INFORMATION SERVICES: RESEARCH

The aim of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is to lee sustainable development of South Africa's environment and tourism for better life for all.

Table A Summary of overall Departmental Budget

Strategic overview and key policy developments: 2001/02

The overarching vision of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) is a prosperous and equitable society living in harmony with its natural resources.

The DEAT manages the development and implementation of policies governing three interrelated components of South Africa's socio economic development: tourism, the fishing industry, and environmental management The Department ensures that: the potential for economic growth within these sectors is maximised; that trade-offs between the environment and development are managed; and that, wherever possible, developments in tourism, fishing and environmental management complement each other and stimulate economic growth.

• Tourism

South Africa has become one of the fastest growing destinations in the world despite the recent general slowdown in global tourism. This growth is due in large part to the establishment of the Government's International Tourism Growth Strategy. As a labour-intensive industry, tourism helps to create jobs and attracts foreign investment. The department aims to expand supporting infrastructure, while raising awareness about the opportunities for domestic travel, promoting job-creation, black economic empowerment (BEE) and transformation of the industry.

• Fisheries, oceans and coasts

The Marine Living Resources Act (18 of 1998) sets out the broad objectives of fishery management and access rights, as well as transformation and empowerment objectives for the industry.

The department's objective is to appropriately address the competing challenges of sustainability and exploitation. Hence fish species not formerly commercially exploited are being researched - the target is to increase the current 22 sectors to a potential 34 commercial fishing sectors. In addition, the regulatory framework for South Africa's mariculture/aquaculture industry is being consolidated.

Arrangements for the next round of fishing rights allocations are under way. The principal objectives of this process include: the allocation of rights for up to 15 years and the continuation of the transformation of ownership and management of the industry.

• Environment

The following legislation, which is aimed at ensuring sustainable management of natural resources has been approved by Parliament: the National Environmental Management Air Quality Bill; the first National Environmental Management Amendment Act (2003): the Environmental Conservation Amendment Act (2003); and the second National Environmental Management Amendment Act (2003). The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (2003) and the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (2004) both ensure the regulated management and use of South Africa's biodiversity. Future action will include work on waste management legislation and the implementation of a national environmental awareness campaign.

The South African Government hosted the very successful World Parks Congress in 2003, a ten-yearly meeting of professionals in protected area management.

Expenditure in 2001/02 was R1,1 billion, which has increased to R1,7 billion in 2004/05 and further increase to R2,1 billion in 2007/08, which represents an annual average increase of 7,5% over the next three years.

Transfer payments and subsidies are a significant part of the DEAT's budget. These transfers go to a wide range of bodies, but in general are for organisations which:

• Promote tourism.
• Manage national parks and gardens.
• Manage fisheries.
• Provide weather services.

The fastest growing programme is Social Responsibility and Projects, which is responsible for the department's contribution to the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). This programme has grown from R196.8 million in 2001/02 to an expected R506,9 million in 2007/08 - an annual average growth rate of 17,1%.

Compensation of employees has increased rapidly, rising from R 111,5 million in 2001/02 to R247.1 million in 2007/08.

Questions

• Have any evaluations been carried out to assess the success or otherwise of organisations promoting tourism? If so, what are the results of such evaluations and what, if any, interventions have been carried out?

• Given the steep rise in contributions to the Social Responsibility and Projects Programme, has the DEAT assessed the value of the work carried out by this programme - i.e. whether there has been an adequate return on its financial and other investments?

• South Africa used considerable financial resources (R247,6 million) in hosting the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in 2002. To what extent have the agreements which South Africa was a party to at the Summit, been enforced in the period since then?

• With regard to the increase in the compensation of employees, has this addressed the need for suitably qualified technical and scientific staff?

Programme analysis

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism is organised into six programmes as outlined below:

Programme 1: Administration

The aim of this programme is to provide strategic direction and oversee the overall management of the DEAT. This comprises activities such as policy formulation by the Minister and other senior officials; providing centralised administrative, legal and office support; and co-ordinating the international programme, including the implementation of NEPAD (New Economic Partnership for African Development) programmes.

Expenditure trends

• Expenditure increased from R127,4 million in 2001/02 to R337.2 million in 2002/03, then fell to R128.2 million in 2004/05. It is expected to increase steadily over the next three years, rising to R168,8 million in 2007/08, an annual average increase of 9,4%.

• An institutional review indicated that line management required a significant number of new posts for core areas and consequently additional allocations were made for this in the MTEF.

Key outputs

Some of the key outputs are:

• Hosting the Johannesburg + 2 Conference where progress in the implementation of sustainable development was reviewed.
• The improvement of service delivery through, for example, the redesign of the department's front desk and website.
• Launching the national environmental awareness campaign.

Questions

• Provide further details of the department's involvement in NEPAD programmes. What are the challenges the department faces in this regard? What progress has been made thus far?
• Provide further details of the implementation of a national environmental awareness campaign - for example, will this include partnerships with non-governmental organisations active in this field? What progress has been made since the launch?
• How has the department planned to evaluate the improvements made to client access and service delivery (such as the call centre, front desk and website)?
• Provide details on the work of the department in the implementation of sustainable development priorities (as detailed at the Johannesburg + 2 Conference in 2004).

Programme 2: Environmental Quality and Protection

This programme aims to protect the constitutional right of all South Africans to an environment that is not harmful to health and wellbeing through legislative and other measures. The programme has five subprogrammes:

• Overall management of the programme.
• Regulatory services which ensure that all legislation related to environmental quality and protection is enforced.
• All aspects of pollution and waste management.
• Financial contributions to the South African Weather Service.
• Financial assistance to the section 21 company Buyisa-e-Bag.

Expenditure trends

• Expenditure in this programme is expected to increase steadily over the seven-year period, rising from R100,8 million in 2001/02 to R162 million in 2004/05, and then increasing further to R227,5 million 2007/08 - an average annual increase of 15,5%.
• The Pollution and Waste subprogramme has seen the fastest growth rising from R12.5 million in 2001/02 to R48,9 million in 2007/08 – an average annual increase of 25,7% over the seven years. This is main due to the large increase in the number of employees to support the implementation and enforcement of pollution and waste management policy and legislation.

Key outputs

Some of the key outputs are:

• Passing the National Environmental Air Quality Bill that enforces air quality standards and enforcement procedures.
• The President has assented to the second National Environmental Management Amendment Bill that streamlines the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and provides for dedicated environmental management inspectors.
• The President has assented to the National Environmental Conservation Amendment Act that provides for the power to outlaw products that pose an unacceptable impact on the environment.
• The Buyisa-e-Bag section 21 company, which will promote waste minimisation and awareness initiative has been set up.
• Clean-up operations of waste mercury are under way at Thor Chemicals

Questions

• Is an evaluation procedure in place, which may be used by the DEAT to assess the success of the Buyisa-e-Bag section 21 company, in reducing the waste stream and raising public awareness?
• Provide further details on the Thor clean-up operations - e.g. what progress has been made thus far?
• To what extent will the improvements made to the EIA process (e.g. streamlining, the appointment of inspectors) address the concerns of the civil sector with regard to the problem of biase and flawed environmental impact reports?
• The draft EIA regulations were published in advance of the target date of December 2004. Is the department on track for the finalisation of these regulations by the target date of March 2005
• Is the decrease in the number of cases of serious or repeats non-compliance with regard to environmental quality and protection legislation on track for the target date of April 2005?
• Will the targeted decrease in the reduction of atmospheric emissions be achieved by the target date of March 2005?
• Is the target of two waste separation and recycling pilot projects in middle-income areas realisable by April 2005?

• What progress has been made with regard to the establishment of a waste remedial/rehabilitation project?

Programme 3: Marine and Coastal Management

This programme guides the development and conservation of the marine and coastal environment, and ensures the sustainable utilisation of marine and coastal resources. There are four subprogrammes:

• Administrative Support Services administers the Marine Living Resources Fund (MLRF).
• The Antarctic Supply Vessel provides sea transport for research conducted in the Antarctic, Marion and Gough Islands.
• Antarctic and Island Research manages research conducted in the afore-mentioned areas.
• Financial contributions provides financial assistance to the (MLRF).

Expenditure trends

Expenditure is heavily influenced by the purchase of four fisheries patrol vessels and transfers to the MLRF.

• There have been steady increases in expenditure over the last four years, rising from R252.5 million in 2001/02 to R353.5 million in 2004/05 - an average annual increase of 11,9%.
• The total cost of the four new patrol vessels is R501 million.
• Expenditure is expected to decline to R263.4 million in 2007/08 by which time the final two vessels will have been delivered.
• Operational costs for the patrol vessels (for example, R93,3 million in 2004/05) will be allocated to the Marine Living Resources Fund.
• R107,7 million has been allocated over the next three years for the replacement of the one research vessel.
• Amounts of R9 million, R14 million and R15 million for 2005/06 2006/07 and 2007/08 have been allocated for the Langebaan coastal erosion project.

Key outputs

• In recent years there has been greater co-operation among all law enforcement agencies, resulting in an increase in arrests and confiscation of illegally harvested marine resources. This has resulted in the imposition of fines and convictions by the Hermanns and Port Elizabeth Environmental Courts.
• Two new fisheries patrol vessels have thus far been delivered.
• In 2004, 14 South African (SA) beaches were awarded Blue Flag' status for excellence in beach management.

Questions

Programme 4: Tourism

This programme aims to create the conditions for the sustainable growth , development of tourism. There are three subproarammes:

• Tourism Support
• Tourism Development
• Financial contributions

Expenditure trends

Expenditure has increased steadily over the seven-year period, rising from R235.1 million in 2001/02 to R542.3 million in 2007/08, at an annual average growth rate of 15%.

• The majority of this programme's allocation is taken up by transfers to tourism agencies.
• Transfer to International Tourism Marketing increased from R150 million in 2001/02 to R 333,7 million in 2007/08.
• The Tourism Enterprise programme will receive R12 million, R40 million and R45,8 million over the medium term to assist small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).
• In 2005/06, R347 million is exclusively allocated to SA Tourism.
• There has been a significant increase in the allocation for consultants and special services from R9,8 million in 2001/02 to R37,6 million in 2007/08 - an annual increase of 25,2%.

Key outputs

• Total visitor arrivals increased by 0,3% between January and July 200 compared to the same period last year.
• A domestic tourism growth strategy was launched in 2004, aimed at growing domestic tourism's economic contribution (R47 billion in 2004/04).
• This strategy was highly successful and recorded a return on investment of approximately R18 million, after having spent R6 million
• The department is the main funder of the Tourism Enterprise Programme.
• A training package for tourism entrepreneurs is being developed with funding from the department.
• There has been a strong focus on emphasising and promoting the role of tourism in the NEPAD process.

Questions

• What progress has been made with regard to the development a training package for tourism entrepreneurs? Are there plans develop an evaluation framework in order to assess the success of the training package?
• To what extent can the NEPAD strategies be utilised to encourage tourism from the rest of Africa?
• How can NEPAD be utilised to assist in removing obstacles to tourism from the Southern African region, as well as the rest of Africa?
• As an international tourism market, South Africa has benefited significantly from a perception that it is a relatively safe destination, free from threats of global terrorism and natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes. To what extent has a long term, sustainable marketing strategy been developed, one which does not render the country vulnerable to the vicissitudes of global events, and instead positions the country as a 'value-for- money' destination?
• The Tourism Development subprogramme has allocated significant funding to facilitate the growth and expansion of SMMEs. Given the considerable difficulties and high attrition rate experienced by such enterprises, are they being subjected to an ongoing evaluation process?
• Is the department doing enough to assist black-owned tourism enterprises to enter the more lucrative mainstream tourism sector?
• Has the target of 20% of all tourism businesses graded by December 2004 been reached?
• Has the target of a 4% increase in arrivals in 2004 been reached?

Programme 5: Biodiversity and Conservation

This programme aims to promote and conserve South Africa's biologic. diversity and cultural heritage, and to ensure the sustainable utilisation of resources for the benefit of all. There are four subprogrammes:

• Management
• Biodiversity and Heritage
• Transfrontier Conservation Areas and Protected Areas
• Financial Contributions

Expenditure trends

Expenditure on the programme has increased steadily over the seven-year period, rising from R151,6 million in 2001/02 to R243.6 million in 2007/08 –an annual increase of 14,6%. The increases are mainly due to increase allocations for establishing and developing parks and the reinstatement of the road subsidy for national parks.

• The Transfrontier Conservation Areas subprogramme has the fastest growth rising from R 0 9 million in 2001/02 to R32.8 million in 2007/08

• The newly established South African National Biodiversity Institute will receive R84,9 million, R89 million and R92,7 million in 2005/06, 2006/07 and 2007/08

• During 2004, the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (2004), the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act (2004) were signed by the President.
• The Cape Floristic Protected Areas Region was inscribed on the World Heritage List in July 2004.
• The National Action Programme, SA's national effort to address land degradation and poverty eradication was completed.
• A treaty establishing the Ais-Ais/Richtersveld as a transfrontier conservation area was signed by the heads of state of South Africa and Namibia.
• Projects aimed at integrating the Great Limpopo Trasnfrontier Park were initiated in 2003 in collaboration with the governments of Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
• Between 2000 and 2004, SanParks acquired 228 478 hectares of land, bringing the total land under conservation to 1,6 million hectares.

Questions

• Which national parks have received additional land?
• To what extent has poaching in the Zimbabwe section of the Great Limpopo National Park been threatening the viability of this transfrontier park?
• Has an assessment been carried out to ascertain to what extent Zimbabwe's socio-economic and political problems are aggravating the problems related to the functioning of this park?
• Are any problems anticipated to impact on SA's efforts to bull the capacity of communities neighbouring transfontier parks in Zimbabwe and Mozambique?
• What are the long-term implications for the future of the Great Limpopo National Park, of the problems being experienced in Zimbabwe?
• Is the National Biodiversity Strategy and Plan on track for approval by March 2005?
• Was the first protected area in terms of national conservation strategy identified by the target date of December 2004?
• Was the Invasive Species Strategy approved by the target date of December 2004?
• Was the Memorandum of Understanding for the Limpopo/Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area signed by the target date of December 2004?
• Was the trilateral working group for the Limpopo/Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area established by December 2004?

Programme 6: Social Responsibility and projects

Through its single subprogramme, the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), this subprogramme provides for projects that are targeted at infrastructure development, job creation and community training.

• Antarctic and Island Research
• Government Motor Transport
• Land, Buildings and Structures
• Financial Assistance (poverty relief projects)

Expenditure trends

Expenditure on this subprogramme increases from R196,8 million in 2001/02 to R506.9 million in 2007/08 - an annual average increase of 17,9%. The vast majority of this expenditure is made up of transfers to the EPWP.

• Part of expenditure in this programme will be directed to projects in the government's prioritisd rural and urban nodes in accordance with its integrated sustainable rural development programme and urban renewal programme strategy.

• In the 2005 Budget an additional allocation of R45 million was made for 2007/08.

Key outputs

The key outputs for this programme are:

• The EPWP and the poverty relief programme have funded more than 400 projects since 1999 including tourism development, infrastructure in protected areas, waste recycling and coast care projects.

• These projects have created more than 3 513 666 temporary job days (equivalent to 30 554 job opportunities with 46 501 people directly employed).

• 2 687 permanent jobs were created at the conclusion of projects.
• 366 572 training days were provided to beneficiaries between 1999 and March 2004.
• 1 336 SMMEs were created by the programme.

Questions

• What were the results of the evaluation by the United Nations Development Programme, of the DEAT's poverty relief programme? Have the recommendations made been implemented? If so, how effective have these been?
• Are there any plans for an evaluation of the Expanded Public Works Programme by an external agency?
• What lines of co-operation and reporting structures have been set up with the Department of Public Works as overall co-ordinator of the EPWP?
• Is an evaluation procedure in place to assess the success or otherwise of the skills training aspect of the programme? Are the skills offered appropriate to the needs of the participants? What percentage of participants has the training programmes enabled to either create or obtain employment thus far?
• Is an evaluation procedure in place to assess the long-term sustainability of the SMMEs created by the poverty relief and EPWP programmes?

Public entities reporting to the Minister

• South African Tourism aims to market SA internationally as a tourism destination through regulation of the industry.
• South African National Parks manages a system of 20 national parks representative of the country's most important fauna, flora and unique natural features.
• South African Weather Service maintains SA's meteorological services.
• Marine Living Resources Fund finances activities related to managing the sustainable use and conservation of marine living resources.
• Greater St Lucia Wetland Park Authority conserves and manages the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park.

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism: Annual Report, 2003/04.

Estimates of National Expenditure, 2004.

Estimates of National Expenditure, 2005.

Hattingh, J and Seeliger, L 2004: An ethics survey of environmental decision-making in Cape Town and surrounds. Preliminary Report, March. University of Stellenbosch.

Khan, F. 2004: Report on briefings by the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism to the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism, 14 June.

Parliamentary Papers: Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports, no III. 2003: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture and Land Affairs on a Study Visit to Zimbabwe dated 5 August 2003.

Yeld, J. 2005: Rock 'n rolling on a goodwill mission. Cape Argus, 7 February.

New EIA regulations: Ensuring the strongest possible product, 8 September 2004

Amended Draft EIA Regulations, 4 November 2004

Abalone, vehicle and vessel seized as Lilian Ngoyi outclasses poachers, 7 February 2005