The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi announced the winners of the Environmental Management Inspectorate Awards at the Fifth National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Lekgotla, yesterday, in Kleinmond, Western Cape.
The Awards recognize government officials who have made an outstanding contribution to the implementation of environmental legislation in South African. The first awards were handed out in 2006, then in 2007, 2009 and 2012. The call for award nominations was widely distributed within the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Panelists based their decision on the strength of the nominations received.
Awards were handed out for six categories, including two new award categories that serve to recognize the often life-threatening work undertaken by EMI Grade 5 Field Rangers, as well as the critical role of Environmental Management Inspectorate Support Services.
The first award, in the prosecutors’ category for Outstanding Contribution to the Prosecution of Environmental Crime, was awarded to Charles Lloyd, from the National Prosecuting Authority, for his successful prosecution of various environmental matters and self-dedication to the prosecution of environmental crimes during the period 2012 to 2013.
The category for Outstanding Contribution to the Investigation of Environmental Crime was presented to Mario Scholtz, from South African National Parks, for his work against rhino poaching and rhino horn smuggling syndicates. Scholtz also contributed extensively to capacity building initiatives.
For her achievement of having undertaken ten successful strategic compliance inspections within the reporting period, inspecting more than 131 authorizations/licensing conditions, and often having to deal with difficult personalities during site inspections, the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Inspection of Environmental Legislation, went to Nketu Lesejane, from the National Department of Environmental Affairs. Many of the sites under Lesejane’s inspection had come into compliance.
Godfrey Maluleke, from the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, took the award for Outstanding Contribution to the Administrative Enforcement of Environmental Legislation, for ongoing excellence in the field of administrative enforcement and the preparation of 34 legally defensible notices and directives.
Jacques du Toit, from the National Department of Environmental Affairs was recognized in the category, Outstanding Support Rendered to the Environmental Management Inspectorate, for his support to operational compliance and enforcement, strategic stakeholder engagement and capacity building which has led to a significant improvement in environmental compliance and enforcement in the country.
The category of Outstanding Contribution to Field Ranger Service, was awarded to the entire SANParks Special Operations Team, which includes fourteen officials and five K9 members. The team was acknowledged for their work in the war against rhino poaching.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged that since the establishment of the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) or the Green Scorpions as the Inspectorate is popularly known, the Department of Environmental Affairs had made “significant strides each year in bringing offenders to book”.
She recognized the strides that had been made in developing a strong network of partnerships with SAPS, HAWKS, Justice, SARS and Intelligence, and emphasized the need for stronger ties with the justice system and law enforcement agencies in achieving more effective criminal investigations and higher prosecution rates.
More information on the Green Scorpions and the Lekgotla:
https://www.environment.gov.za/event/enforcement_lekgotla2013
https://www.environment.gov.za/mediarelease/necer_201213report
For media queries contact:
Albi Modise
Spokesperson: Department of Environmental Affairs
Cell: 083 490 2871
