Date: 06/06/2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Title: Mabudafhasi: Environmental Affairs and Tourism Dept Budget Vote 2006/07
Speech by Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi at the Environmental Affairs and Tourism Budget Vote
Madam Speaker
Honourable Members
Distinguished Guests
Introduction
It is with pleasure that I address you on this Budget Vote, which in essence depicts the achievements of this department over the last financial year. I will of course not only reflect on our achievements, but also on some of the challenges that we faced and continue to face. Additionally I will also reflect on the programme for this year and how we intend to achieve some of the deliverables as defined in the departmental business plan.
It was indeed a challenging year which saw us dealing with women leadership and empowerment; land degradation, wetlands, invasive alien species and the fight against poverty; democratisation and transformation of protected areas; providing an effective and efficient weather service and establishing partnerships and capacity for better waste management in this country.
Women and Environment
Honourable members, as we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of women’s protest in 1956 in August this year, I am reminded of Chief Albert Luthuli’s words when he paid tribute to women and declared that “When the women begin to take active part in the struggle as they are doing now, no power on earth can stop us from achieving freedom in our lifetime”.
As a department we have to protect women and children from harsh environmental conditions. These conditions range from exposure to toxic chemicals to breathing polluted air and drinking unsafe water. As part of celebrations for the 50th Anniversary, our department will be holding the 2nd Women and Environment Conference. Drawing from the strengths of the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of 16 June, a side event for the youth will also be held during the margins of this conference.
At an international level, we have responded to gender equality and equity challenges by establishing a Network for Women Ministers of Environment which is co-chaired by South Africa and Sweden. This network will focus on implementing United Nations Environment Programme’s decision on gender equality in the areas of climate change, desertification, waste management and sustainable development.
Land degradation, wetlands, invasive alien species and the fight against poverty
Honourable members, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, with the theme “Desertification a threat to humanity”.
To signify our commitment, we have already launched our campaign for the celebration of 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD). We launched this campaign by unveiling a Soil Conservation Project to the tune of R5 million on 16 March 2006 in the Madibeng area within the Sekhukhune District Municipality, Limpopo. There are several provincial initiatives which are being rolled out in celebration of 2006 as the IYDD.
Through Working for Wetlands, our department will continue to invest funds in the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems. We will continue to partner with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in their Working for Water Project which has been very successful in clearing invasive species.
As apart of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Environment Initiative, South Africa co-ordinates the Invasive Alien Species Programme. Of the 14 projects identified, the following three are being prioritised: preventing waterweeds from chocking Africa’s water bodies, preventing invasive alien plants from ruining Africa’s productive land and preventing invasive alien species from entering Africa.
Democratisation and transformation of protected areas
Honourable members, as an important step to ensure that communities living adjacent to protected areas assume ownership and take active part in decision-making processes and management activities of protected areas, we established a People and Parks Forum which met for the first time in 2004. An important outcome of this meeting was the development of a comprehensive and ambitious action plan to address issues such as access and benefit sharing, co-management and establishment of partnerships. Later this year, we will be holding a second meeting of the People and Parks Forum.
Providing an effective and efficient weather service to economic sector and communities
An honourable member, one of the ramifications of climate change is adverse weather conditions that threaten the lives of people and their belongings. Last year South African Weather Service SAWS issued over 150 adverse weather warnings through its website and most prominent media. To increase its now-casting capability, SAWS is going to spend in excess of R6 million to expand its weather radar network this year. We are already sharing weather radar data with Mozambique, with a long-term goal of establishing a regional weather radar network involving all our neighbours in Southern African Development Community (SADC).One weather phenomenon that causes major damage and loss of life in South Africa is lightning. In the past financial year SAWS installed the state of the art Lightning Detection Network that covers Lesotho and Swaziland entirely and also extends to cover some parts of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique closer to our borders.
Partnership and capacity for waste management
Honourable members, as part of the implementation of the Waste Minimisation Strategy, our department is in the process of forging strategic partnerships with industries involved in various waste streams. These partnerships are aimed at encouraging voluntary compliance by the industry, thus creating an enabling environment for promulgation of the Waste Management Bill in the near future. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the glass industry last year, in addition to the plastic bag MoU. We aim to sign the tyre MoU in the near future.
At the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R) Ministerial conference in Japan last year, we made a commitment to manage waste in a holistic fashion. South Africa is one of the seven countries which have signed a grant agreement on the African Stockpile Programme with the World Bank to tune of USD1.7 million. We have called upon everyone to declare obsolete stocks of pesticides in their possession so that these could be disposed of using funding from the World Bank.
South Africa is also a developing country which has already initiated the process of developing guidelines for the implementation of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
Protection of the marine environment and resources
Honourable members, in July 2004, we launched the West Indian Ocean Land-based activities (WIO-LaB) project in Madagascar. We took a robust approach in raising awareness and educating the coastal communities on the importance of protecting marine environment from pollution caused by land based activities. We have established task teams to deal with municipal water, physical alteration and destruction of habitats. We are also starting to assess the impact of litter from rivers on our oceans.
South Africa hosted the Global General Assembly for the Foundation for Environmental Education which is responsible for the Blue Flag and eco-schools programmes. The Blue Flag programme ensures that our beaches and oceans are clean and safe for tourists and communities while generating employment and skills development opportunities for local people.
Conclusion
Allow me to conclude by thanking our Minister for his leadership, the Portfolio Committee for the support and political leadership as well as their oversight role played during sometimes difficult conditions. I also wish to thank the Director-General and her officials for their tireless efforts in finding better and innovative solutions to ensure a healthier and a safer environment for all.
Madam speaker, a wise woman, Ruth Lilongula of the Solomon Islands, once said “Biodiversity is invaluable, we value our surroundings as our identity, as who we are and our inheritance that is given to us…Our environment is many things, a classroom, a pharmacy and a supermarket.”
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
6 June 2006
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Title: Mabudafhasi: Environmental Affairs and Tourism Dept Budget Vote 2006/07
Speech by Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi at the Environmental Affairs and Tourism Budget Vote
Madam Speaker
Honourable Members
Distinguished Guests
Introduction
It is with pleasure that I address you on this Budget Vote, which in essence depicts the achievements of this department over the last financial year. I will of course not only reflect on our achievements, but also on some of the challenges that we faced and continue to face. Additionally I will also reflect on the programme for this year and how we intend to achieve some of the deliverables as defined in the departmental business plan.
It was indeed a challenging year which saw us dealing with women leadership and empowerment; land degradation, wetlands, invasive alien species and the fight against poverty; democratisation and transformation of protected areas; providing an effective and efficient weather service and establishing partnerships and capacity for better waste management in this country.
Women and Environment
Honourable members, as we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of women’s protest in 1956 in August this year, I am reminded of Chief Albert Luthuli’s words when he paid tribute to women and declared that “When the women begin to take active part in the struggle as they are doing now, no power on earth can stop us from achieving freedom in our lifetime”.
As a department we have to protect women and children from harsh environmental conditions. These conditions range from exposure to toxic chemicals to breathing polluted air and drinking unsafe water. As part of celebrations for the 50th Anniversary, our department will be holding the 2nd Women and Environment Conference. Drawing from the strengths of the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of 16 June, a side event for the youth will also be held during the margins of this conference.
At an international level, we have responded to gender equality and equity challenges by establishing a Network for Women Ministers of Environment which is co-chaired by South Africa and Sweden. This network will focus on implementing United Nations Environment Programme’s decision on gender equality in the areas of climate change, desertification, waste management and sustainable development.
Land degradation, wetlands, invasive alien species and the fight against poverty
Honourable members, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification, with the theme “Desertification a threat to humanity”.
To signify our commitment, we have already launched our campaign for the celebration of 2006 as the International Year of Deserts and Desertification (IYDD). We launched this campaign by unveiling a Soil Conservation Project to the tune of R5 million on 16 March 2006 in the Madibeng area within the Sekhukhune District Municipality, Limpopo. There are several provincial initiatives which are being rolled out in celebration of 2006 as the IYDD.
Through Working for Wetlands, our department will continue to invest funds in the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems. We will continue to partner with the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry in their Working for Water Project which has been very successful in clearing invasive species.
As apart of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Environment Initiative, South Africa co-ordinates the Invasive Alien Species Programme. Of the 14 projects identified, the following three are being prioritised: preventing waterweeds from chocking Africa’s water bodies, preventing invasive alien plants from ruining Africa’s productive land and preventing invasive alien species from entering Africa.
Democratisation and transformation of protected areas
Honourable members, as an important step to ensure that communities living adjacent to protected areas assume ownership and take active part in decision-making processes and management activities of protected areas, we established a People and Parks Forum which met for the first time in 2004. An important outcome of this meeting was the development of a comprehensive and ambitious action plan to address issues such as access and benefit sharing, co-management and establishment of partnerships. Later this year, we will be holding a second meeting of the People and Parks Forum.
Providing an effective and efficient weather service to economic sector and communities
An honourable member, one of the ramifications of climate change is adverse weather conditions that threaten the lives of people and their belongings. Last year South African Weather Service SAWS issued over 150 adverse weather warnings through its website and most prominent media. To increase its now-casting capability, SAWS is going to spend in excess of R6 million to expand its weather radar network this year. We are already sharing weather radar data with Mozambique, with a long-term goal of establishing a regional weather radar network involving all our neighbours in Southern African Development Community (SADC).One weather phenomenon that causes major damage and loss of life in South Africa is lightning. In the past financial year SAWS installed the state of the art Lightning Detection Network that covers Lesotho and Swaziland entirely and also extends to cover some parts of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Mozambique closer to our borders.
Partnership and capacity for waste management
Honourable members, as part of the implementation of the Waste Minimisation Strategy, our department is in the process of forging strategic partnerships with industries involved in various waste streams. These partnerships are aimed at encouraging voluntary compliance by the industry, thus creating an enabling environment for promulgation of the Waste Management Bill in the near future. We have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the glass industry last year, in addition to the plastic bag MoU. We aim to sign the tyre MoU in the near future.
At the Reduce, Reuse and Recycle (3R) Ministerial conference in Japan last year, we made a commitment to manage waste in a holistic fashion. South Africa is one of the seven countries which have signed a grant agreement on the African Stockpile Programme with the World Bank to tune of USD1.7 million. We have called upon everyone to declare obsolete stocks of pesticides in their possession so that these could be disposed of using funding from the World Bank.
South Africa is also a developing country which has already initiated the process of developing guidelines for the implementation of the Globally Harmonised System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
Protection of the marine environment and resources
Honourable members, in July 2004, we launched the West Indian Ocean Land-based activities (WIO-LaB) project in Madagascar. We took a robust approach in raising awareness and educating the coastal communities on the importance of protecting marine environment from pollution caused by land based activities. We have established task teams to deal with municipal water, physical alteration and destruction of habitats. We are also starting to assess the impact of litter from rivers on our oceans.
South Africa hosted the Global General Assembly for the Foundation for Environmental Education which is responsible for the Blue Flag and eco-schools programmes. The Blue Flag programme ensures that our beaches and oceans are clean and safe for tourists and communities while generating employment and skills development opportunities for local people.
Conclusion
Allow me to conclude by thanking our Minister for his leadership, the Portfolio Committee for the support and political leadership as well as their oversight role played during sometimes difficult conditions. I also wish to thank the Director-General and her officials for their tireless efforts in finding better and innovative solutions to ensure a healthier and a safer environment for all.
Madam speaker, a wise woman, Ruth Lilongula of the Solomon Islands, once said “Biodiversity is invaluable, we value our surroundings as our identity, as who we are and our inheritance that is given to us…Our environment is many things, a classroom, a pharmacy and a supermarket.”
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
6 June 2006
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