24/02/2005: STATEMENT
BY THE OFFICE OF MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK,
MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS &
TOURISM, ON 24 FEBRUARY 2005
The Minister of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, has announced
the establishment of the National Environmental
Advisory Forum (NEAF). Speaking at Parliament
during a joint briefing to the Parliamentary
Portfolio and Select Committees for the
Environment and Tourism the Minister said:
“The establishment of the NEAF is one of
the most important and concrete steps ever
taken by Government to recognise the value
of stakeholder partnerships in promoting
environmental management and governance.”
The NEAF will play an important role in
providing the Minister with strategic advice
on issues of environmental management from
the wide range of stakeholder groupings
represented. The objectives of the NEAF
are to inform the Minister of the views
of stakeholders regarding the application
of the principles of the National Environmental
Management Act (NEMA). In addition, the
Forum will advise the Minister on matters
concerning environmental management and
governance.
In sourcing the diverse range of skills
and experience of the varied stakeholder
groupings that are represented on the NEAF,
the Minister called for nominations through
the Government Gazette and advertisements
in newspapers and on radio. The MEC’s of
the nine provinces, as well as the committees
of the National Assembly and National Council
of Provinces were then provided with the
opportunity to comment on the list of nominees.
Announcing the names of the 15 NEAF members,
the Minister added: “These men and women
collectively represent the broad spectrum
of civil society, business, labour and academia.
Their work on the NEAF will enrich our efforts
to broaden the responsibility and ownership
of environmental management to all sectors
and communities.”
The newly appointed Chairperson of the
NEAF, Ms. Khungeka Njobe of CSIR Water,
Environment and Forestry Technology, sees
the NEAF as an important development in
the field of environmental management with
respect to strengthening the partnership
between government and stakeholder groups.
The role of Deputy Chairperson will be filled
by Dr. John Ledger (SADC Environmental Solutions).
The other members of the NEAF are Mr. Max
Sisulu (Sasol) and Mr. Andre Fourie (National
Business Initiative) representing business.
Representing the NGO sector are Mr. Malcolm
Powell (WESSA), Mr. Bobby Peek (Ground Work),
Mr. Tony Frost (World Wide Fund for Nature)
and Mr. Ari Seirlis (Quadriplegic Association
of South Africa). Mr. Thabo Madihlaba (EJNF)
and Ms Josephine Makelefane (Nqobile Women’s
Development Organisation) will be representing
the CBO sector. Mr. Bheki Ntshalintshali
(Cosatu) will be representing labour whilst
Ms Vuyiswa Tulelo (National Youth Commission)
will be representing youth. In addition,
the specialist skills of Dr Zarina Patel
(University of Witwatersrand), Ms Mariam
Mayet (African Centre for Biosafety) and
Ms Angela Andrews (Legal Resources Centre)
will also be represented on the forum.
“During our Second Decade of Freedom the
emphasis of Government will be firmly fixed
on implementation and delivery,” said the
Minister. “The reservoir of insight and
experience that exists among business, labour
and civil society groups is an essential
component in enhancing that delivery. We
believe that the NEAF will play a key role
in helping to advance the South African
environmental agenda speaking with a single
collective voice. We thank all of the NEAF
members for their willingness to serve and
wish them every success in this important
role.”
LIST OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL ADVISORY
FORUM MEMBERS
Business - 3 representatives
Mr. Max Sisulu - Sasol
Chair - Ms Khungeka Njobe - CSIR
Environmentek Andre Fourie - National Business
Initiative
NGO - 4 representatives
Mr. Malcolm Powell - WESSA
Mr. Bobby Peek - Ground Work
Mr. Tony Frost - WWF
Mr. Ari Seirlis - Quadriplegic Association
of South Africa
CBO - 2 representatives
Mr. Thabo Madihlaba - ENJF
Ms Josephine Makelefane - Nqobile Women's
Development Organization
Labour - 1 representative
Mr. Bheki Ntshalintshali - Cosatu
Specialized Skills and expertise - 4 representatives
Deputy Chair - Dr John Ledger - SADC Environmental
Solutions
Dr Zarina Patel - University of Witwatersrand
Ms Mariam Mayet - African Centre for Biosafety
Ms Angela Andrews - Legal Resources Centre
Youth - 1 representative
Ms Vuyiswa Tulelo - National Youth Commission
