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Date : 22/08/2005
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Title: Mabudafhasi: South Durban Basin Multi-point Plan quarterly feedback meeting


Address by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Rejoice Mabudafhasi, South Durban Basin – Multi-point Plan: Quarterly Feedback Meeting 22 August 2005

Programme Director
The honourable MEC for Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Dr G Ndabandaba
The honourable Mayor, Clr Obed Mlaba
Councillors present here today
Stakeholder representatives
Members of the media,
Officials from government
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen

I am very privileged that as being the Minister in this portfolio I have seen and participated in the evolution of the Multi-point Plan for the South Durban Basin from conception to the advanced state of implementation.

When this government took office through a democratic process in 1994, one of the key mandates we took up was, to create a better life for all. This has been a driving force through all of government’s projects and programmes. Ten years ago this started as a vision, but today we are witnessing some of the results of that vision. Honourable MEC and Mayor I am sure you will agree with me that indeed the lives of fellow South Africans, especially the previously marginalised, are indeed becoming better.

Programme Director, the South Durban Basin Multi-point Plan (MPP) has received multi-stakeholder endorsement in May 2000 and it received Cabinet approval in October 2000. Over the period up to end of 2003 we have seen the various processes of institution formation, systems design, funding arrangements and tender processes undergoing a process of systematic development via a rigorous participatory process.

At every juncture we have seen progress and the achievement of great milestones. We have recorded an unprecedented 45% reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions. So the phasing out of fuel strategy in the MPP, though highly contested, has paid off results. The project budget for the MPP has been R30 million, but this has initiated over a billion rand investment from those industries who have contributed to the sulphur dioxide reduction plan. Through further regulatory intervention we will see further reduction in sulphur dioxide emissions over the next few years.

I believe that there have been various factors for the systematic advances.

Firstly, as democratic government at the local, provincial and national level there has been a firm political commitment to uphold the mandate of the Constitution that people should not be subjected to an environment that is detrimental to their health and well being.

Secondly, in order to prove our commitment we have aspired to get the most advanced science, expertise and knowledge to inform decision-makers as to where problems exist in terms of pollution excesses.

Thirdly, we have put in place the Air Quality Management Act to institutionally enable environmental compliance to be achieved.

Fourthly, together with the political commitment and objective processes of problem quantification, industry leadership have come to the table to make the necessary capital investments, to make possible the emission reduction plan.

Finally, the participatory stakeholder process, involving the local community, government and industry was the pivotal component in making the plan a reality and most importantly to deliver quantifiable results. All these processes, and resources we have done together to protect public health such that children, adults and vulnerable groups shall not be exposed to levels of air pollution that is detrimental to their health and well being.

Programme Director, we are in the process considering other potential pollution hot-spot such as the Vaal Triangle, with a view of declaring these priority areas under the new Act and to possibly apply the MPP approach in dealing with air pollution in these areas. Furthermore, the department will focus on the top 50 pollution emitters with the aim of reviewing their current permits. This will occur over the next two years.

We will apply the systems and centre of excellence as advanced in the MPP to inform this national process. So as you have seen in the South Durban Basin, in tandem with regulatory development, there shall also be improving air quality in other air pollution hot spots throughout South Africa, thus continuing to create a better live for all.

Despite all the very positive accolades for the MPP and the advances made within the eThekwini Municipality, we do have our fair set of challenges. The President of South Africa has promulgated the National Air Quality Management Act earlier this year; the Department intends to make this Act lawful from 1 September 2005. However there are a range of regulations that would have to be legislated to make the Act effective and enforceable.

This process will take time, but together, as has been demonstrated through the collective effort of all the stakeholders in South Durban Basin we shall succeed. I must emphasise that it is only through such collaborative efforts that we shall continue to make the lives of fellow South Africans better.

Programme Director, in conclusion, I want to wish the finalisation of the MPP process, especially the outcome of the health study, every success.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
22 August 2005
Source: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
   

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