Report of the Portfolio Committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism on Budget Vote 25: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, dated 14 May 2008.

The Portfolio Committee having considered Budget Vote 25: Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism for the 2008/09 financial year reports as follows:

1. Introduction and Overview

Ms Nosipho Jezile, Acting Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism briefed the Committee and provided an overview of the department’s vision and programmes together with relevant public entities, governments’ links to apex priorities, strategic goals and finances. The main strategic aim of the department is to lead sustainable development of South Africa’s environment and tourism for a better life for all.

The goals and strategic objectives of the department for 2008/9 – 2010/11 are as follow:

· to deliver on its mandate which is to create conditions for sustainable tourism growth and development, to promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources, to enhance economic growth and poverty eradication, to protect and improve the quality and safety of the environment, to promote a global sustainable development agenda and to promote sector transformation and job creation;

· to create a growing learning organization built on human capacity foundation;

· to enhance operational efficiency and relevance in the information age;

· to be financially responsible and an accountable organization giving value for money; and

· facilitate empowerment through information sharing and sound stakeholder relations.

The acting Director-General provided details of the key performance indicators (KPIs), roles and strategies for the 2008/9 financial year of the six main programmes together with public entities of the department as follows:

1. Administration: to provide strategic leadership, centralized administration and executive support, and corporate services.

2. Environmental Quality and Protection: to protect and improve the quality and safety of the environment.

3. Marine and Coastal Management: to promote the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal resources to contribute to economic growth and poverty alleviation.

4. Tourism: to create conditions for sustainable tourism growth and development, maximize tourism potential of 2010 FIFA World Cup.

5. Biodiversity Conservation and Fisheries Management: promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources and enhance economic growth and poverty eradication.

6. International Relations and Sector Transformation: promote global sustainable development, sector transformation and job creation.

The acting Director-General tabled the department’s budget allocation for the period 2004/05 to 2010/11 for each of the six main programmes as identified above.

The total budget for 2008/09 is R3 061 686 million of which R2 318 billion is allocated for transfers and subsidies to public entities, R334 649 million for goods and services, R394 575 million for compensation of employees and R14 323 million for payments for capital assets. The total expenditure for the year is R391 203 million which include R14 323 million for the payment for capital assets of the department, R35 million for South African Weather Services, R69 280 million for South African National Parks, R232 600 million for South African Tourism, R30 million for Isimangaliso Wetland Park Authority and R10 million for South African National Biodiversity Institute.

2. Recommendations

Having deliberated and having obtained clarity regarding the budget allocation on departmental programmes, the committee on Environmental Affairs and Tourism would like to express the following concerns:

· The current process of negotiations between National Treasury and Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism with respect to the request for additional funding for Marine Coastal Management should be concluded; and

· The Committee identified the need for public entities to get more funding in the next financial year.

3. Conclusion and Resolution

The Portfolio Committee expresses its appreciation to the Department for its response to the members concerns and commends the department for their efforts and the progress that was made.