SUBMISSION BY KATHY WATSON: NEMA AMENDMENT

Dear Ms. Albertina Kakaza,

Concerns for the Portfolio Committee regarding the NEMA Amendment (National Environmental Management Amendment Bill (36-2007)) submitted herewith please.

As a citizen of this country, it concerns me greatly that government should be considering giving the Minister and MEC's power to exempt applicants from Sections 23 and 24 of the Act, i.e. permission to decide whether a development goes ahead or not, without any environmental impact assessment, and without any public consultation, thereby eroding citizens of this country their right to a safe environment.

This is surely unconstitutional, undemocratic, and particularly dangerous in light of surfacing evidence regarding nuclear energy development plans.

Yours faithfully,

Kathy Watson