SUBMISSION BY PROFESSIONAL AVIATION: NEMA SECOND AMENDMENT BILL

Ms. Albertina Kakaza

We have via Legal Resources Cape Town made submissions in respect of the proposed legislation.

Our deep concern is that impoverished communities have no voice but suffer deeply from environmental pollution. We have serious flaws in our current environmental processes insofar as the ways in which certain "independent consultants" make presentations to the public - making untenable developments sound attractive to the surrounding communities that will be affected, sometimes with enticements of community developments such as clinics, schools or perhaps even personal rewards to community leaders.

Pressures on consultants to present the applicants in a light that avoids the 'down side" of developments is immense. Consultants need to be free of these pressures and be truly independent. A solution to this may be achieved by a joint transparent selection process between NGO's with demonstrated interest in the environment and the applicant.

Sincerely

Christine & Robert Garbett