Annual Report of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism, dated 4 November 2004:

The Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism having conducted public hearing of Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism 2003/04 Annual Reports, wishes to report as follows:

Following the tabling to Parliament of the 2003/ 2004 Annual Reports of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, South African National Tourism, South African National Parks, National Botanical Institute and Greater St Lucian Wetland Park to Parliament in compliance to Public Finance Management Act of 1999, the Committee decided to conduct public hearing on the 2003/2004 annual report of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to solicit public inputs.

In preparation for the public hearings for 2 November 2004, invitations were sent on the 18th of October 2004 to stakeholders working in environmental areas to submit their written inputs or request for oral submission to the Committee not later than the 26 October 2004. Out of the 20 organizations that were invited, only two organizations submitted request for oral presentation to the Committee during the public hearings.

The Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourisms reports as follows:

The following Members of the Committee were in attendance:

Mr. JD Arendse, ANC, Ms J Chalmers, ANC, Mr. JJ Combrinck, ANC, Mr. M U Kalako, ANC, Ms NP Khunou, ANC, Mr. S J Maja, ANC, Mr. M I Moss, ANC, Mrs. RA Ndzanga, ANC, Ms MM Ntuli, ANC, Dr M Sefularo, ANC, Ms E Thabethe, ANC, Mr. M J Ellis, DA, Mr. GR Morgan, DA, Ms J Semple, DA, Ms CN Zikalala, IFP, Mr. LW Greyling, ID, Ms CB Johnson, NNP and Mr. KDS Durr, ACDP.

Mr. R Timms, Mr. D Cowley, Hout Bay Heritage Trust, Mr. G Davies, Anglican Church Environment Network, Mr. R Ackerman, Mr. T Bower, Mr. D Lefutso, Mr. M Naidoo, Mr. J P Louw Mr. S Moolla, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Ms N Malan, Sabinet Online, Mr. K Lahens, Contact Trust, Mr. D Devilliers, Sasol, Mr. C Vangass, Business Day, Dr I J Whyte, Dr D Mabunda, and Mr. H Magome, South African National Parks.

In opening the proceedings, the Chairperson welcomed everybody in attendance and brief the meeting on the main objectives of public hearing with the purposed to solicit inputs from the public on the 2003/ 2004 annual report. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Hout Bay Heritage Trust, Anglican Church Environmental Network and South African National Parks made their input on the Annual Report.

Mr. Mr. J P Louw from the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism presented an overview of the 2003/2004 Departmental Annual reports. He informed the committee that Annual report has been tabled to Parliament in terms of the requirements of Public Finance Management Act, and he has demonstrated how effective and efficient the Department has used the taxpayers’ money and its performance in terms of its mandate.

Mr. Dave Cowley, the Chairperson of the management committee of the Hout Bay & Llandudno Heritage Trust made oral input on a proposal for the creation of South African National Heritage Organization. The input focused on the definition of national heritage organization, example of National Heritage Organization in Britain, how could a national heritage organization help to build economy and the role of South African Heritage Resources Act and Heritage Agreements.

In his conclusion, Mr. Dave Cowley proposed a joint support of Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and the Department of Arts and Culture and to launch a selected project on National Heritage Day and the creation of South African National Heritage Organization to preserve national heritage sites, make heritage accessible, encourage tourists and visitors to make sites sustainable, restore and maintain heritage sites.

The Chairperson of the Anglican Church Environmental Network, Bishop Geoff Davies, made oral input on the developments along the Wild Coast, namely the sand dune mining at Xolobeni and the N2 toll road in Eastern Cape.

One of the concerns raised by Bishop Geoff Davies is that the proposed developments along the wild coast are designed to benefit the rich who do not live in the area. Another concern was about the imposition of R150 toll fees.

In order to ensure that developments bring sustainable economic empowerment to the local communities and growth, the Anglican Church Environmental Network proposed the upgrading and building of the local road infrastructure, economic empowerment projects that would involve local population, eco-tourism and local capacity building for local communities, upgrading of R61 road so as to provide local people with access to other surrounding localities.

3. OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT

The Committee is of the view/opinion that the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism had successfully complied with the requirements of Public Finance Management Act by tabling its 2003/ 2004 Annual Report on time. The Committee was also happy to report that the Departmental report has clearly captures the measurable objectives and performance indicators during the period under review.

The Committee congratulated the Department for receiving the award for managing public finances and for delivering service in terms of the measurable objectives and performance indicators.

4. TABLING OF DOCUMENTS

In preparation for the meeting 16 November 2004, the Chairperson, Ms E Thabethe tabled report of the Provincial Study Tour on air pollution in KwaZulu- Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Free State and Western Cape, report of the delegation of the Committee during participation in the Johannesburg + 2 Sustainable Development Conference held on 1st –3rd September 2004, amended 2004 Committee program and draft 2005-2006 Committee program. Members were then asked to submit their inputs on the reports and draft 2005-2006 Committee program through, the Office of the Chairperson or the Committee Secretary.

5. 5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Committee recommended the following:

5.1. That the Department of Arts and Culture appear before the Committees to discuss jointly the mechanisms to put in place to ensure coordination, management, and sustainability of National Heritage Sites.

5.2. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism should appear before the Committee to brief them on outstanding issues and areas of concern related to trans-frontier national parks, thorn chemicals, appointments of consultants and monitoring plastic bags members.

5.3. A Provincial Study Tour to Eastern Cape be undertaken during the 2005 Parliamentary period to monitor environmental and developmental impacts of N2 toll road to the communities.

5.4. The Committee must during the 2005 financial period undertake a study tour to Kruger National Park to look at the state of elephants and interact with members of the community in the area to solicit their inputs on management plan and strategy for the elephants.

5.5. The public hearings should be conducted during the 2005 financial period to solicit public inputs on 2004 reports of the National Tourism, South African National Parks, National Botanical Institute and Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. All their reports were submitted to Parliament in accordance to Public Finance Management Act of 1999.

5.6. The National Road Agency and the Department of Environmental Affairs should appear before the joint Committees (PC on Environmental Affairs and Tourism & SC on Land and Environmental Affairs) during the 2005 Parliamentary Committee week to brief members on environmental impact assessment in relation the national toll road.

Report to be considered.