Deputy Minister Makhotso Sotyu: 2023/2024 Budget Vote of the DFFE in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP)
House chairperson,
Honourable members of Parliament,
Honourable Minister, Mme Barbara Creecy,
Chairperson of the Select Committee, Ms Tebogo Modise,
Ladies and gentlemen,
House chairperson,
The link between the environment and human health cannot be ignored as some sectors of the economy show improved returns and economic growth following the Covid-19 pandemic.
The World Health Organisation in April declared that Covid-19 is no longer considered an international public health emergency.
This means that we can get on with the business of growing our economy, creating jobs and improving the lives of all our people.
In the case of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, this means putting in extra energy to, for example, ensure that our people benefit from sustainable use initiatives that do not harm the environment, and that communities benefit from projects to grant them greater access to our forests.
Honourable members,
In the past two years we have witnessed numerous severe weather events in South Africa – from devastating floods to prolonged droughts – that can all be attributed to climate change.
The Constitution entrenches the right to environmental protection, most notably an environment that is not harmful to the health or well–being of all.
To ensure that this right is put into practice, a number of significant strides have been made with regard to air quality management in terms of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act in 2005.
This robust measure emphasises the importance of cooperative governance structures and measurable investments in air quality monitoring infrastructure – all key to ensuring that our air is breathable and not harmful to anyone.
Honourable chair,
Our work through the department’s Environment Programmes enjoins us to identify and ensure implementation of programmes that employ Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) principles.
The EPWP contributes towards addressing unemployment in line with the “decent employment through inclusive economic growth” outcome, by working with communities to identify local opportunities that will benefit society at large.
I am pleased to announce that in this financial year, we will create 71 035 work opportunities in the nine provinces through our EPWP projects.
A total of 532 100 hectares will receive follow-up clearing of invasive plant species, 115 wetlands will be rehabilitated, and 90% of wildfires will be suppressed.
Furthermore, 2116 kilometres of accessible coastline will be cleaned, while buy-back centres and transfer stations, two of each, will be constructed and renovated, in this financial year.
Our work through the Working on Waste continues to create sustainable livelihoods through recycling of waste (waste collection and minimisation).
The department is also supporting the use of environmentally friendly waste disposal technology, and promoting environmental education and awareness to the communities, especially as they are the main waste generators. We will also establish partnerships with municipalities for cleaning of litter and clearing of illegal dumps.
House chair,
With regard to greening and open space management, the focus is on restoring, enhancing and rehabilitating open spaces, maximizing measures towards pollution mitigation, improving climate change adaptation through minimization of biodiversity loss and encouraging the use of greener technologies to mitigate against environmental degradation.
Through our Environment Programmes, we have conceptualised an in-house model, which allows the department to implement and manage its projects using its own resources. The means that the Department is able to employ more EPWP participants because of the savings on project management fees. It enables the department control and ensure the timely payment of wages.
The in-house model facilitates direct partnership with local government. In so doing, the department pays stipends and UIF, whilst municipalities provide PPE, tools of trade and commit to picking up collected waste.
This is a true partnership in which both parties are accountable for success of the programme.
I am pleased to announce that we are currently implementing the in-house model to address service delivery and waste management in partnership with municipalities.
For an example, over 400 participants have been trained in the Lejweleputswa District of the Free State, while others are still to be trained in June 2023. The district municipality has committed to providing participants with PPE and work tools.
House chair,
Our department has engaged with the National Treasury and the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to help municipalities to purchase trucks for waste collection and landfill operation under the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG).
In order to accelerate service delivery to the public, I had the pleasure of launching the Waste Management Intervention Cleaning and Green Project in Vryburg, North West.
Honourable members,
Issues of waste and pollution are just as important as dealing with the challenge of good air quality.
Pollution of our rivers, streams, the ocean, and the land leads to a number of complications, not only affecting human health as people drink from polluted water resources, but also through the seepage of chemicals in materials dumped or burnt illegally into the soil in which many plant their food.
That is the reason why the department has placed so much emphasis on issues of waste management, and is assisting local authorities with the development of skills and the supply of equipment to ensure that unsightly waste is collected and properly disposed of.
When I addressed the Local Government Environment Indaba in March this year, I questioned whether enough is being done to protect environmental human rights, especially illegal dumping and pollution.
Although the legislative framework is there, you will agree that the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being is under attack.
Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) indicates that a quarter of South African households do not have access to refuse removal services provided by municipalities. As a result, illegal dumping is on the increase.
Critical waste infrastructure, such as buy-back centres, transfer stations and landfill sites and waste trucks are not being protected, are subjected to vandalism and are not maintained. Hence our intervention as the department.
To date, more than 10 000 work opportunities have been created in partnership with municipalities to clean and green our towns and cities.
Honourable chair
An important part of our environment is our forests.
Forestry is one of the leading sectors in our economy that has capacity and capability to contribute to the growth of this country.
Through the forestry sector masterplan, we have placed the focus on interventions that will ensure growth, investment and the transformation of the sector. We are now in the third year of implementation of this plan.
But, this has not been a smooth ride. A number of challenges were experienced during the first year of implementation, which led to only about R11.1 billion worth of investment and subsequent 6 264 jobs created.
During the second year, we were able to improve delivery through increased availability of the means needed to ensure means were made to ensure the escalation of the implementation plan.
Through this plan, State plantations currently managed by the department are being transferred over a four-year period to communities through leasing agreements in line with the National Forests Act.
These transfers are accompanied by Community Forestry Agreements and bring industry in as a strategic partner.
To ensure that communities continue to benefit from this initiative, the DFFE will, in collaboration with industry, ensure that post-settlement support is provided.
In addition to the two plantations that were transferred to the communities in the Mount Fletcher area of the Eastern Cape last year, approval has been processed for two traditional councils to enter into an agreement for the management of four plantations.
This forms part of the implementation of the catch-up plan to fast track the transfer of the plantations.
House chair,
We have noted and appreciate that the process of settling land claims is a protracted one, and this is precisely the reason why the Department has decided to transfer the plantations in phases.
We are also holding further engagements with the DALRRD to find ways to expedite the processing of land claims in commercial plantations.
In terms of expansion of the forestry footprint to support the value chain, about 30 500 hectares have been identified to undergo the Environmental Impact Assessment process so as to ensure that new afforestation can take place.
Honourable members,
As the 6th Administration draws to a close, I am reminded of the words expressed by the founding father of our nation Tata Nelson Mandela when he said, “I dream of our vast deserts, of our forests, of all our great wildernesses. We must never forget that it is our duty to protect this environment.”
In conclusion house chair, I would like to thank our Minister, Mme Barbara Creecy, for her leadership in the Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.
My gratitude is also conveyed to our Director General, Mme Nomfundo Tshabalala, and team DFFE, including the chairpersons of boards and CEOs of our entities, for all their support and hard work in the 6th administration.
I would also like to say a special thank you to the chairperson and members of the Select Committee.
I thank you all.
