Date: 06/06/2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: K Mosunkutu: Gauteng Provincial Media Briefing, June 2004
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT MEC MEDIA BRIEFINGS: STATEMENT BY AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT MEC, KHABISI MOSUNKUTU, 8 June 2004
Consistent with the people's contract to create jobs and fight poverty, which the Executive Council adopted, and also in line with our unswerving Vision 2014 to reduce unemployment by half through the creation of new jobs, skills development, assistance to small businesses, opportunities for self-employment and sustainable community livelihoods, my Department will utilise all resources at its disposal to contribute to these noble objectives.
Fighting poverty and building safe, secure and sustainable communities
Food Security
Addressing the people of Gauteng, during the opening of the Legislature on the 7 June 2004, Premier Shilowa reiterated his directive to my Department to 'redouble our stated goal of the Integrated Food Security Strategy to ensure universal and sustainable access to the minimum daily, safe and nutritious food needs
I am pleased to announce that not only are we committed to deliver on this singularly important mandate, but in the process we shall also immensely contribute to job creation.
An amount of R 5, 7 million per annum, escalating, has been budgeted for Household Food Security Programmes.
We are also committed to the further roll out and up-scaling of our various Household Food Security Programmes. We have set ourselves a target to reach 8 000, mainly women and children. Linked to this programme will be a nutritional awareness and education programmes, especially focusing on women and children.
An amount of R 4, 7 million has also been budgeted for labour intensive methods of natural resource management programmes. These will focus on public land.
Agriculture
A lot has been achieved in the last decade to change the race and gender patterns of ownership of agricultural land. In 1994 there was not a single black owner of land in Gauteng. We now proudly boast 135 land reform projects involving 850 beneficiaries. In addition a total of 259 individual farmers, primarily women, are currently leasing land with an option to purchase.
Agricultural land is a finite resource, only 4% of the total land surface in South Africa being high potential agricultural land and only 12% of this being irrigable. Ironically most of the 430 000 ha of arable agricultural land in Gauteng is of high or medium potential.
Notwithstanding that agricultural production is influenced by global commodity prices and fluctuations in domestic supply and demand it is critical that as a country we retain our production capability as no country can afford to be too reliant on imports. For this reason we, in consultation with the Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, will identify and spatially map agricultural land and through policy and legislation afford it legal protection so that it is retained for agricultural production.
Productivity on the 300 000 hectares of arable land currently cultivated will be enhanced through a programme of intensive group and individual extension support services, focusing primarily on land reform beneficiaries and on transfer of skills from established commercial farmers.
Most importantly, we will work with the Department of Land Affairs on further land reform projects to bring into production the 130 000 odd hectares that are not currently cultivated. Finally the Department will work with the Department of Agriculture to access loan financing for agricultural production as announced in the address of the President during the opening of Parliament.
LAND USE
One of the very real challenges that we face in Gauteng is the efficient use of our land. Urban sprawl - building houses and developments on the ever-growing fringes of our towns and cities - is neither desirable nor sustainable.
Whilst it may be relatively simple to build houses for our people on the fringes of our cities the longer-term consequences of these developments can be easily overlooked.
Do we really want people to be spending hours a day waiting on taxis and buses to get to work; what does the transport actually cost those people (and government) in rands and cents; what does it do to families when mothers leave home at 4 o'clock in the morning and only return late at night; how much pollution do all these cars and buses create and what is that doing to our peoples health? In addition to these issues we also need to think about what else the land we are developing was being used for. Was it the last refuge for the Giant Bullfrog or the Golden Mole some of our most critically endangered indigenous species; or was it highly productive farmland which helped feed us or earned foreign exchange from flower exports?
These are some of the issue that the Department and other GPG departments, including Housing, Public Transport Roads and Works and Development Planning are critically looking at and will develop polices around to ensure that we use our land resources effectively to best meet the very real needs we face and that we consider the longer term costs and benefits of the land use choices we make or promote.
The environment and our quest for a better life for all
Social scientists correctly contend that 'living matter on earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life'. Ours is not to interpret the world in which we live, the people have spoken and mandated us in government to create a better life for all. During the month of June, we will be launching the Gauteng State of the Environment Report (SOER) 2004. This is the culmination of a twelve-month project. The SOER highlights the condition and quality of the environment in Gauteng as well as what is being done to improve the state of environment to ensure a better quality of life for all Gauteng citizens. The report focuses on six themes of importance in Gauteng, namely: Air Quality, Social Environment, Biodiversity, Waste Management, Water and Land.
The information in the report will be used to assist in achieving sustainable development. There is a growing worldwide focus on the prevention of environmental deterioration and emphasis on the intricate linkages between the natural environment, economic stability and social well-being. The concept of sustainable development integrates these interdependent components. Sustainable development, 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs' is a prerequisite for building sustainable communities, a healthy prosperous society, a stable growing economy and healthy ecosystems and ecological processes.
In addition to presentation of the report, best practice demonstrations in each of the thematic areas will be showcased and participants will be urged to participate in the Bontle ke Botho (BKB) campaign, as a means to "make a difference" to the state of the environment.
The BKB campaign is an initiative for the Gauteng public to involve ordinary people in protecting the environment and improving the quality of life in their communities. The themes of the campaign are aligned with the current international sustainable development themes adopted at the World summit on sustainable Development in 2002. The aim of the campaign is implementation of Agenda 21; facilitate community development and building partnerships between local communities and the private sector. Central to the campaign is the entrenching democratic principles and participatory processes. The campaign is fully government funded but, starting from this financial year, an attempt at a long-term plan partnership with the private sector to fund all or some components of the campaign will be initiated.
Direct Job creating projects within environment conservation
Our environment conservation programmes are also focusing on job creation as a priority. We have programmes that will be co-funded by the Zivuseni Project Office in the Department Public Transport, Roads and Works. Zivuseni will fund the wages for the contract workers, the Workman's Compensation Levy and Training from the Department of Labour whereas DACE will fund the materials, transportation, uniforms and tools, project management costs and technical support.
These projects include:
Project Name: Removal of alien vegetation in Mogale City LA, Elandsfontein Roodepoort, Dinokeng and Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve (SNR)
Budget: R 3 226 748
Potential Jobs Created: 220
Project Name: Block Burns and Firebreaks in Dinokeng and SNR
Budget: R 840 200
Potential Jobs Created: 145
Project Name: Construction and maintenance of roads and walking trails in SNR
Budget: R 723 200
Potential Jobs Created: 25
Project Name: Rehabilitation of extension, Extension lands in SNR
Budget: R 656 700
Potential Jobs Created: 30
The duration of these projects range from 3 months - burning of firebreaks in Dinokeng and SNR, 8 months - construction and maintenance of roads and walking trails and rehabilitation of extension lands, to 262 days (12 months) - removal of alien vegetation in Mogale city LA, Elandsfontein and Roodepoort.
* DACE has authorised communities living next to the SNR to harvest thatch grass, which they later sell to building contractors. In the past year a group of 30 women made R5 4 571 from this endeavour, out of which they paid DACE R5457
* DACE is also involved in a number of labour intensive projects that are funded by National Government Departments, such as the Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Tourism and Water Affairs and Forestry
These projects are:
Project Name: Cleaning up of the Kliprivier
Budget: R1. 452 Million
Potential Jobs Created: 47
Project Name: Eradication of Queen-of-the -Night alien weeds
Budget: R1. 3 Million
Potential Jobs Created: 84
Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS)
An amount of R 163 million over a two- year period has been budgeted for the construction of the COH WHS Interpretation Complex Centre (ICC). The contract sets out requirements for compliance in terms of preferential procurement, Black Economic Empowerment and skills development targets.
A further amount of R 102, 6 million, over a three-year period, has been budgeted for roads
Job creation aspects in the project include:
* Creation of 1200 construction jobs in the building of the ICC
* 500 permanent jobs for the ICC
* 84 500-person days for roads
An amount of R 4, 7 million has also been budgeted for labour intensive methods of natural resource management programmes.
Legislative background work
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's national law reform programme resulted in a number of key pieces of legislation being passed by Parliament at the end of the last term. The intention of the suite of legislation is to provide a coherent legal framework that will allow for effective environmental management and management of biodiversity in fulfilment of the constitutional right to a safe and healthy living environment for all people. A priority for the current financial year will be the commencement with implementation of the new legislation.
The DACE will continue to ensure that it carries out its regulatory responsibility to ensure that development takes place within the capacity of the resource base of the province to support development. This will be done through the EIA a process, which at this stage entails the authorisation of approximately 12,000 applications per annum
Other developments have occurred in the legislative framework within which the Department functions, most notably, the promulgation of the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Management Act, the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act as well as the National Environmental Management First Amendment Act and the National Environmental Management Second Amendment Bill.
Provincial priorities from a legislative perspective include the development of Regulations as well Provincial Acts that will ensure alignment with National legislation and support the objectives outlined in these Acts. Some of the more prominent priorities include assisting the National Department in the finalisation of regulations for the Management Authority for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site and the Integrated Environmental Management Regulations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act. Provincially, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations, a provincial Conservation Act and Regulations in terms of the Meat Safety Act need to be promulgated.
The purpose of the legislation was to ensure that some of the legislative gaps that have been identified are addressed and that the Department's mandate is fulfilled. The legislation will enable the Department to better perform some of its regulatory functions and ensure greater compliance. Supporting the legislative changes, the Department has embarked on a comprehensive Compliance and Enforcement Strategy that will increase the efficiency of the Department and promote compliance thereby reducing the need for active and costly enforcement activities.
In conclusion, I wish to confirm that, together with management in the Department, we are committed to pursuing all these objectives with vim and vigour. I thank you all.
For more information contact: Sizwe Matshikiza
Tel: (011) 355 1316
Cell: 082 778 9996
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 June 2004
Source: Gauteng Provincial Government
Title: K Mosunkutu: Gauteng Provincial Media Briefing, June 2004
GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT MEC MEDIA BRIEFINGS: STATEMENT BY AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT MEC, KHABISI MOSUNKUTU, 8 June 2004
Consistent with the people's contract to create jobs and fight poverty, which the Executive Council adopted, and also in line with our unswerving Vision 2014 to reduce unemployment by half through the creation of new jobs, skills development, assistance to small businesses, opportunities for self-employment and sustainable community livelihoods, my Department will utilise all resources at its disposal to contribute to these noble objectives.
Fighting poverty and building safe, secure and sustainable communities
Food Security
Addressing the people of Gauteng, during the opening of the Legislature on the 7 June 2004, Premier Shilowa reiterated his directive to my Department to 'redouble our stated goal of the Integrated Food Security Strategy to ensure universal and sustainable access to the minimum daily, safe and nutritious food needs
I am pleased to announce that not only are we committed to deliver on this singularly important mandate, but in the process we shall also immensely contribute to job creation.
An amount of R 5, 7 million per annum, escalating, has been budgeted for Household Food Security Programmes.
We are also committed to the further roll out and up-scaling of our various Household Food Security Programmes. We have set ourselves a target to reach 8 000, mainly women and children. Linked to this programme will be a nutritional awareness and education programmes, especially focusing on women and children.
An amount of R 4, 7 million has also been budgeted for labour intensive methods of natural resource management programmes. These will focus on public land.
Agriculture
A lot has been achieved in the last decade to change the race and gender patterns of ownership of agricultural land. In 1994 there was not a single black owner of land in Gauteng. We now proudly boast 135 land reform projects involving 850 beneficiaries. In addition a total of 259 individual farmers, primarily women, are currently leasing land with an option to purchase.
Agricultural land is a finite resource, only 4% of the total land surface in South Africa being high potential agricultural land and only 12% of this being irrigable. Ironically most of the 430 000 ha of arable agricultural land in Gauteng is of high or medium potential.
Notwithstanding that agricultural production is influenced by global commodity prices and fluctuations in domestic supply and demand it is critical that as a country we retain our production capability as no country can afford to be too reliant on imports. For this reason we, in consultation with the Department of Finance and Economic Affairs, will identify and spatially map agricultural land and through policy and legislation afford it legal protection so that it is retained for agricultural production.
Productivity on the 300 000 hectares of arable land currently cultivated will be enhanced through a programme of intensive group and individual extension support services, focusing primarily on land reform beneficiaries and on transfer of skills from established commercial farmers.
Most importantly, we will work with the Department of Land Affairs on further land reform projects to bring into production the 130 000 odd hectares that are not currently cultivated. Finally the Department will work with the Department of Agriculture to access loan financing for agricultural production as announced in the address of the President during the opening of Parliament.
LAND USE
One of the very real challenges that we face in Gauteng is the efficient use of our land. Urban sprawl - building houses and developments on the ever-growing fringes of our towns and cities - is neither desirable nor sustainable.
Whilst it may be relatively simple to build houses for our people on the fringes of our cities the longer-term consequences of these developments can be easily overlooked.
Do we really want people to be spending hours a day waiting on taxis and buses to get to work; what does the transport actually cost those people (and government) in rands and cents; what does it do to families when mothers leave home at 4 o'clock in the morning and only return late at night; how much pollution do all these cars and buses create and what is that doing to our peoples health? In addition to these issues we also need to think about what else the land we are developing was being used for. Was it the last refuge for the Giant Bullfrog or the Golden Mole some of our most critically endangered indigenous species; or was it highly productive farmland which helped feed us or earned foreign exchange from flower exports?
These are some of the issue that the Department and other GPG departments, including Housing, Public Transport Roads and Works and Development Planning are critically looking at and will develop polices around to ensure that we use our land resources effectively to best meet the very real needs we face and that we consider the longer term costs and benefits of the land use choices we make or promote.
The environment and our quest for a better life for all
Social scientists correctly contend that 'living matter on earth collectively defines and regulates the material conditions necessary for the continuance of life'. Ours is not to interpret the world in which we live, the people have spoken and mandated us in government to create a better life for all. During the month of June, we will be launching the Gauteng State of the Environment Report (SOER) 2004. This is the culmination of a twelve-month project. The SOER highlights the condition and quality of the environment in Gauteng as well as what is being done to improve the state of environment to ensure a better quality of life for all Gauteng citizens. The report focuses on six themes of importance in Gauteng, namely: Air Quality, Social Environment, Biodiversity, Waste Management, Water and Land.
The information in the report will be used to assist in achieving sustainable development. There is a growing worldwide focus on the prevention of environmental deterioration and emphasis on the intricate linkages between the natural environment, economic stability and social well-being. The concept of sustainable development integrates these interdependent components. Sustainable development, 'development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs' is a prerequisite for building sustainable communities, a healthy prosperous society, a stable growing economy and healthy ecosystems and ecological processes.
In addition to presentation of the report, best practice demonstrations in each of the thematic areas will be showcased and participants will be urged to participate in the Bontle ke Botho (BKB) campaign, as a means to "make a difference" to the state of the environment.
The BKB campaign is an initiative for the Gauteng public to involve ordinary people in protecting the environment and improving the quality of life in their communities. The themes of the campaign are aligned with the current international sustainable development themes adopted at the World summit on sustainable Development in 2002. The aim of the campaign is implementation of Agenda 21; facilitate community development and building partnerships between local communities and the private sector. Central to the campaign is the entrenching democratic principles and participatory processes. The campaign is fully government funded but, starting from this financial year, an attempt at a long-term plan partnership with the private sector to fund all or some components of the campaign will be initiated.
Direct Job creating projects within environment conservation
Our environment conservation programmes are also focusing on job creation as a priority. We have programmes that will be co-funded by the Zivuseni Project Office in the Department Public Transport, Roads and Works. Zivuseni will fund the wages for the contract workers, the Workman's Compensation Levy and Training from the Department of Labour whereas DACE will fund the materials, transportation, uniforms and tools, project management costs and technical support.
These projects include:
Project Name: Removal of alien vegetation in Mogale City LA, Elandsfontein Roodepoort, Dinokeng and Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve (SNR)
Budget: R 3 226 748
Potential Jobs Created: 220
Project Name: Block Burns and Firebreaks in Dinokeng and SNR
Budget: R 840 200
Potential Jobs Created: 145
Project Name: Construction and maintenance of roads and walking trails in SNR
Budget: R 723 200
Potential Jobs Created: 25
Project Name: Rehabilitation of extension, Extension lands in SNR
Budget: R 656 700
Potential Jobs Created: 30
The duration of these projects range from 3 months - burning of firebreaks in Dinokeng and SNR, 8 months - construction and maintenance of roads and walking trails and rehabilitation of extension lands, to 262 days (12 months) - removal of alien vegetation in Mogale city LA, Elandsfontein and Roodepoort.
* DACE has authorised communities living next to the SNR to harvest thatch grass, which they later sell to building contractors. In the past year a group of 30 women made R5 4 571 from this endeavour, out of which they paid DACE R5457
* DACE is also involved in a number of labour intensive projects that are funded by National Government Departments, such as the Departments of Agriculture, Environment and Tourism and Water Affairs and Forestry
These projects are:
Project Name: Cleaning up of the Kliprivier
Budget: R1. 452 Million
Potential Jobs Created: 47
Project Name: Eradication of Queen-of-the -Night alien weeds
Budget: R1. 3 Million
Potential Jobs Created: 84
Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS)
An amount of R 163 million over a two- year period has been budgeted for the construction of the COH WHS Interpretation Complex Centre (ICC). The contract sets out requirements for compliance in terms of preferential procurement, Black Economic Empowerment and skills development targets.
A further amount of R 102, 6 million, over a three-year period, has been budgeted for roads
Job creation aspects in the project include:
* Creation of 1200 construction jobs in the building of the ICC
* 500 permanent jobs for the ICC
* 84 500-person days for roads
An amount of R 4, 7 million has also been budgeted for labour intensive methods of natural resource management programmes.
Legislative background work
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism's national law reform programme resulted in a number of key pieces of legislation being passed by Parliament at the end of the last term. The intention of the suite of legislation is to provide a coherent legal framework that will allow for effective environmental management and management of biodiversity in fulfilment of the constitutional right to a safe and healthy living environment for all people. A priority for the current financial year will be the commencement with implementation of the new legislation.
The DACE will continue to ensure that it carries out its regulatory responsibility to ensure that development takes place within the capacity of the resource base of the province to support development. This will be done through the EIA a process, which at this stage entails the authorisation of approximately 12,000 applications per annum
Other developments have occurred in the legislative framework within which the Department functions, most notably, the promulgation of the National Environmental Management Protected Areas Management Act, the National Environmental Management Biodiversity Act as well as the National Environmental Management First Amendment Act and the National Environmental Management Second Amendment Bill.
Provincial priorities from a legislative perspective include the development of Regulations as well Provincial Acts that will ensure alignment with National legislation and support the objectives outlined in these Acts. Some of the more prominent priorities include assisting the National Department in the finalisation of regulations for the Management Authority for the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage site and the Integrated Environmental Management Regulations in terms of the National Environmental Management Act. Provincially, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations, a provincial Conservation Act and Regulations in terms of the Meat Safety Act need to be promulgated.
The purpose of the legislation was to ensure that some of the legislative gaps that have been identified are addressed and that the Department's mandate is fulfilled. The legislation will enable the Department to better perform some of its regulatory functions and ensure greater compliance. Supporting the legislative changes, the Department has embarked on a comprehensive Compliance and Enforcement Strategy that will increase the efficiency of the Department and promote compliance thereby reducing the need for active and costly enforcement activities.
In conclusion, I wish to confirm that, together with management in the Department, we are committed to pursuing all these objectives with vim and vigour. I thank you all.
For more information contact: Sizwe Matshikiza
Tel: (011) 355 1316
Cell: 082 778 9996
Issued by: Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment, Gauteng Provincial Government
8 June 2004
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