BRIEFING BY THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, M MOOSA

8 February 2000

Four Key Focus areas of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism are:

TOURISM GROWTH AND JOBS/ Create the conditions for responsible tourism growth and development

KEY EVENTS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS:

  1. Launch of the international marketing campaign in our traditional 'Big Six' markets
  2. Launch of a travel website
  3. Tourism Indaba in Durban
  4. Awarding the tender for international marketing research and segmentation, which will form the basis of our new marketing campaigns to open up emerging markets
  5. Amendments to the Tourism Act
  6. Launch of several tourism infrastructure projects in the Lubombo SDI

BROWN ISSUES
Promote and enhance the quality and safety of the environment

KEY EVENTS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS:

  1. Launch of the White Paper on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management
  2. Amendments to NEMA to incorporate framework legislation for pollution and waste management, and promulgate regulations
  3. Launch of 20 waste management job-creation projects using Poverty Relief Funds

HERITAGE RESOURCES
Promote the conservation and development of the natural and cultural resources of this country for sustainable and equitable use

KEY EVENTS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS:

  1. Presentation of the South African proposal on the African Elephant to CITES
  2. The Convention on Biological Diversity Conference of the Parties to sign the Biodiversity Protocol
  3. Putting a national system of management of conservation areas that will link with current initiatives to establish transfrontier conservation areas and consolidate wildlife areas, such as the Addo Elephant Park.
  4. Working on South Africa's new applications for World Heritage Site status and the donor conference on the future of the Cape Floristic Kingdom.
  5. Launch of Hector Peterson memorial as part of the Soweto Heritage project with Poverty Relief money

INFORMATION AND PLANNING
The provision of accessible environmental and tourism information for sound planning and decision-making

KEY EVENTS OVER THE NEXT SIX MONTHS:

  1. Complete the process of agentising the Weather Bureau and SANAP (South African National Antarctica Programme)
  2. Upgrade the Department website: www.environment.gov.za
  3. Set up the Centre for Environmental Information and Statistics, and promote and market our world-class website, the State of the Environment Report on the internet: www.ngo.grida.no/soesa.
  4. Launch of the NEMA (National Environmental Management Act) review and implementation process

Contact details:
Office of the Minister Mohammed Valli Moosa (012) 310 3611 and (021) 465 7240/1
Office of the Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi (012) 321 9587 and (021) 462 1777
Office of the Director General Chippy Olver (012) 310 3651
Media Liaison Director JJ Tabane 082 465 6166

Issued by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
8 February 2000