22/02/2006 - “One of the
key challenges for this conference is to
elaborate on the most effective approaches
and strategies to raise awareness within
communities. We will not achieve anything
with our grand enforcement plans if we do
not work in partnership with our communities”
Pam Yako, Director General of the Department
of Environmental Affairs and Tourism opening
the first Environmental Enforcement Conference,
Durban Opening the first ever environmental
conference in Durban today, the Director
General of Environmental Affairs and Tourism,
Ms Pam Yako posed a challenge to the delegates
to map out a strategy of engaging communities
in enforcement and compliance initiatives.“The
cooperation between the agencies both national
and international will count for nothing
without a clearly defined role and participation
of the most affected” she said.
Defining the context of her concern, Yako
indicated that those who are most penalized
by environmental non-compliance are the
most vulnerable groups i.e women and children
– “those who live in marginal areas without
the resources to protect themselves against
air pollution, to send their children to
play in safe areas where they do not come
into contact with hazardous waste, to drink
water that is clean” she said as she stressed
her concern.
Ms Yako also highlighted other challenges
facing the environmental enforcement fraternity
and expressed delight that the conference
provided an enabling platform for greater
cooperation and sharing of valuable information
that will enhance future operations. “This
is the first time we are coming together
around the important theme of joining hands
to step up enforcement of environmental
legislation. Often in the past, offenders
have played us off against each other, for
their own benefit” Expressing her delight
at the significance of the conference, Ms
Yako added “We did not create ways for enforcement
officials to talk to each other and share
experience and information; in this way,each
institution – parks boards, provincial departments,
municipalities – all developed their own
resources and precedents”
Building human resource capacity and skills,
focused and effective communication of our
achievements also constitute the key challenge
for the sector.
The Director General also pointed to the
new positive developments in the sector
“In June 2005, the Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism designated the first
26 EMIs in my department and in SANParks’
special investigation unit, On 1 November
2005, when our new Protected Areas Act came
into effect, more than 600 SANParks EMIs
were designated” she said.
She also made an indicated that within
the next three months, MECs will start designating
EMIs in provinces as well. “By mid-2006,
we expect there to be at least 800 designated
EMIs across the country,” said the Director
General.
“In this context, she hailed the level
of political commitment pledged by the political
principals concerned. We are encouraged
by the level of commitment at political
level and our belief is that this will strengthen
our efforts in stepping up environmental
enforcement and compliance”.
She mentioned collaborative steps and initiatives
in the stepping up of enforcement. “My department,
working with other security agencies, provincial
environment departments and the parks boards,
has developed a number of key tools to support
EMIs across the country”.
“Probably the most important of these is
the EMI Bridging Training Course which is
currently being rolled out across the country.
This is an intensive training course designed
to prepare our existing enforcement officials
for their new powers and responsibilities.
In 2006/7, this bridging training course
will be developed into a more permanent
basic training course for EMIs” she said.
“We have also now put in place a brand
new tip-off line to raise awareness and
communicate firmly the message that crime
does not pay, This is called Environmental
Crimes and Incidents hotline – 0800 205
005. This tip-off line operates 24 hours
a day. Our commitment is that all reports
will be logged and either investigated by
officials in my Department, or referred
to the appropriate department in provincial
or local government for investigation” said
the Director General.
The conference agenda includes focus on
success stories of environmental enforcement,
innovative approaches to enforcement, marine
and coastal enforcement, biodiversity and
conservation enforcement, pollution and
waste enforcement and the enforcement of
environmental impact legislation.
The conference is taking place at Elangeni
Sun International Hotel in Durban, from
22 – 23 February 2006.
