Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
25 NOVEMBER 1996
The Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, Professor Kader Asmal, MP, has authorised the issuing of a permit for the proposed afforestation of Inzinga Ranch near Impendle in KwaZulu-Natal. This follows an investigation conducted by a senior official of his Department into claims by two objectors regarding incorrect factual information provided to the decision makers in the handling of the permit application. The Minister ordered that the issuing of the permit be held in abeyance, pending the outcome of the investigation.
A meeting was held on 11 November 1996 at Midmar Dam, attended by inter alia one of the objectors and the applicant. Following the report-back, Prof Asmal said that he was satisfied that the correct procedures had been followed by both his Department and the KwaZulu-Natal Afforestation Review Panel in dealing with the application.
Further to this, he stated that no substantive evidence was presented to him to dispute the factual information on which the Review Panel Based their final recommendation and he therefore authorised the issuing of the permit on 15 November 1996.
Enquiries: Piet Pretorius Tel: (012) 299-2281