01
June 2009 - Media Statement - UNEP Press
Release:
MONDAY, 01 JUNE 2009:
Africa needs substantially scaled-up finance,
technology and capacity-building to combat
climate change
Six Months before the
Crucial Negotiations on Climate in Copenhagen,
African Ministers Reach a Landmark Position
on Climate in Nairobi
Nairobi, 29 May 2009
Over thirty African Ministers of Environment
have today attained a major milestone on
the road for combating climate change on
the continent.
The Nairobi Declaration
adopted at the just ended Special session
of the African Ministerial Conference on
the Environment (AMCEN) on climate change
highlights major challenges and opportunities
in the negotiations for a more equitable
climate regime.
The Declaration provides
African countries with a platform to make
a strong case for support at Copenhagen
2009.
African Ministers of
the Environment have agreed to mainstream
climate change adaptation measures into
national and regional development plans,
policies and strategies.
In doing so, they will
aim to ensure adequate adaptation to climate
change in the areas of water resources,
agriculture, health, infrastructure, biodiversity
and ecosystems, forest, urban management,
tourism, food and energy security and management
of costal and marine resources.
Buyelwa Sonjica, President
of AMCEN and Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs in South Africa, said, ?It is clear
to me that as a continent Africa has needs
that managing climate change and the environment
have to speak to. I am heartened by the
progress made by the negotiators and the
political will shown by the presence of
the ministers’.
She added, “Africa looks
at all aspects seriously with adaptation
taking a special place. I am excited to
be part of this very auspicious group. AMCEN
being a specialized technical committee
of the African Union shows the seriousness
with which Africa looks at this issue”.
The Declaration urges
all parties and particularly the international
community that increased support to Africa
should be based on the priorities for Africa,
which include adaptation, capacity-building,
financing and technology development and
transfer.
The priority of African
countries is to implement climate change
programmes in a way that helps achieve sustainable
development, particularly in terms of alleviating
poverty and attaining the Millennium development
Goals, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable
such as women and children who are bearing
the brunt of the impact today.
Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary
General and Executive Director of UNEP which
hosts the AMCEN secretariat, said: "Africa’s
environment ministers have today signaled
their resolve to be part of the solution
to the climate change challenge by forging
a unified position, within their diversity
of economies, in advance of the crucial
UN climate convention meeting in Copenhagen
in just 192 days time".
"The development
prize for Africa is an acceleration of clean
and renewable energy projects and payments
for carbon-storing ecosystems from forests
up to eventually perhaps dry land soils,
grasslands and sustainable agriculture.
Africa has today shouldered its domestic
and global responsibilities. It is now time
for other Continents and countries, especially
the developed economies, to now seriously
shoulder theirs," he said.
The Ministers have agreed
that the key political messages from Africa
to inform the global debate and negotiation
process should be based on the established
principles of equity and common but differentiated
responsibilities and respective capabilities.
The African position
stems from the fact that Africa has the
lowest per capita emissions, and yet it
is bearing the highest impact of climate
change with projections showing that by
2020, in some African countries, yields
from rain-fed agriculture could be reduced
by up to 50 per cent. During the same time
frame, between 75 million and 250 million
people in Africa are projected to be exposed
to increased water stress due to climate
change.
Africa’s major economic
sectors are vulnerable to current climate
sensitivity, with huge economic impacts,
and this vulnerability is exacerbated by
existing developmental challenges such as
endemic poverty, complex governance and
institutional dimensions; limited access
to capital, including markets, infrastructure
and technology; ecosystem degradation; and
multifaceted disasters and conflicts. These
in turn have contributed to Africa’s weak
adaptive capacity, increasing the continent’s
vulnerability to projected climate change.
Adaptation therefore
emerges as the most immediate priority.
Since the Kyoto Protocol was drawn up, there
has been some progress in acknowledging
the need to support adaptation in developing
countries. However, most of the work remains
to be done, particularly with the cost of
adaptation in Africa estimated between $1
billion, $50 billion per year.
As existing financial
mechanisms have proven inadequate, complex
and fragmented, African countries have not
yet been able to gain full access to these
resources. The Declaration highlights the
need for a coherent financial architecture
for climate change, with equitable governance
and simplified access procedures.
In this regard, African
Ministers are advocating for the improvement
and modification of the Clean Development
Mechanism in order to ensure equitable geographical
distribution of projects that contribute
to sustainable development efforts on the
continent. They are also calling for the
expansion of eligible categories to benefit
from carbon credits and other international
incentives to include sustainable land use,
agriculture and forest management, in order
to promote agricultural productivity in
a way that improves resilience and adaptation
to climate change.
African Ministers also
recommend that the Group of Eight implement
the recommendation to create a regional
climate centre in Africa for the improvement
of climate risk management and the implementation
of the regional strategy for disaster-risk
reduction.
Africa also calls upon
developed countries to set ambitious targets
to reduce their emissions by 2020, towards
the upper end of the 25-40 per cent range
below 11000 levels in order to achieve a
significant reduction of carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere.
Africa should move towards
low-carbon development, particularly as
the effective implementation of mitigation
measures will offer opportunities for Africa
to increase its economic competitiveness
along a sustainable path of low-carbon development.
In order to ensure an
effective African response to climate change,
the Nairobi Declaration calls for the involvement
in climate strategies of women, youth and
people with disabilities, as well as the
private sector and civil society organizations,
particularly in the areas of education and
awareness-raising and capacity building.
Note to editors:
The Special session on Climate change gathered
about 300 Africa negotiators, high level
experts, civil society organizations and
Ministers in Nairobi, with the view work
towards a shared vision for Africa on climate
change and to develop a common and informed
voice for the continent in Copenhagen (Denmark)
and to advance the continent’s interests
in negotiations for the climate regime beyond
2012.
Africa’s common negotiating
position on a comprehensive international
climate change regime beyond 2012, in addition
to the conceptual framework on African climate
change programmes, will be submitted for
consideration and adoption by the Heads
of State at their summit in July 2009.
Media enquiries to:
Angele Luh-Sy (Regional Information Officer)
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SPEECH ON THE ENVIRONMENT
BUDGET VOTE DELIVERED BY MINISTER BP SONJICA:
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, PARLIAMENT.
18 JUNE 2009 - "WORKING
TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE" - HONOURABLE
SPEAKER, MR MAX SISULU
HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
Introduction
Allow me, Honourable
Speaker to acknowledge that over fifteen
years in government, the African National
Congress has made progress in developing
policies and strategies for the environment
portfolio. These policies informed the Constitution
which is the supreme law of the land and
the repository of the values of the nation.
They were further extended to the White
Paper which is the policy of government.
All of these constitute the legal and political
mandate for the Department and the context
within which we will pursue our efforts
to contribute to a better life. Our challenge
is to further integrate climate change considerations
with sustainable development strategies.
What is key about our
mandate is the balance between environmental
protection and sustainable development as
clearly stated out in Section 24 of the
Constitution. Evidently, for us to succeed
we need to join hands with all South Africans
in the attainment of a common vision that
will be in support of the creation of a
healthy nation.
Rural Development
The Department will
support rural development objectives by
ensuring that the integrity of ecosystems
on which rural economies are based is protected.
In his State of the Nation Address, President
Zuma said that Sustainable Resource Management
and Use is one of the strategic priorities
of government. It is in this context that
the department will continue to roll out
community based natural resource management
programmes. These will focus on enterprise
development and sharing with local communities
the benefits from indigenous biological
resources. The policy and legislative tools
provided by the National Environmental Management
Biodiversity Act will therefore be used
to this effect and we will make sure that
the processes make sense to the affected
communities and their effective involvement
will be encouraged. Provinces and local
government must come up with specific programmes
that will respond to their unique challenges.
Working together to
speed up economic growth and transform the
economy to create decent work and sustainable
livelihoods.
Honourable Members,
the transformation of the biodiversity sector
is significant in the creation of decent
work and sustainable livelihoods that could
benefit millions of our people. The conservation
estate provides a key resource for the empowerment
of local communities. Ecotourism opportunities
and nature-based or green jobs associated
with conservation and biodiversity will
need further enhancement.
We are the third most
biodiversityrich country in the world. This
means we have a diversity of landscapes
and natural beauty to match our diversity
in culture and language. Increasingly, this
natural beauty is used to untangle the social
injustices of the past and unlock economic
benefits to local communities. However,
this resource base has not been sufficiently
unpacked to provide direct benefits to communities.
If we are to truly deal with the grinding
poverty that our people live in, we must
find creative and collaborative ways of
extending the benefits accrued from such
developments to ordinary South Africans.
The rich natural resources
are not benefiting all sectors of society
equitably. In order to address the transformation
of the biodiversity sector the department
will focus on the development of a comprehensive
framework for sector transformation.
The department has noted
the important contribution that the hunting
industry makes to our GDP. The industry
alone injected an estimated income of US$
91 212 875 (equivalent of R753million) in
the 2006/7 financial year. This industry,
based on the countrys rich fauna, has therefore
been identified as providing a potential
platform for broadening the participation
of local communities in economic activities.
Working together with the hunting industry,
the department has initiated a process to
establish a transformation charter. Consultations
with industry representatives have been
initiated. The Department will publish National
Norms and Standards for the hunting industry
for implementation by March 2010, which
will form part of the transformation agenda
of the department.
Working together we
need to act now to avoid further damage
caused by Climate Change
Honourable members,
Climate Change is a threat to the stability
of our country and, if left unattended,
can cause serious damage not only to the
environment but to the entire ecosystem
and our ability to meet the Millennium Development
Goals (MDGs). There is a great need to demystify
the climate change debate and ensure that
our people have a full understanding of
human activities that contribute to climate
change. It is with that in mind that we
declared this month Environment Month, with
our celebrations guided by the theme SA
Act Now! Combat Climate Change. This is
a clarion call for all of us to act responsibly
in our quest to ultimately combat this phenomenon.
We will earnestly implement
programmes using policy tools like the Long-Term
Mitigation Scenarios, Climate Change Response
Policy and a host of others that will guide
us as we deal with this challenge
While South Africa has
to continue to pursue programmes for mitigation,
it is important that it also strengthens
its capacity to adapt to the catastrophes
related to the effects of climate change.
To this end, the South African Weather Services
(SAWS) will strengthen its ability to enhance
the resilience of South Africa and the SADC
Region against the impacts of Climate Variability
and Change through, amongst others investing
in state-of-the-art data collection, communication
and processing infrastructure.
The SA Weather Service
will also collaborate with the Marine and
Coastal Management (MCM) branch to derive
synergies that will see MCM gaining access
to SAWS aeroplanes to monitor the pollution
of the sea while the SAWS will be allowed
access to MCM shipping vessels to mount
their equipment for weather predictions.
With oceans covering over 70% of the earths
surface it is pivotal that we recognise
the role they play in regulating climate
and weather, as many people remain largely
unaware of the key connections between a
healthy ocean, a healthy climate and our
future. Joint national projects with other
stakeholders will be undertaken to address
this shortcoming. The 8th June has been
declared by the United Nations to be World
Oceans Day and South Africa also celebrated
it.
Marine resource management
It is important to continue
to pursue our programmes of protecting our
marine life, given that there is already
a decline of the stocks with some of the
species being endangered, e.g. the shark.
Hence 2009 has been
declared the year of the shark. On the basis
of the importance of the Oceans, I have
declared October as Marine Month to focus
on the significance of our seas and marine
life.
On the basis of available
science, we have significant numbers of
populations in the top ocean predators,
i.e. the shark and the whale. On that basis
we will add these two species to the Big
Five and then have a resultant Big Seven.
The declining fish stocks
pose a huge challenge to fisheries management
in South Africa this is not only a national
phenomenon, but a global problem with approximately
25% of the worlds marine fish stocks being
considered over-exploited. This requires
innovative management strategies if we want
to ensure the sustainability of our marine
living resources. A government-wide intervention
is required in the coastal communities to
address coastal poverty and alternative
livelihood opportunities in light of declining
fish stocks.
Consequently, we will
cooperate with the Department of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries in promoting and
supporting the growth of the fisheries production
(marine and freshwater) aquaculture.
A Fishing Capacity Management
regime that entails matching vessel capacity
with quota allocations has been implemented
in the hake industry and it is envisaged
that it be extended to other fishing sectors.
The applications for
the transfer of commercial fishing rights
will now be processed in line with the recently
approved Policy Rights Allocations On Tuna
And Swordfish as well as the appeals will
be processed and finalized in terms of the
recently approved Policy on the Allocation
of Additional Total Allowable Effort (TAE)
in the Large Pelagics (Tuna and Swordfish).
A draft Policy on Subsistence/Small-Scale
fisheries, gazetted on 12 December 2008,
was followed by an extensive public participation
process until March 2009. Challenges on
Subsistence/Small-Scale fisheries included
a decline in fish stocks, court proceedings
and stakeholder reluctance which delayed
the process. The Department will continue
its engagement within NEDLAC and with other
stakeholders to finalize this process.
Building a better Africa
and a better world
The Transfrontier Conservation
Areas (TFCAs) programme is a key output
of the department aimed at contributing
towards the creation of an environment conducive
to sustainable economic growth and development.
Over the last 5 years, three tourist access
facilities have been constructed and opened.
They include the Giriyondo (links South
Africa and Mozambique), Mata Mata and Sendelingsdrift
(links South Africa and Namibia).
Subsequent to the opening
of these facilities, there has been a significant
increase in tourists passing through the
gates with a total of 65 700 visitors linking
to other neighbouring states. The construction
of Tweerevieren tourist access facility
within the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
(which links South Africa and Botswana)
is complete and the plan is to have it opened
in the second half of 2009.
Six months before the
crucial negotiations on Climate Change in
Copenhagen, the meeting of the African Ministers
Council on Environment (AMCEN) chaired by
South Africa, reached a landmark position
on climate change in Nairobi. African Ministers
on the Environment identified substantially
scaled-up finance, technology and capacity-building
as necessities for Africa to combat climate
change. South Africa is participating actively
in this process, with a view to achieving
an inclusive, fair and effective international
climate change regime that achieves a balance
between adaptation and mitigation, as well
as a balance between development and climate
imperatives, and a comprehensive international
programme on the implementation of adaptation.
Crime
Honourable members,
we are aware that most of the environmental
crimes are often committed by organized
crime syndicates with international connections.
In order to address these crimes adequately,
enforcement and compliance capacity needs
to be increased, but that is only effective
if we bring the criminal justice system
into the equation.
Partnerships with security
institutions such as SAPS, National Prosecuting
Authority, the NIA, the Asset Forfeiture
Unit (ASU) and the Department of Defence
in order to deal more effectively with such
environmental crimes are crucial.
We will ensure that
we strengthen our capacity to investigate
and prosecute environmental crimes, enforcing
a zero tolerance approach to illegal and
unsustainable exploitation of resources.
We have consulted with the Minister of Justice
with the aim to strengthen our capacity
to tackle the environmental crime activities
and to this end, we will re-open the Environmental
Courts.
These Courts will, as
part of the criminal justice system, tackle
all environmental criminal activities, for
if we fail to deal decisively with those
who continue to plunder our resources and
pollute our ecosystems with impunity, we
will be failing in our responsibility of
conserving our environment. I would also
like to urge our communities to work with
us in dealing with those who show scant
regard for the laws of our country. Environmental
laws must also be respected and adhered
to, that we need to emphasise.
Balancing the Impact
of Development on the Environment effectively
The department exceeded
the target it had set for itself by processing
90% of National Environmental Impact Assessments
according to standard procedures within
the stipulated time frames throughout the
year. The requirement for EIA appeals was
to provide 95% of technical input within
the stipulated timeframes for feedback on
appeals. This requirement was also met.
The National Environmental Management Amendment
Act, Act 62 of 2008 which came into effect
on 1 May 2009 opened the door to a new and
improved environmental impact assessment
and management regime for South Africa.
That system will move us away from an environmental
impact management approach that is solely
reliant on EIA to a system where the EIA
tools form but one in a variety of instruments
to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in
environmental impact management. The development
of the EIM strategy to fully implement the
new legislation will be the main priority
of the EIM function.
Improving the quality
of air that we breathe
To achieve one of governments
priorities of a healthy nation, we will
give careful attention to the quality of
the air we breathe. The year 2009 is a watershed
year in air quality governance in South
Africa and 9/11 will assume a new meaning
to air quality management stakeholders in
South Africa. The 11th of September 2009
will see the complete repeal of the Atmospheric
Pollution Prevention Act (APPA) of 1965
and the coming into full force of the National
Environmental Management: Air Quality Act
of 2004. This final Change of Guards from
APPA to AQA is a product of a long transition
which has been carefully steered by the
department with a number of transition projects
to ensure a smooth passing of the baton.
I am confident that
under the portfolio of Water and Environmental
Affairs as an integrated department, we
will continue to deliver on our mandate
in the next financial year, and would like
to thank all staff members and stakeholders
for their hard work and dedication.
I thank you.
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EMBARGO: THURSDAY 18
JUNE 2009, 14:00
TOURISM BUDGET VOTE
SPEECH DELIVERED BY MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK,
MINISTER OF TOURISM, OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER,
PARLIAMENT, CAPE TOWN
Introduction
Chairperson,
In 1886, gold was discovered
in what is known as Johannesburg today.
It turned around the fortunes of a generation
of poor, jobless South Africans and within
two decades a quarter of worldwide gold
production originated from South Africa.
It soon became the foundation of the financial
system of the industrialised world and it
provided one of the most significant injections
of foreign direct investment in our history.
Unfortunately, the benefits
of gold were quickly exported by European
colonialists and the distribution of the
accumulated wealth was extremely skewed
along racial lines. Two centuries later,
gold mining is still a vital pillar of our
economy, it remains a critical employment
sector and it is as vulnerable to global
financial volatility as it was in the 19th
century.
Tourism as the “new
gold”
Fortunately, two centuries
later, it is not the only sector that flourishes
in our economy. Increasingly, we are discovering
the “new gold” that drives job creation,
development and economic growth in South
Africa. This “new gold” is tourism. In fact,
as a sector, tourism has already overtaken
gold in terms of export revenue.
Many of the challenges
are the same as 200 years ago. The overriding
priorities remain poverty eradication, job
creation and development. What is different
is that we are now working with an inexhaustible
resource. This time around we are the major
investors and the drivers of our own destiny.
We have a much better understanding of the
need for equitable growth – to exploit our
resources in a way that generates benefits
for all our people, with the emphasis on
our people. And we have a much better understanding
that we must exploit our “new gold” in a
sustainable way.
I firmly believe that
we have only scratched the surface of truly
unlocking the economic and social benefits
of the “new gold” in South Africa. We have
laid a firm foundation, but I believe hard
work lies ahead.
It is in this context
that we are very fortunate to be hosting
the 2010 FIFA World Cup next year. The World
Cup will be one of the most important keys
in the short term to help us unlock the
opportunities of this new gold. It affords
us an once-in-a-lifetime chance to showcase
the best we have as a tourism destination:
our people, our natural heritage, our world
class infrastructure and a sense of place
that fills all of us with pride.
Global challenges
As the world grapples
with the unprecedented challenges presented
by the global economic meltdown, I believe
it is also an opportune time to reflect
on the burning questions with respect to
our tourism industry. Firstly, we should
ask how tourism could benefit from the stimulus
measures that drive the economic recovery.
Secondly, what could be the contribution
of tourism to this economic recovery with
its associated benefits in terms of infrastructure
development, employment creation and poverty
eradication?
To fully unlock the
potential of tourism, we will need to: build
on our existing successes; focus on getting
the fundamentals right; build greater resilience
against external economic shocks; and find
innovative ways to unlock new opportunities
for growth and development. Only then will
tourism come fully to its right as a sector
that contributes to job creation, as both
a driver of infrastructure investment and
a beneficiary of large scale public infrastructure
investment and as a generator of foreign
earnings.
Tourism resilience in
South Africa
In South Africa, with
over nine and a half million arrivals last
year, tourism is one of the major contributors
to our gross domestic product. It employs
about half a million people directly, whilst
creating even more indirect employment opportunities.
The global economic
downturn and its consequences need little
elaboration. The International Monetary
Fund, in its latest World Economic Outlook,
forecasts that global GDP will shrink by
about 1.3% in 2009 – the first contraction
since the Second World War. According to
the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO),
international tourist arrivals declined
to just 2% in 2008 from 7% 2007, which had
been the fourth consecutive year of strong
international growth.
This negative trend
seems to be worsening as we progress into
2009. Provisional figures from the UNWTO
indicate a decline of 8% in international
arrivals for the first two months of 2009.
By year end, the best case scenario would
seem to be stagnation, with more realistic
forecasts predicting a decline of at least
2%.
There is clearly no denying that the marketplace
for tourism today looks dramatically different
to a year ago. Although this sector is not
as hard hit as some others, demand is down
and for many the times are tough.
In South Africa our
tourism sector has proved to be more resilient
than some other economic sectors, but we
are not immune to the effects of the economic
crisis. Some of the impacts will only become
more visible in the next few months as the
full consequences of the global economic
meltdown trickles down. However, in 2008
we bucked the worldwide negative trend with
5.5% growth in foreign arrivals. The latest
available data for foreign arrivals show
that even in January 2009 we recorded growth
of 5.4% compared to the same month in 2008.
Furthermore, in 2008,
foreign direct spend grew by an estimated
23.5%, amounting to more than R74 billion.
Yet, even though we have thus far been spared
the worst impacts and remained in positive
territory until the end of 2008, we are
not complacent and cannot ignore the fact
that our growth could slow down during 2009
as many of our primary markets remain in
recession.
Challenges and future
strategy
Fortunately, in the
face of these challenges, we understand
the importance of planning better and getting
the fundamentals right. Let me refer to
two inter-related challenges.
The first challenge
is to build greater resilience against future
external economic shocks. From a risk management
perspective we will continue to build, in
a balanced way, our domestic, regional and
long haul markets. We will build on our
stringent quality control regime that ensures
value for money and the unique selling points
of our natural heritage.
The number of graded
establishments in South Africa almost doubled
from 4 604 in 2005 to 8 544 in 2009 and
at the moment there are nearly 100 000 graded
rooms in the country. But let me also signal
a warning to the tourism industry: do not
price yourself out of the market, especially
during 2010. And do not become lax on quality
and service delivery in the face of tough
economic conditions. Our grading must meet
stringent standards and we will not hesitate
to strip establishments of their stars if
they no longer make the grade.
To further build resilience,
we understand that we can do even more through
improved market analysis, product diversification
and people and skills development. Further
steps include the reduction of tourism channel
restrictions like long visa processing times,
maintaining and expanding affordable and
more competitive air access, developing
rural tourism infrastructure and sound long
term policy.
The second challenge
is to ensure that the tourism sector benefits
from economic stimulus measures and large
scale infrastructure investment. 2010 has
provided tourism in South Africa with a
springboard to capitalise on new investment.
Together with improved, more focused marketing
and brand alignment - both globally and
domestically - the opportunities created
by 2010 will undoubtedly stimulate the more
rapid recovery of foreign tourism demand
in our region.
Tourism Growth and Investment
Our tourism slogan for
the 2010 World Cup is “Ke Nako” or “Celebrating
Africa’s Humanity”. It encapsulates the
essence of what 2010 means to us, namely
an invitation to the world to come and share
our energy and passion and celebrate South
Africa and Africa as a superb destination.
Although we already have world class physical
infrastructure and access, we will be taking
this to new heights in the next 12 months.
As we prepare to host
the first ever African Soccer World Cup
and the biggest sporting spectacular in
the world, we are witnessing not only huge
public sector investment, but also massive
new investment by the tourism industry itself.
Our government is investing more than R26
billion in stadium and precinct development,
transport and ports of entry infrastructure.
In addition, our department
has allocated more than R936 million of
our Expanded Public Works Allocation for
2009-2012 to further develop the tourism
sector. Here, special emphasis will be placed
on the development of rural tourism. This
will create job opportunities and develop
skills that will increase the employability
of the participants in the programme.
Through our Tourism
Enterprise Partnership programme we have
already given a major boost to the fast-tracked
development of small and medium-sized tourism
enterprises. Since the inception of this
programme in 2000, we have facilitated transactions
worth more than R4 billion and assisted
more than 5 500 enterprises.
To ensure a more equitable
geographic spread of the benefits of tourism,
we will in the next few months be finalising
a toolkit to assist local government with
tourism development. We are also working
closely with Provinces to finalise the Tourism
Growth Strategy, which will help us formulate
our response to the global economic recession,
revitalise domestic tourism marketing and
implement the sector skills plan.
To ensure that this
new growth is shared in an equitable way,
we also understand that we have to transform
the sector to address historical imbalances.
To this end, the DTI has recently published
our final sector Codes of Good Practice.
This is a milestone in the process of achieving
real and measurable transformation in the
tourism sector.
Following the establishment of an independent
Department of Tourism last month, we are
now in the process of formulating a strategic
vision and defining our key deliverables.
We are building a re-energised tourism department
with a renewed focus on sustainable tourism
growth to the benefit of all South Africans.
Conclusion
Chairperson, in short,
we understand both the threats to and the
immense potential of tourism. We are confident
that we will ride out the global recessionary
storm and emerge on the other side stronger
and better positioned to address the many
developmental challenges that we as a continent,
country and people face.
In conclusion, Chairperson,
I would also like to take the opportunity
to welcome our new Deputy Minister, Thokozile
Xasa, who will address you later in this
debate. I also wish to thank all our colleagues
for the work that has been done in every
part of our country in the tourism sector.
To the chairperson and members of our Portfolio
Committee - you have the appreciation of
our Department.
I would like to thank
our Management Team, led by the Director
General, Nosipho Ncgaba, and each and every
member of staff in the Department for the
privilege of working with such a dynamic
team. Furthermore, we are fortunate to have
a well run and extremely efficient Marketing
Agency in South African Tourism and excellent
partners in the Tourism Grading Council
and Tourism Empowerment Council.
I look forward to joining
hands with an enthusiastic new Department,
stakeholders in the South African tourism
industry and each and every South African
in promoting our country as one of the most
special tourism destinations on the planet.
I know that millions of South Africans share
our pride in our unique country and cannot
wait to showcase it to the world.
I thank you.
TOURISM BUDGET VOTE
SPEECH DELIVERED BY TOKOZILE XASA, DEPUTY
MINISTER OF TOURISM, OLD ASSEMBLY CHAMBER,
PARLIAMENT, CAPE TOWN
Introduction
Chairperson,
In recognition of the goals set by President
Zuma in terms of poverty eradication, sustainable
job creation and rural development, our
department stands firm in our resolve to
join hands with our business and civil society
partners to ensure that we take the tourism
industry from strength to strength.
In 2008, tourism contributed more than 1
million jobs and an estimated
R195 billion to the South African economy.
The importance of the tourism sector to
our economic growth and its job creation
potential cannot be underestimated.
Business assistance and empowerment
An integral part of economic growth and
job creation is to provide the right opportunities
and assistance to small and medium-sized
tourism enterprises (SMMEs) and our department
has implemented a number of very successful
initiatives in this regard.
The Tourism Enterprise Partnership (TEP)
encourages an entrepreneurial spirit and
a responsible tourism focus through amongst
others supporting unique arts and crafts
experiences including artists, performers,
tour guides, cuisine and cultural and heritage
products.
Our continuous campaign to improve quality
and standards in the tourism industry is
in line with our commitment as government
to utilise state levers such as licensing
and support to assist SMMES and promote
the implementation of Broad-Based Black
Economic Empowerment targets.
In this regard, the Tourism Grading Council
has stepped up its assistance to SMME accommodation
establishments to be graded and a total
of 8 544 establishments had been graded
by February as official accommodation for
the 2010 FIFA Soccer World Cup.
Local and rural development and community
interaction
Chairperson, we all understand the potential
of the tourism industry in contributing
to local and rural development. As part
of the Expanded Public Works Programme,
our Community Work Programme will be fast-tracked.
This injection of resources is geared towards
assisting us in our renewed efforts to create
job opportunities.
In line with the country's comprehensive
rural development strategy, the department
will also continue to prioritise the development
of community and rural tourism to ensure
that tourism benefits are equitably distributed.
Tourism Development
In order to kick-start rural tourism, we
have to unlock tourism potential at the
local sphere of government and the role
of local government is acknowledged through
our Annual Local Government Indaba on Tourism.
At this year's Indaba, we launched the Tourism
Planning Toolkit for Local Government and
presented the National Tourism Growth Strategy
to stakeholders.
Further consultation with provinces and
municipalities was undertaken to secure
support for the implementation of the Toolkit.
Capacity building for tourism planning at
local government level, targeted at municipalities
that have a high potential for tourism growth,
will also be prioritised.
Working together to strengthen our skills
and human resource base
The department will continue to contribute
to the drive to strengthen our country's
skills and human resource base. The Tourism
Service Excellence Strategy was launched
at the annual National Tourism Conference
in November 2008, and an implementation
plan is being finalised. The strategy focuses
on the upskilling of those involved in service
delivery and appropriate training programmes.
In preparation for 2010, 4030 tourism ambassadors
and volunteers are being trained as part
of the "Know your country, know your
city" project and an additional 1000
tourism ambassadors will be trained in amongst
others service excellence.
We also successfully hosted the first ever
annual Tourism Careers Expo in October 2007.
More than 17 000 learners, educators, tourism
graduates and tourism subject advisors attended
and we look forward to the next Expo to
be held later this year.
Conclusion
Chairperson, in the coming year, we will
amongst others focus our attention on ensuring
that skills development initiatives are
aligned to the needs of the industry. We
will furthermore continue to promote interventions
to deal with geographic spread, local and
rural development and job creation.
To our friends in the tourism sector and
all stakeholders, I say: Thank you for your
hard work and support so far. Our department
is ready to work with you to realise the
full potential of this industry in building
a better life for all.
I thank you.
+ More
ATTEMPTS TO RESCUE BEACHED
WHALES IN KOMMETJIE HAVE ENDED
ISSUED ON 31 MAY 2009
- MEDIA STATEMENT
Rescue efforts to save approximately 55
beached false killer whales (commonly mistaken
for pilot whales) in extremely rough weather
conditions ended late last night (Saturday
30 May 2009) in Kommetjie, Western Cape.
Officials and volunteers attempted to return
the whales to the ocean from first light
yesterday, 30 May until approximately 8pm
last night in difficult and dangerous conditions
due to the strong current, big swells and
spring tide. About thirteen whales were
able to be returned successfully to the
sea. A rescuer broke his leg and others
were injured during the rescue operation.
Access to the beach was closed as a safety
precaution.
By late yesterday 44 whales had to be euthanized
to prevent further suffering after all attempts
to rescue them were unsuccessful due to
the unfavourable weather conditions. The
decision to euthanize the whales was made
collaboratively after all options were considered
by the various roleplayers including Marine
and Coastal Management, Disaster Management,
the SPCA, Mammal Research Institute, Table
Mountain National Park and the Environmental
unit of the City of Cape Town.
The average false killer whale weighs one
and a half tons upwards and the whales were
in a very poor condition due to having being
beached earlier in the day.
The carcasses are currently being moved
in convoy by truck to the Vissershoek waste
disposal site where Marine and Coastal Management
scientists will dissect the whales to analyse
the mammals for research purposes.
The reason for the stranding is not clear.
The dissection is expected to be completed
by tomorrow Monday 1 June, after which the
whales will be disposed of and buried at
the disposal site.
For media queries contact:
Carol Moses 0828293917
SOUTH AFRICA TO OBSERVE
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT MONTH AND WORLD ENVIRONMENT
DAY IN JUNE 2009 Climate Change the Focus
of Environment Month Celebrations in June
2009
29 May 2009
Media Statement
Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism
FRIDAY, 29 MAY 2009:“SA
Act Now! Combat Climate Change” is the pertinent
theme chosen to celebrate National Environment
Month during June 2009. The theme is appropriate
as it revolves around climate change which
is a key priority for world governments,”
said Mr Albi Modise, Spokesperson for the
Department of Environment.
.South Africa is raising
the bar on climate change as a significant
factor in its development agenda, with the
March 2009 Climate Change Summit having
laid the foundation for a participatory
process to shape the way South Africans
respond to climate change.
The theme is particularly
significant as it comes at a time when South
Africa is drafting the policy framework
for climate change, following the Climate
Change Summit in March this year. The Long
Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) on Climate
Change was approved by cabinet in 2008.
Action on climate change is seen as an investment
to the future as no action will have worse
consequences for the world.
World Environment Day
(WED) will be celebrated globally on Friday
05 June 2009 under the theme “Your Planet
needs You - UNite to Combat Climate Change.”
WED was established by the United Nations
General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening
of the Stockholm Conference on the Human
Environment. It is one of the vehicles that
the United Nations uses to stimulate worldwide
awareness on the environment and enhance
political attention and public action. South
Africa will observe this year’s celebration
at Kwa-Dukuza Municipality in Kwa-Zulu Natal
on Friday, 12 June 2009 where the Minister
of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Buyelwa
Sonjica will deliver a keynote address.
National Environment
Month has become an annual feature on the
South African calendar, with a range of
awareness raising activities scheduled countrywide.
Our celebrations are centred around encouraging
South Africans to become active supporters
of sustainable and equitable living while
acknowledging that communities play a pivotal
role in changing attitudes towards the environment.
National, provincial
and local government as well as various
environmental stakeholders will celebrate
Environment Month across the country. Conferences,
awareness campaigns, information sessions,
tree planting and workshops are scheduled
to be conducted during June.
The Airports Company
of South Africa (ACSA) will also project
environment month messages at all ACSA owned
airports from 01 - 07 June.
World Oceans Day will
be celebrated during Environment Month on
08 June 2009 as well as World Day to Combat
Desertification on 17 June 2009.
For further information
on Environment Month and the activities
scheduled across the country visit http://www.environment.gov.za/
or contact our call centre on 086 111 2468
Enquiries to:
Albi Modise (Chief Director Communications
- Department of Environmental Affairs and
Tourism ) | Telephone: 012 310-3122 | Mobile:
083-490-2871 | E-mail: amodise@deat.gov.za
Kgomotso Mokgoko
