Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa invites the public to comment on the draft Buffalo River Estuarine Management Plan
The Minister of Environmental Affairs, Dr Edna Molewa, has on 16 February 2018, published in Government Notice No. 116 in the Government Gazette No. 41445 draft Buffalo River Estuarine Management Plan for public comment. The Buffalo River Estuarine Management Plan (EMP) has been developed in terms of National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act 24 of 2008 (as amended) and the National Estuarine Management Protocol (2013) that provides a coordinated and efficient management approach for South African estuaries.
The Buffalo River estuary known as Port of East London is located at the mouth of the Buffalo River, in East London. It falls within the tertiary catchment of the Mzimvubu to Tsitsikamma Water Management Area (WMA). A baseline report towards the development of this EMP (Situation Assessment Report, 2016) identified key major pressures such as change in water flow, pollution and habitat alterations which require management interventions.
Furthermore, the ecological health status for this estuary was undertaken as part of the National Biodiversity Assessment Report and the overall findings of the estuary health index categorised the estuary as a Class D estuary, meaning the estuary is largely modified with a large loss of natural habitat, biota and basic ecosystem functions and processes have occurred.
The main purpose of developing this EMP is to facilitate a balance between ecological processes and human activities while considering sustainable use of estuarine resources. This is achieved by identifying management actions that need to be implemented by relevant sectors.
The Minister invites any person or sector departments to submit written comments on the draft Buffalo River Estuarine Management Plan within 30 days of the publication of the notice in the Government Gazette, to the following addresses:
By post to:
The Deputy Director-General: Department of Environmental Affairs
Branch: Oceans and Coasts
P.O Box 52126, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town, 8002
By hand at:
Department of Environmental Affairs
Branch: Oceans and Coasts
East Pier Building 2, East Pier Road, V&A Waterfront, Cape Town
By email:
estuaries@environment.gov.za
Any enquiries in connection with the draft Buffalo River EMP can be directed to Miss. Ntombovuyo Madlokazi on 021 819 2473.
Comment received after the closing date may not be considered.
To access the regulation click on the link: https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/docs/draftbuffaloriverEMP.pdf
Media enquiries:
Zolile Nqayi
Cell: 082 898 6483
E-mail: znqayi@environment.gov.za
