Programme Director;
Representatives of the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions;
Representatives of the Africa Institute and the Basel and Stockholm Conventions Regional Centre South Africa;
Representatives from the World Customs Organisation and other international organisations;
Representatives of the Border Management Authority;
Officials from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Customs, the Border Management Authority and other law enforcement agencies;
Distinguished delegates and guests;
Ladies and gentlemen. Good morning.
It is a distinct honour and privilege to officially open this important National Training Programme on the Enforcement of the Basel Convention and its Plastic Waste Amendments here in Cape Town today.
At the outset, I wish to express my sincere gratitude to the Secretariat of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Africa Institute, the Basel and Stockholm Conventions Regional Centre South Africa, and all our international partners. Your investment of resources, expertise and time has made this training possible. Initiatives of this calibre do not occur by chance. They are the result of deliberate commitment by institutions and individuals who understand that effective environmental governance rests on three pillars: well-capacitated officials, strong partnerships, and sustained investment in regulatory, implementation and institutional capability.
As Deputy Minister with oversight responsibility for compliance and enforcement in the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, I regard the continuous professional development of officials across the entire regulatory value chain as a personal and departmental priority. The successful implementation of the Basel Convention requires far more than isolated enforcement actions. It demands a comprehensive, whole-of-government approach that spans policy development, permitting, administration of transboundary movements, customs coordination, border management, investigation and prosecution. I therefore extend special recognition to the dedicated officials within my Department and our partner institutions who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to prepare and host this programme.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We meet at a moment when environmental governance challenges are growing increasingly complex and transnational. The recent Custos Viridis operational report is sobering: it identifies environmental crime as the fourth largest organised crime activity globally, generating annual losses estimated between 80 and 230 billion Euros. The report further reveals deepening connections between waste trafficking, organised criminal networks, document fraud, illicit financial flows and other forms of transnational crime. These findings underscore a fundamental reality: waste moves across borders, and pollution respects no national boundaries.
Effective administration, monitoring and enforcement of international environmental obligations therefore require deeper and more agile international cooperation than ever before. South Africa greatly values the enduring partnerships we have built with the Basel Convention Secretariat, the World Customs Organization, INTERPOL, Europol, UNODC and numerous regional and international stakeholders. Our active participation in global compliance and enforcement initiatives over many years has strengthened information sharing, operational coordination and mutual capacity across borders.
Domestically, South Africa has continued to reinforce its legislative and regulatory framework governing waste management and transboundary movements. Strengthened permitting systems, enhanced controls on imports and exports, and clearer alignment with Basel obligations have significantly improved our ability to monitor, regulate and respond to waste-related risks. These measures provide our authorities with more robust tools to fulfil both national priorities and international commitments.
A particularly pressing dimension of our work is the implementation of the Plastic Waste Amendments to the Basel Convention. Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the defining environmental crises of our time. Our oceans, rivers, estuaries, coastlines and terrestrial ecosystems are under growing pressure from plastic waste and microplastics. The consequences extend far beyond environmental degradation: marine plastic pollution threatens fisheries, biodiversity, tourism, coastal livelihoods and, ultimately, human health and food security.
With its extensive coastline and vibrant ocean economy, South Africa is acutely aware of these risks. Government has therefore intensified efforts to curb plastic pollution through stronger waste regulation, Extended Producer Responsibility schemes, waste diversion and recycling programmes, and the promotion of circular economy principles. We are equally committed to broader ocean governance initiatives aimed at protecting marine ecosystems and advancing sustainable blue economy outcomes. The Plastic Waste Amendments provide an essential international framework to support these domestic actions and to prevent the dumping of problematic plastic wastes on developing countries.
Yet legislation and policy frameworks, however well designed, are never sufficient on their own. Real impact depends on skilled, knowledgeable and committed officials who can translate legal requirements into practical action. It depends on competent authorities correctly administering prior informed consent and other transboundary controls. It depends on customs officers and Border Management Authority officials who can identify suspicious shipments, apply appropriate risk management, and facilitate legitimate trade while intercepting illegal waste movements. It depends on Environmental Management Inspectors who possess both legal acumen and technical understanding. And it depends on seamless collaboration among regulators, scientists, investigators and prosecutors.
This training programme has been specifically designed to strengthen precisely these capabilities. Through its combination of technical sessions, practical exercises and international perspectives, it will equip participants with the knowledge and networks necessary to enhance implementation and enforcement effectiveness.
I wish to pay special tribute to the many officials across national, provincial and local government who carry out the daily work of implementing the Basel Convention and broader waste governance responsibilities. Environmental protection is a collective endeavour. Every role – from policy formulation to frontline inspection and investigation – contributes to our ability to meet international obligations and safeguard the environment for future generations. Waste streams continue to evolve. Global trade patterns shift. Criminal methodologies adapt. Our regulatory and enforcement responses must therefore also evolve.
Ongoing training, knowledge exchange and international cooperation remain indispensable. I am particularly encouraged by the broad representation of officials and institutions present today. Such gatherings build mutual understanding, clarify mandates and foster the trust required for effective coordination.
I sincerely hope this is not the final training of its kind hosted in South Africa. On the contrary, I envisage this programme as the foundation for a sustained partnership aimed at strengthening capacity not only nationally but across the African continent. You have my full support for future initiatives that empower officials, reinforce institutions and deepen international cooperation.
In this context, we look forward to South Africa’s active participation in the upcoming World Customs Organization-led Operation Demeter 11, scheduled from 1 June to 31 July 2026. Operations of this nature highlight the value of coordinated action between customs administrations, environmental authorities, border agencies and international partners in combating illegal waste trafficking.
In conclusion, I once again thank the organisers, presenters, facilitators and all international partners for their dedication and expertise.
To every participant: I urge you to engage fully, to learn from one another, to build lasting professional relationships and to share experiences that will strengthen our collective response to waste and pollution challenges.
Training is vital, but it is only the beginning. True success lies in how we apply what we learn here, how effectively our institutions collaborate, and how professionally and diligently we execute our responsibilities.
As Deputy Minister, I assure you of my continued personal and departmental support for all efforts to strengthen implementation, improve inter-agency cooperation and advance the critical work you perform on behalf of South Africa and our shared environment.
Together, let us ensure that future generations inherit a cleaner, healthier and more sustainably managed planet.
I thank you.
Hon. Narend Singh, MP
For media enquiries, please contact: Zolile Nqayi on 082 898 6483 / znqayi@dffe.gov.za
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