TABLE MOUNTAIN COMMITTEE PRESENTS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS

Issued by: Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

TABLE MOUNTAIN AND PENINSULA ADVISORY COMMITTEE PRESENTS ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, DR DAWIE DE VILLIERS AND MR KOBUS MEIRING, MINISTER OF FINANCE AND ENVIRONMENT AFFAIRS, WESTERN CAPE

The Table Mountain and Peninsula Advisory Committee, chaired by Prof Brian Huntley, today presented its recommendations on a single statutory management authority for the Cape Peninsula Protected Natural Environment (CPPNE) to Dr Dawie de Villiers, Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and Mr Kobus Meiring, Minister of Finance and Environment Affairs for the Western Cape.

Following considerable public debate and the preparation of reports of several consultants regarding the future management and administration of Table Mountain and the Cape Peninsula, the advisory committee was appointed by Dr de Villiers in June 1995 after consultation with Mr Kobus Meiring. The main objective of this Committee was to advise and make recommendations on the appropriate legal framework to create a single statutory Cape Peninsula Authority for the future management of the CPPNE and/or to advise on any other structure for such management.

Following a consultative and transparent approach, all deliberations of the Committee, with the exception of the first meeting and the final discussions of the last meeting, have been open to the public and the press. A call for submissions was made via the media, and resulted in proposals being received from the Western Cape Provincial Administration, the National Parks Board and the Cape Metropolitan Council. These proposals were presented to the Committee at public meetings held in Cape Town on 12 and 13 September, with a call for comments on these presentations being made for submission to the Committee by 25 September. After in-depth discussions on these proposals at its final meeting on 4 October 1995, a recommendation was approved by the Committee namely that the National Parks Board be appointed as the responsible management authority for the CPPNE.

In drawing up the new legislation for the CPPNE or resulting protected area, the Committee urges that the following issues receive attention:

• Existing levels of local, regional and national funding for the management of the CPPNE must be maintained during the transition phase;
• There should be strong participation by local civil society in all structures and decision-making processes related to the management of the CPPNE;
• Legislation must ensure that any future changes in land use within the existing CPPNE be subject to the veto of the new authority;
• In developing its new management policies and processes, the National Parks Board should take cognisance of all the documentation produced by, and submitted to this Committee;
• Draft legislation must be open to public scrutiny and comment: and
• The new legislation should be finalised before the end of 1996 and the National Parks Board should be established in a custodial role as soon as possible.

Dr de Villiers expressed his sincere appreciation for the swift and effective manner in which the Committee performed its duties. Despite the wide range of community and professional representation on the Committee and the divergent opinions amongst its members, a recommendation was approved. Dr de Villiers also stated that the recommendations not only concerns the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, but other government departments and the Western Cape regional government. Consultation with the Western Cape regional government and other affected Ministeries, regarding the proposed legislation will now take place. As soon as a decision has been reached, legislation will be prepared and published for further comments.

ISSUED BY THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM CAPE TOWN 6 OCTOBER 1995

Enquiries: Luise Nicholson Tel: (021) 45 7240 Anna-Marie Roux Tel: (012) 310 3434