25 November 2009 - Media
statement - Department of Environmental
Affairs - WEDNESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2009: Rejoice
Mabudafhasi, the Deputy-Minister of Water
and Environmental Affairs today launched
an Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
that not only promotes jobs and training
but energy efficiency adaptation as well.
The Kuyasa Clean Development
Mechanism Project is the first of its kind
in the country and the world’s first Gold
Standard Project. It is a pioneering model
that will see a sustainable financial mechanism
in place to ensure energy efficiency adaptations
as standard for low income housing. More
than 2000 homes will directly benefit from
this initiative.
Mabudafhasi said the
project should be seen within the context
of Government’s pledge to deliver a better
life to all.
“Our democratic government
is determined and dedicated to improving
the lives of all our people, irrespective
of race, religion, creed and so forth. This
has motivated us to tackle the scourge of
unemployment head-on. We are pulling all
the resources at our disposal to achieve
this goal.
The Kuyasa housing development
is a shinning example of the successes of
our endeavours to create a better life for
all. In the past fifteen years more than
2, 5 million low-income homes and we are
targeting a further 3 million by 2025. The
small business development, job creation
and community empowerment benefits of the
project are massive. The project has created
85 fulltime job opportunities for women,
youth and the disabled and over 16 500 temporary
jobs. It is encouraging that the community
has taken ownership of the project in line
with its motto- Siyazenzela (We are doing
it for ourselves)”, said Mabudafhasi.
The project aims to
reduce fossil fuel based consumption, and
hence carbon dioxide emissions. This is
done through three interventions in low-income
housing units. These are the installation
of solar energy heaters, the retrofitting
of compact fluorescent light bulbs and the
introduction of ceiling insulation. The
benefits of the project are multi-faceted.
These include reduction in greenhouse gas
emissions and respiratory-related diseases
and saving in the cost of energy services
The energy savings of
the project allows it to be registered as
a CDM under the Kyoto Protocol. This means
it gains carbon credits. As part of the
business plan, income generated from the
CDM’s Carbon Emission Reduction certificates
allows for the creation of a non-profit
trust for the maintenance of the solar water
heaters. This creates more employment opportunities
in the long-term. The
success of this project is likely to lead
to the retrofitting of the country’s other
two million low-cost homes and further promote
energy saving, emissions reductions and
the local manufacture of solar heaters.
Mabudafhasi said the
extensive use of the clean development mechanism
intervention will lead to the reduction
of pollution caused by the use of non-renewable
energy sources.
“We simply cannot afford
not to roll-out energy efficiency intervention
in the low income housing sector. Currently,
an estimated three million households make
use of firewood to meet their basic energy
requirements. There is huge potential to
increase the contribution of renewable energy
to the total energy mix. This can only contribute
to improving the lives of all the people.”
Mabudafhasi is the chairperson
of the Global Network of Women Ministers
and Leaders of Environment.
Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi’s
speech can be accessed through this link.
Sello Mabotja
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MINISTER BUYELWA SONJICA
RELEASES THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
AND ENFORCEMENT REPORT FOR 2008/09
25 November 2009 - Media
statement - Department of Environmental
Affairs - WEDNESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 2009: A
total of 4661 environmental cases were reported
nationally for the period 01 April 2008
to 31 March 2009. During this period the
total number of criminal dockets registered
was 2412 compared with 1762 in the previous
reporting period.
This was announced by
the Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica today during
the release of the National Compliance and
Enforcement Report (NCER) 2008/09 in Pretoria.
The report provides a national overview
of environmental compliance and enforcement
activities undertaken by the relevant institutions
across the country during the period 01
April 2008 to 31 March 2009.
At a national level
a total of 2 547 summons and arrests were
recorded. The report indicates that nationally
258 convictions were obtained for the period,
compared with 748 in the previous reporting
year. This decrease in convictions is a
cause for concern, particularly in light
of the increase in the total number of criminal
dockets registered during the year under
review. Many cases have experienced substantial
delays within the prosecution system, confirming
the urgent need for dedicated courts to
deal with these types of cases.
What is positive is
the total number of acquittals which decreased
from 441 the previous year to 18 in 2008/
09.
The total number of
admission of guilt fines nearly doubled
from 2007 / 08 from R 744 706 to approximately
R 1, 4 million in 2008/09. A significant
volume of environmental enforcement work
is undertaken through the use of administrative
enforcement tools such as directives and
compliance notices and it is clear from
the figures that there has been an increase
in the total number of directives issued
(to take corrective action) from 246 in
the previous year to 273.
The total amount of
money paid in relation to section 24 G administration
fines has more than doubled from about R
6,8 million to nearly R 15, 5 million. These
fines are paid as part of the administrative
process to rectify the illegal commencement
EIA listed activities.
The report reflects
the work of all environmental compliance
and enforcement officials operating at a
national and provincial level, with certain
sections focusing particularly on the Environmental
Management Inspectorate (Green Scorpions).
For more information on the EMI click on
http://emi.deat.gov.za/
There has also been
an increase in the number of EMI’s on the
national register from 866 to 903. EMI’s
are located within the national and provincial
environment departments, SANParks, Isimangaliso
Wetland Park, Cape Nature, Ezemvelo KZN
Wildlife as well as the Mpumalanga Tourism
and Parks Agency.
Marine and Coastal Management
(a branch of the Department of Environmental
Affairs) recorded the highest number of
convictions at 206.
In terms of industrial
compliance and enforcement, following on
from sector specific work conducted in the
previous year, further inspections were
undertaken at facilities that had not been
previously inspected as part of Operation
Ferro and the refineries project. Such inspections
continue to detect non-compliance related
to exceedances in emissions, illegal waste
sites and contraventions of conditions across
the range of authorizations. While commitment
to address these issues has been received
in response to the inspection findings,
with fairly drastic measures in some cases,
enforcement action needs to be stepped up.
The blitz on the cement
sector identified dust pollution as the
major problem. Following the inspections,
management of all nine facilities committed
to addressing this issue for instance by
upgrading air pollution abatement equipment
and further investigating possible fugitive
dust emission sources as well as measures
to minimize air pollution. The Paper and
Pulp Sector also came under the spotlight
with a number of facilities being inspected
towards the end of the reporting period.
Capacity building for
EMIs, magistrates and prosecutors continues
to be a priority for the Department of Environmental
Affairs. In 2008 the EMI basic training
was presented by three tertiary institutions,
namely University of South Africa, University
of Pretoria and Cape Peninsula University
of Technology. Just over 140 officials received
basic training during this period. In 2008
/ 09 53 officials attended a two day training
course by the United Kingdom Environment
Agency. Six officials traveled to the UK
on a fellowship programme to gather skills
and knowledge in relation to criminal investigation,
industrial compliance inspections and prosecution
of environmental crimes.
Countrywide workshops
with magistrates and prosecutors continue
to provide a platform for EMIs to highlight
their challenges in the enforcement of environmental
legislation. In 2008 / 09 five workshops
were conducted. Magistrates and prosecutors
are also exposed to the daily work environment
of local EMIs. A process is currently underway
to develop a Magistrate’s Benchbook on Environmental
crime, following a similar publication for
prosecutors.
The Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP) between the South African
Police Services and the EMI was finalized
and launched in February 2009. This SOP
sets out the respective roles and responsibilities
of the two law enforcement agencies in relation
to the investigation of environmental crimes.
This is aimed at providing a sound platform
from which more effective criminal enforcement
can take place.
A number of steps are
now in motion in order to address many of
the challenges experienced in effectively
enforcing the environmental laws. A meeting
between the Minister of Justice, Jeff Radebe,
and Minister of Water and Environmental
Affairs, Buyelwa Sonjica, in September 2009
resulted in the decision to move forward
with the process of re-establishing environmental
courts. Officials within the relevant Departments
are now working on the details and processes
which will be submitted to the Ministers
for consideration. It is envisaged that
the establishment of dedicated courts (including
dedicated prosecutors) would have a profound
impact on the fight against environmental
crime.
The commencement of
new legislation such as the NEM: Waste Act
and the various Environmental Laws Amendment
Acts during 2009 should now provide additional
tools to ensure effective enforcement and
compliance monitoring. These amendments
have resulted in an increase and standardization
of maximum penalties for environmental offences
from hundreds of thousands of rands to 5
years / R 5 million for a first offence
and 10 years / R10 million for a second
or subsequent offence. Many of the provisions
in the amendments are focused on compliance
and enforcement issues and were driven by
proposals made by the implementers of the
legislation (magistrates, prosecutors and
EMIs).
The Minister further
urges members of the public to report environmental
incidents and crimes to the 24 hour hotline.
The line has seen a decline in reported
cases from 333 to 219. Minister Sonjica
reiterated the important role of citizens
in assisting the department to clamp down
on offences.
The hotline number is
0800 205 005.
To access the NCER 2008
– 09 report click on the link below:
http://www.environment.gov.za/HotIssues/2009/NEC-EnforcReport0809/NEC-EnforcReport0809.pdf
Note to Editors: The
Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs
comprises of two separate departments. The
departments are: Department of Water Affairs
and Department of Environmental Affairs.
For media queries contact:
Albi Modise (Chief Director: Communications)
