% - in fact our total international
arrivals grew by 2,7% last year. Although
our European arrivals did drop back by 2,4%,
arrivals from North America were up by 10,4%,
from Central and South America by more than
12%, from Australasia by 4,4%, from Asia by
3,1% and from other African nations by 4,2%.
For a year in which our currency outperformed
the Dollar, the Euro and the Pound, as well
as seeing slower economic recovery in our
major markets,this performance is noteworthy
especially without the benefit of hosting
any major global events. It is not, however,
outstanding. In 2004 the global tourism industry
grew by 10% reaching a total of 1000 million
arrivals worldwide for the first time ever.
Africa, as a whole, saw arrivals grow by 7%.
Even working off of a strong growth base,
we clearly have our work cut out for us to
take maximum advantage of this international
growth and I outlined some of our strategies
to do so last week.Africa, as a whole, saw
arrivals grow by 7%. Even working off of a
strong growth base, we clearly have our work
cut out for us to take maximum advantage of
this international growth and I outlined some
of our strategies to do so last week.Africa,
as a whole, saw arrivals grow by 7%. Even
working off of a strong growth base, we clearly
have our work cut out for us to take maximum
advantage of this international growth and
I outlined some of our strategies to do so
last week.
2005 will see our Department focusing strongly
on the development of tourism infrastructure
in all nine provinces. We aim to increase
the levels of both public and private sector
investment in such infrastructure by 5% this
year, and have just completed, with the DTI
and provinces, a national investment framework
to guide provincial authorities on how to
attract foreign investment into the tourism
sector. We have also prioritised outward investment
missions to target key international markets,
with 19 tourism nodes or Priority Areas for
Tourism Infrastructure Investment (PATIIs)
identified.
Last month we completed the second phase
of our Global Competitiveness Study, aimed
at developing a customer-driven approach to
product development. Three areas were initially
selected as pilot projects the Wild Coast,
Greater Durban and Pietermaritzburg, and the
Drakensburg. I am pleased to announce that
we have now expanded the study to include
6 new areas Port Elizabeth and its surroundings;
Pilansburg, Madikwe and Mafikeng; Central
Limpopo; Panorama; St. Lucia and Maputoland;
and Zululand.
Our 4th National Tourism Conference will
be held in October in the North West province,
and, in partnership with SA Tourism and our
provincial partners, we will tomorrow be launching
the third phase of our domestic tourism marketing
campaigns Shot left 3. Representing more than
3 times the investment made in 2004, this
campaign will aim to further unlock the R47
billion domestic tourism market.
Expanding Ownership of the Hunting Industry
& Regulating Inland 4x4 Driving
Chairperson, in addressing the protection
and expansion of freedoms it is sometimes
necessary for Government to create regulations
that drive change. The issue of industry regulation
came up in the National Assembly in the context
of our concerns about Environmental Impact
Assessment Practitioners. Two other sectors
that need to move more rapidly towards better-regulated
and more equitable practices are the hunting
industry and the owners and users of inland
4x4 recreational driving tracks. Our Department
will this year engage with hunters to thoroughly
analyse the sector, especially in terms of
ownership, management, and skills development.Amongst
the possible options that may need to be considered
are a code of conduct and a BEE scorecard
for the hunting industry, and this will form
the basis of our discussions in 2005. We will
also move to fulfil our undertaking to structure
more regular interactions between hunters
and our Department.
There are also some irresponsible 4x4 vehicle
and track owners, whose activities continue
to damage sensitive sections of our inland
environment. We are pleased to see the recent
announcement that a National Off-Road Workshop
will be convened by the industry in October.
A grading system for 4x4 tracks, including
environmental grading, and the creation of
a representative industry body would be positive
steps. However regulations will still be required,
and if there are not concrete proposals forthcoming
from the industry within the next six months
government will have to issue these unilaterally
although this would not be our first choice.
Conclusion
In conclusion Chairperson, I would like to
thank my provincial colleagues for the support
and energy that they have invested in our
portfolio during the past ten months it has
been a pleasure to work with MECs whose understanding
is matched by their enthusiasm. To Rev. Moatshe
and the other members of the Select Committee
I would like to again express my own appreciation
and that of our Department.
I have also been requested to convey to the
House the greetings of our Deputy Minister,
Rejoice Mabudafhasi, who sincerely regrets
not being able to participate in this debate
today she is currently attending a very important
international meeting in Dubai.
Last but not least I must again thank our
Statutory Bodies, our Department under the
leadership of Acting Director-General Pam
Yako, and our Ministry for the hard work and
dedication that has enabled the achievements
of the past year.
What we debate today the budget policy for
Environmental Affairs and Tourism is not only
about wilderness and forests, mountains and
rivers we are talking about people, their
lives, and their freedoms. To answer the question
of the necessary conditions to sustain and
grow these freedoms our development today
must meet the needs of our present, without
destroying the ability of future generations
to meet their needs.
