1. Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on the Genetically Modified Organisms Amendment Bill [B 34B-2005], dated 8 August 2006:

The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having considered the Genetically Modified Organisms Amendment Bill [B34B-2005] (National Assembly—sec 75), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism as a section 75 Bill, reports the Bill without
amendment.

2. Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on Joint Strategic Planning Workshop with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Public Entities and Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism, dated 8 August 2006:

1. Introduction
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and its Public Entities (namely; South African Tourism; Grading Council; Weather Services; National Parks, Botanical Institute; Tourism Hospitality and Sport Education and the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park) held a Strategic Planning session on the 13-14 March 2006 reports as follows:

The Committee with the aim of engaging in discussions with the Department and its entities when they presented their Strategic Plan for 2006/07 invited Members of the Select Committee and Portfolio Committee, looking at issues such as achievements, challenges and priorities, reports as follows:

2. Opening Remarks:
2.1 Hon, Minister M van Schalkwyk
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Hon, M van Schalkwyk made reference to the emerging tourist markets of China, India, Japan and Africa. He was also pleased to announce that the Business and Leisure Tourism Campaign that was launched in India was a success.

After the 2006 German World Cup, the department will be focusing on events tourism within South Africa, as South Africa is currently rated 27^th in the world as a country of destination for hosting events.

The Minister highlighted the following programmes:
_ Biodiversity and Conservation
— TransFrontier Conservation Areas (TFCA): Challenges of various levels of co-operation and progress with other partner countries.
— Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO): Consultation with Department of Agriculture on the impact of GMO’s to the environment.
_ Environmental Quality and Protection
— Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA’s) Capacity in dealing with EIA’s and publishing new EIA regulations.
— The Publishing of new Ambient Air Quality standards.
_ Marine and Coastal Management
— Finalising the development of the fisheries policy and the appeals process.
_ International Work
— The Department continued its participation in international negotiations.

The Minister further highlighted five priorities of the Department, in terms of resource allocation, communication planning, management guidance and overall co-ordination, which were as follows:
_ Finalising the new Environmental Impact Assessment regulation and capacities;
_ Keeping climate change and our national responses at the centre of the domestic and international agenda;
_ Further strengthening compliance and enforcement capacity
_ Unlocking the immense potential of the TransFrontier Conservation Areas; and
_ Building on the major growth achievements in the tourism sector
—especially in the preparations for the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

2.2 Director-General: Ms Pam Yako
In her opening remarks she stated that 2006 marks the first of the formal annual reviews of the Department’s five-year strategic plan for the period 2005/06-2009/10.

The revised plan focuses on addressing the need to accelerate sustainable economic growth for the benefit of all South Africans, taking into account the demands of our developmental state and challenges with regard to the delivery of basic services at local government level.

In addition she stated, that the revised plan recognizes the need for the revitalization of Batho Pele in Public Service as well as the importance of the participation of social partners in the rollout of government programmes, in order to effectively contribute towards narrowing the gap between the first and second economy. The overall focus of the revised plan is the maximization of the impact of government programmes on the economy and people from designated priority groups, such as; women; youth; people with disabilities and the poor.

She also highlighted a few key priority areas that the Department will be focusing on during the next 4 years:
_ Tourism products and skills development targeted at hosting a world class 2010 FIFAWorld Cup
_ Promote the sharing of benefits from the Tourism Industry through the implementation of the Tourism Black Economic Empowerment Charter and Scorecard as well as the transformation of the sector.
_ Refine processes and enhance national capacity around Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s) to meet the demands of our development state.
_ Continue to assess the impact of biotechnology on the environment.
_ Working closely with industry and the local sphere of government through Project Consolidate, in the delivery of environmental services such as waste management.
_ Continue to rollout Expanded Public Works Programmes (EPWP) in the Environment, Tourism and Culture sectors aimed at alleviating poverty.
_ Increasing corporate compliance with environmental laws as well as stepping up enforcement efforts to protect the environment from illegal activities.

3. Presentations by the Department and its Public Entities
The presentation of both the department and its entities focused on their achievements, challenges, commitments and priorities for the 2006/07 financial years.

The report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs will highlights the 2006/07 strategic priorities, as presented to both committees by the Department and its entities. The purpose of highlighting the strategic priorities is so that members, when conducting oversight can use this information to monitor and ensure that the department and its entities commit themselves to the priorities submitted before both houses.

3.1 Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism Strategic Plan
Priorities for 2006/07
3.1.1 Administration and Support Programme
The Director General, Ms P Yako presented the strategic plan of the administration programme. The presentation focused on the vision, mission, 2005 achievements, challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities. According to the Director General, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the administration programme will include:
_ Implementation of black economic empowerment scorecard;
_ Investment in skills development;
_ Development of staff retention strategy and stakeholder engagement; and
_ An increase of the representation of people with disability to at least 2% and women in Small Medium Enterprise (SME) to 26%.

3.1.2 Environmental Quality and Protection Programme
The Deputy Director General, Ms J Yawitch, presented 2006/07 strategic plans of environmental quality and protection programme. According to the Deputy Director General, the following strategic priorities will be pursued in 2006/07:
_ Establishment of comprehensive programme to support provincial and local government in capacity;
_ Impact evaluation of plastic bag legislation;
_ Strategic enforcement actions directed at major polluters or dangerous pollutants;
_ Finalisation of Waste Management Bill and publication public comment;
_ Finalisation of tyre and asbestos regulations and ambient air standards;
_ Delegation of landfill permits to provinces on basis of agreed implementation plan and capacity building support;
_ Permits review of major polluting industries and long term scenario planning on climate change; and
_ Improvement of air quality management training for provincial and local government

3.1.3 Marine and Coastal Management Programme
The Deputy Director General, Dr M Mayekiso presented the 2006/07 strategic plan of the marine and coastal management programme. The presentation focused on 2004/05 achievement and challenges. In order to address the compliance, research development, resource management and integrated management challenges, 2006/07 strategic priorities of Marine Coastal Management include:
_ Promulgation of coastal management act;
_ Finalisation of aquaculture policy;
_ Allocation of shark cage diving and boat based whale rights;
_ Development of skills development strategy and research output through collaboration;
_ Filling of new and vacant positions and increase number of inspector;
_ Develop financial and procurement system and cost recovery framework; and
_ Development of recreational permit system.

3.1.4 Tourism Programme
The Deputy Director General, Dr P Matlou presented the 2006/07 strategic plan of the tourism programme. The presentation focused 2005 achievements and challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities. According to the Deputy Director General, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the tourism programme will include:
_ Addressing tourism skills demands;
_ Facilitating tourist safety and security and building a tourism friendly nation;
_ Improving movement of tourist to and within South Africa;
_ Supporting local government to grow the tourism sector in 9 priority areas;
_ Developing and entrenching accurate research instruments; and
_ Implementing broad based black economic empowerment.

3.1.5 Biodiversity and Conservation Programme
The Deputy Director General, Mr F Mketeni, made presented 2006/07 strategic plan of the biodiversity and conservation programme. According to Deputy Director General, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the biodiversity and conservation program will include:
_ Finalisation of the management framework for Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO);
_ Development of the biodiversity framework;
_ Listing ecosystem in terms of NEMBA;
_ Development of the norms and standards for the regulation of hunting industry and the management of elephant in South African;
_ Regulations for threatened, protected, aliens and invasive species; and
_ Declaration of new National Parks in Wild Coast and Blyde River Canyon.

3.2 The Department’s Public Entities Strategic Plan Priorities for
2006/07
This section provides an overview of the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the public entities accounting to the Minister of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. As indicated in the introduction of this report, this section will focus only on the 2006/07 strategic priorities presented respectively by the Chief Executive Officers all public entities.

3.2.1 South African Tourism
The Chief Executive Officer,MrMMosola presented the 2006/07 strategic plans of South African Tourism. The presentation focused on 2005 achievements and challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities.
According to the CEO, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of South African Tourism will focus on:
_ Building a Skills Partnership in Tourism
_ Building an enabling and sustainable Public Transport Environment for Tourism
_ Tourism Safety and Security
_ Enhance resources for Tourism Marketing Efforts

3.2.2 South African National Biodiversity Institute
The Chief Executive Officer, Professor B Huntley presented the 2006/07 strategic plans of the South African National Botanical Institute. The presentation focused on the 2005 achievements and challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities. According to the Chief Executive Officer, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the South African Botanical Gardens will include:
_ Developing network of national botanical gardens;
_ Ensuring legislative coherence in relation to genetically modified
organism and bio prospecting, threatened species and ecosystems;
_ Gap analysis of national capacity in biodiversity;
_ Collection of taxonomy and future of natural history;
_ Developing biodiversity knowledge management system; and
_ Conducting research that focuses on global change and risk assessment, land degradation and adaptation to climate change, threatened and ecosystem.

3.2.3 South African National Parks
The Chief Executive Officer, Dr D Mabunda presented the 2006/07 strategic plans of the South African National Parks. The presentation focused on 2005 achievements and challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities. According to the CEO, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the South African National Parks will focus on:
_ Implementation of infrastructure development programme;
_ Finalization and implementation of tourism model and brand strategy D;
_ Rolling out park management plan and reporting on the state of the park;
_ Mapping of cultural resource in all the parks and Implementation of balance score card; and
_ Development of scientific and biodiversity research strategy.

3.2.4 South African Weather Service
The Chief Executive Officer, Dr J Mphepya presented the 2006/07 strategic plans of the South African Weather Service. The presentation focused on 2005 achievements and challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities. According to the CEO, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the South African Weather Service will focus on:
_ Need to accelerate the Modernisation/ recapitalisation plan
_ Implement a commercial strategy
_ Human capital investment and staff retention policy
_ Implementation of new science strategy
— Air quality management
— Advice decision makers in issues related to Climate variability and change

3.2.5 Greater St Lucia Wetland Park
The Chief Executive Officer, Mr A Zaloumis presented the 2006/07 strategic plans of the South African National Botanical Institute. The presentation focused on the 2005 achievements and challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities. According to the Chief Executive Officer, the 2006/07 strategic priorities of the South African Botanical Gardens will include:
_ Implementation of revised commercial strategy focusing on public access, refurbishment of existing park facilities and new investment;
_ Support settlement of land claims and implementation; and
_ Consolidation of uMkhuze, Ozabeni and Eastern Shores into one open ecological area.

3.2.6 South African Grading Council
The Chief Executive Officer, Dr S Siddo presented the 2006/07 strategic plan of the South African Grading Council. The presentation focused on 2005 achievements and challenges as well as the 2006/07 strategic priorities.
_ Working with Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism and provinces to monitor government procurement of graded establishment;
_ Accelerating grading of conference venues;
_ Finalizing and launching grading of tourist transport services; and
_ Initiating of development of grading schemes for golf and endorsement of star grading by domestic and international operators.

3.2.7 Tourism Hospitality Sport Education Training Facility
The Chief Executive Officer Dr M Tsotetsi presented the 2006/07 strategic plans of the Tourism Hospitality Education Training Authority. The presentation focused on 2005 achievements, challenges and 2006/07 strategic priorities. According to the Chief Executive Officer, the 2006/07 strategic priorities will focus on:
_ Reconstruction of the board;
_ Submission of new 30 qualifications to South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA);
_ Accreditation of training providers;
_ Research scarce and critical skills in the sectors;
_ Conducting skills audit; and
_ Streamline processes and procedures to ensure rapid deployment of resources.

4. Workshop Recommendations
In order to facilitate parliamentary oversight and executive accountability on Departmental and Public Entities programmes, the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs recommends that:
(a) The Department and Public Entities must during the 2006 Second Term of Parliamentary Session come and brief Members of the Committee on poverty alleviation projects; NEPAD and SADC Tourism Plan; Greening of the Nation Project; Elephant Management Strategy; 2006 /07 Legislative programmes; Tourism Black Economic Empowerment Scorecard; Fishing rights policy and breakdown analysis of allocation; Environmental Impact Assessment; Skills development plans and retentions strategies of all the public entities and Hunting regulations;

(b) The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism must during the 2006 third term of parliamentary session provide training to Committee Members on all the international instruments passed since 1994 and departmental programmes;

(c) During the 2006 third term of parliamentary session, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism must brief the Committee on progress made in respect of land claims, extended public works programs, infrastructure development, eco-tourism and black economic empowerment at the Kruger National Park;

(d) During the 2006 third term of parliamentary session, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism must arrange and coordinate workshops with Members of the Committee on Accelerated Shared Growth Initiative in South Africa (ASGISA), and on Genetically Modified Organism and National Environmental Management Act;

(e) With effect from 1 April 2006, the Department and Public Entities should provide quarterly reports to Members of the Committee on all progress made with regard to their activities.

(f) The Department and Public Entities must ensure that in future the strategic planning workshops focus more on strategic priorities and less on past achievements that can be captured in annual reports as per requirements of Public Finance Management Act of 1999.

Report to be considered.