NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION FOR CLEAN AIR (NACA) CONFERENCE
FROM 1ST - 3RD OCTOBER IN NELSPRUIT, MPUMALANGA
1 October 2008 - The
National Association for Clean Air (NACA)
conference will be held from the 1st - 3rd
October where the Deputy Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi,
will deliver a keynote address.
The NACA conference
follows the 3rd Annual Air Quality Governance
Lekgotla held from the 29th - 30th September
at Emnotweni in Nelspruit, Mpumalanga which
aimed to ensure active participation of
all stakeholders as per the National Environment
Management: Air Quality Act.
In addition the Air
Quality Planning Manual which provides guidance
on how to compile an Air Quality Management
Plan will be launched at the conference
by the Deputy Minister, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi.
The manual maps out how various government
departments, provinces and municipalities
which are required to develop Air Quality
Management Plans should coordinate and harmonize
their activities in preparations of these
plans.
For scheduling media
interviews and to RSVP please contact the
spokesperson of the Deputy Minister, Mr
Moses Rannditsheni
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ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ON
30 SEPTEMBER 2008
Deputy Minister’s opening
speech to
NACA/IUAPPA Regional Conference
Mpumalanga, 1st October 2008 - It is ten
years since the previous joint meeting of
the International Union of Air Pollution
Prevention Associations and Climate Protection
(IUAPPA) and the South African National
Association for Clean Air (NACA). This previous
meeting, held in 1998 in Durban, was on
the occasion of the World Clean Air Congress.
It is a great pleasure to welcome back IUAPPA
and international delegates to South Africa,
and specifically to Mpumalanga, the place
of the rising sun. We have much to report
on in terms of progress in cleaning the
atmosphere of South Africa, and also many
remaining challenges. It is opportune that
international and local delegates have gathered
for this conference to deliberate on these
issues.
I would like to use
this opportunity to reflect on the achievements
of South Africa in terms of clean air and
climate change, specifically on progress
in the last three years in implementation
of the Air Quality Act of 2004.
Management of the atmospheric
environment is of course part of the broader
environment. Accordingly, it was considered
appropriate first to create an overall policy
framework for environmental management.
This occupied the first few years of environmental
legislative effort in our democracy – the
result was NEMA – the National Environmental
Management Act. This Act provided a radical
shift in approach and scope from previous
practices. Firstly, in line with our rights
based constitution, NEMA created the means
to give effect to the rights of all citizens
to a clean and healthy environment.
While this may appear
an obvious statement in the current era
of environmental awareness, it was not always
so. Although questions of environmental
management are often considered to be outside
the normal realm of politics – this is a
mistaken perception. Less well-off communities
are often exposed to more hazardous environmental
conditions and to higher environmentally
derived risks. These conditions are not
necessarily deliberate, but the accumulation
of decisions favouring business and industry
over people, quick profits over sustainable
development, the powerful rather than the
indigent. The laws of the previous regime
entrenched this inherent environmental discrimination,
for example, by explicitly restricting the
rights of individuals or organisations to
obtain information relating to the air they
breathe, or the quantities and hazardous
properties of air emissions. I shall return
to this theme later. The location of historically
black neighbourhoods adjacent to active
mine tailings deposits and directly adjacent
to, and downwind from, industries are legacies
of this past era that present ongoing challenges.
Once the NEMA framework
was in place, it was possible to turn the
attention of my Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism to more detailed policy
work. Of relevance to this meeting, was
the publication of the Integrated Pollution
and Waste Management Policy in 2000. This
was immediately followed by the initiation
of the development of the legislation to
allow government to implement this policy.
Among others, the Air Quality Bill was developed
that dealt with the management of the atmospheric
environment aligned with the principles
of NEMA. This bill then went through a lengthy
process of public and institutional review.
This process itself was not without contestation,
clashes and drama. The National Association
for Clean Air took part in these deliberations,
and organised a series of workshops and
conferences to present, discuss and refine
the Bill. The Association is to be commended
for the mature and inclusive manner in which
it conducted these engagements, bringing
together civil society, industry and academia,
and presenting their views to the Department.
While their views did not always prevail,
it is a credit that, once the bill was signed
into law as the Air Quality Act, NACA as
an organisation and through its members
adopted a positive approach to the Act,
and used their resources and initiative,
in partnership with all spheres of Government,
to maximise the opportunities presented
by the Act, and to address the challenges
in implementation. This positive spirit
of engagement between the public and regulatory
sectors of society is to be lauded and is
reflected in an ongoing series of joint
Annual Legotlas and training activities
between the National Department and NACA,
now in its fourth year.
As most of you are aware,
I am sure, the essential features of the
Act are a rights based approach to the environment,
shifting the emphasis from management of
sources of emission, to an inclusive approach
of managing the receiving environment. The
primary emphasis is on management, taking
into account justifiable economic development.
Although the Act does require a stricter
and better managed regulation of industrial
and mining emissions, the Act is not intended
to be anti-industry. Nevertheless, there
are provisions for stricter enforcement
and punitive action against those who, by
choice, fail to comply with a rational management
approach or who deliberately flout the basic
decencies of cooperative management of the
air that we have to share.
At this juncture, it
is opportune to reflect on the role of the
Environmental Inspectorate in air quality
enforcement. Although the label of “green
scorpions” evokes an image of a rather aggressive
organisation looking to enforce its will
with hostile intent. The reality is in stark
contrast, and I use this opportunity to
commend the professionalism and success
of the Environmental Inspectorate within
the ambit of air quality. The inspectorate
teams comprise officials with specialist
knowledge of air quality, of law, of the
procedures of evidence, and specifically
of the Air Quality Act. Inspections are
not blitz type raids, but pre-notified,
well managed inspections of industrial premises,
with agendas and procedures, including safety
procedures advertised well in advance of
visits. While on premises, inspectors are
required to carry out their work in safety,
politely, but without socialising in any
way with staff of the facility. They even
bring their own tea or coffee in thermos
flasks, to avoid any hint of collusion or
impropriety. All aspects of the inspections
are documented. Back in the office, reports
and recommendations are compiled on the
basis of collected and submitted evidence,
away from any influence, real or imaginary,
of the industry officials. These processes
are leading to a much firmer and more even
handed enforcement of licence provisions
under the Air Quality Act. The choice of
clusters of industries, such as the refinery
or ferrous metals industries, is not intended
to be punitive, or to assume that these
industries are violators. The reality is
that these are the larger smoke stack sectors
and thus require priority attention. It
also allows effective use of the environmental
inspectorate by allowing focused development
on industrial sectors, so that the inspectors
go onto premises informed rather than as
broad ranging but shallowly informed amateurs
– which would rightly be regarded as poor
governance procedure. The environmental
inspectorate can be regarded as one of the
recent successes in Air Quality management
– firm, respectful and informed enforcement
of the provisions of the Air Quality Act.
Another aspect of the
Act is how it has really brought the three
spheres of government together. I will draw
on a seemingly paradoxical aspect of the
Act to illustrate this. If there are zones
of known or anticipated serious air pollution,
the Act empowers the Minister or an MEC
to declare an air quality priority area
(sometimes revered to as an air pollution
hot-spot). Once a priority area is declared,
in terms of the Act, national or provincial
government must then set up an intensive
development of an air quality management
plan against prescribed tight time-lines.
The paradox is that this reverses a central
tenet of the Constitution, NEMA and the
Act, that environmental management should
be delegated to the lowest competent level
of government, namely the local authorities.
Surely this is central government grabbing
back the powers it has just delegated?
In practice, this paradox
has been resolved by sensitive administration
of the Special areas implementation. Two
special areas have been declared to date,
in the Vaal Triangle and on the Mpumalanga
Highveld. However, I shall confine my remarks
to the Vaal Triangle in which the AQ plan
is further advanced. Implementation of the
AQ management planning process was delegated
to consultants after an open tender process.
The terms of the tender required extensive
engagement by the AQ specialists with the
local authorities and extensive, compulsory
processes of public consultation. Thus,
while DEAT provided the resources and the
broad terms of reference, the implementation
was closely aligned with governance at the
local level. Both through the process itself
and through explicit capacity development
tasks, skills have been developed.
On the question of skills,
one of the severest criticisms of the Act
during formative stages was that South Africa
did not have the skills to implement an
“advanced first world” system of air quality
management. Yes, there is a skills need.
Nevertheless, these doubting Thomases now
have to retract their views. The positive
spirit of engagement, especially at local
authority and provincial spheres, an emerging
and strengthening environmental consultancy
industry, and positive (although not in
all cases) engagement from industry has
assisted in progressing the intent of the
Act into positive Air Quality Management
plans, based on sound monitoring and information,
and rational decision making.
In the case of the Vaal
Triangle, the planning phase is near completion,
and now the tougher part starts – how to
implement the sometimes costly steps to
improve air quality. How to balance the
sweet words of the preamble to the Act to
protect human health while allowing justifiable
economic development? Therein lies the challenge!
It is precisely to meet
these challenges that events such as this
conference play such a crucial role. You
have brought together international and
local experts in air quality, citizens,
industry, government officials, to share
experience, discuss success and best practice
in other countries, and to share the successes
we have achieved in implementing air quality
management in a democratic society. It is
especially gratifying to have delegates
from out SADC neighbours – South Africa
is privileged to be a partner to our neighbours
through the APINA (Air Pollution Information
n Network Africa) network in managing transboundary
air pollution transport and urban air quality.
We salute the work of APINA and assure the
continued support of my Ministry for APINA
as a public private forum bringing together
the regional air quality interests.
Through IUAPPA, we sustain
a link also with global air quality trends,
and we place on record our deep appreciation
of the many well disposed countries who
have contributed to the democratisation
and effectiveness of our air quality management.
Including but not limited to Sweden, Denmark,
Norway, England, Germany, Belgium and the
USA.
I wish you well in your deliberations.
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SPEECH DELIVERED BY
THE HONOURABLE DEPUTY MINISTER
ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, SOUTH
AFRICA, Me REJOICE MABUDAFHASI AT THE OPENING
OF THE SECOND HOSPITALITY INVESTMENT CONFERENCE
- 1 October 2008
Honourable Ministers
Deputy Director General
Chairperson, Board Members and CEO of Tourism
Business Council of South Africa
Distinguished participants
We have just celebrated the World Tourism
Day last week under the theme climate change
and tourism. However, we say everyday is
tourism day as we daily have tourists in
our continent. These celebrations are to
remind ourselves of the wealth that our
continent has, the natural resources both
flora and fauna, the scenic beauty of our
continent and the rich and diverse culture
of our people.
As a continent, it is
important to share the experiences of our
successes and how we go about addressing
the challenges we encounter and to strengthen
one another to make our continent the preferred
destination in the world. This way, we can
help each other to make our Africa realize
the potential to emerge as a giant economy.
This Hospitality Investment
Conference Africa – HICA in short, provides
an ideal platform for members of the industry
to get together and reflect on the current
trends globally and showcase what the African
continent has on offer for multinationals
to consider as you plan expansions.
Africa is one of the
world’s fastest-growing regions for travel
and tourism, and tourism is driving the
economies for many of countries in the continent.
We are informed by the results of a recent
African Economic Outlook report released
by the African Development Bank, the continents
economic growth is expected to rise to 5,9
percent this year and in 2009 from 5,7 achieved
in 2007, buoyed by the abundant natural
resources available on the continent. The
report further states that the outlook for
much of Africa continues to be highly favourable,
with oil exporting countries in particular
outpacing others by substantial margin.
This is good news for
the continent and should be able to inspire
some confidence, for the investor community
to consider investing in this continent
of ours nestled in the natural beauty which
has the power to breathe new life into the
human spirit. These combined with your architectural
intelligence, a little bit of innovation
and investments will give you good returns
on your investments. It is for this reason
that we believe that this conference will
strive to introduce you to networks, products
and opportunities in this continent.
Programme Director,
many countries in our continent have made
important economic reforms, improving macroeconomic
management, liberalizing markets and trade,
and widening the space for private sector
activity. Various parts of the region are
already making headlines in political transitions.
They are making headway with rising interest
from domestic and foreign businesses and
higher investment. Hence, we see the theme
for this year’s conference ‘Africa’s Open
for Business’ being relevant to the current
economical and political outlook in the
continent.
Despite the fact that
our continent has made several advances
in bettering our economics the investment
response has not been sufficient to overcome
years of falling income or to reverse other
adverse legacies from the long period of
economic decline.
But we are confident
that this conference amongst other offers
a window of opportunity to reverse the marginalization
of Africa's people - and of Africa's governments,
more especially in relation to the development
agenda.
The continent’s political
participation has increased sharply in the
past decade, paving the way for more accountable
government, and there is greater consensus
on the need to move away from the failed
models of the past. Good things are happening
in Africa notwithstanding the daunting development
challenges and the flood of bad news out
of the continent. African nations made the
greatest improvements and took the biggest
steps in positioning itself as the next
investment ground of the future. Africans
are among the world’s most optimistic peoples,
recognizing poverty only as a temporary
obstacle to the continent’s future of prosperity.
Colleagues, this is
a strong affirmation that as much as the
continent is need of assistance to realise
its full economic potential, we will not
stop at the donors doors anymore as we strongly
moving towards forming partnerships with
the development and investor community in
an effort to put Africa amongst the best
in the world.
In our region SADC work
has begun to form a Regional Free Trade
Area (FTA), which was duly approved by the
World Trade Organisation. This is an important
tool that is designed to ensure that we
realise regional integration, improve competitiveness
of our industry. However infrastructure
development is an essential element for
creating conditions that would advance the
integration agenda and it is therefore my
belief that private sector entities have
a key role to play. This if done correctly
will improve market access, integrate markets
and bring the much needed employment, while
you realise your profits and empower the
people.
Excellencies, Ladies
and gentlemen, while we are all hard at
work in ensuring that we bring the much
needed hospitality investments in Africa,
we need to strike a balance, we should not
forget that there are many factors that
contribute to a successful business and
that include human capital development.
Several prominent theorists suggest that
the influx of investment, whether foreign
or domestic can only be successful if a
business entity also invests in people –
this is critical. It is for this reason
that I call upon you to take out and look
at the people, the locals who will make
your business flourish if you take a good
care of them – they will reward by taking
care of your business. We all know that
a happy employee is a true reflection of
a conducive working environment.
In conclusion – Programme
Director, we anticipate that the Hospitality
Investment Conference Africa – hosted by
the Tourism Business Council of South Africa
will undoubtedly increase the levels of
investment not only in South Africa, but
the continent at large. It is therefore
fitting to host a conference of this magnitude
in South Africa in the quest to cement the
various relationships initiated by our respective
governments in various bilateral and multi-lateral
engagements.
Colleagues, let me end by wishing you all
the best and success in your deliberations
during the second Hospitality Investment
Conference for the African continent. I
trust your stay with us in South Africa
in Africa will be always remembered.
While here do enjoy
the scenic beauty of our land and hospitality
of our people. South Africa will not falter
you with its tourism offerings and I invite
you personally to experience the country
and go as far as Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe,
Malawi, Zambia and many other areas.
I thank you!!
