The Department of Environmental and Water Affairs would reinstate specialised courts focusing specifically on individuals who trespass South Africa's environmental laws, Minister Buyelwa Sonjica said on Monday.

Speaking at a media briefing, she said that the courts were likely to be up and running within eight months.

"The consultation has already started. We have written to the Minister of Justice to indicate our intention of establishing these courts, but it will depend on the process that we have to embark on. Again, we need guidance from the Minister of Justice in terms of that process," Sonjica said.

She noted that while current legislation made room for prosecuting trespassers, environmental legislation was not the core function of the current Justice Department. "As a result, the courts will not prioritise crimes related to environment. For that reason then, we have decided to bring back the specialised courts."

The newly established Environmental and Water Affairs department would also look at combining the efforts of the Green and Blue Scorpions, to create a single task team to enforce environmental legislation.

Sonjica stated that the current National and Environmental Management Act empowered the department to establish an enforcement body that would assist with the enforcement of the environmental laws. However, she noted that assimilating the two organs into a cohesive unit might take time, and would most likely require a reassessment of management and operating structures.

While this is being done, the Department of Environmental and Water Affairs would look to partner with businesses, in an effort to increase environmental awareness. "It is part of the consultations that are prioritised, meeting the industry in issues of environmental management, pollution, chemical or radioactive waste, of affluent that comes from the mines."

Meanwhile, Sonjica said that her department would look to partner with the industry to create ‘green jobs'.

"We could force the mine to employ people who will manage the pollution of water, and you will be doing two things if you do that. You are forcing them to comply [with the law] and you are also forcing them to create jobs. So it is a very creative way of getting them to comply."

Sonjica said that the department would focus on two emerging priorities, namely responding to climate change and championing sustainable development.

Within the context of those priorities, the department has identified key focus areas, including air quality, waste and chemical management, pollution incident management, environmental impact management, and conservation and the sustainable use of biodiversity.