Report of the Select Committee on
Land and Environmental Affairs on Budget Vote 25, dated 7 July 2009:
The Select
Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having considered Budget Vote 25
for the 2009/10 financial year, reports as follows:
1. Introduction
On 26 June 2009, the Select Committee met with the Department
of Water and Environmental Affairs (the Environmental Component) and the
Tourism component to engage in discussions on the budget as presented in Vote
25. The Department presented to the Select Committee on the following:
· Overview
of sectors – environment, fisheries and tourism.
· Realignment
of the departments (Environmental Affairs and Tourism) and the implications.
· An
overview of programmes and allocations.
· Appropriations
to Budget Vote 25 for the financial year 2009/10.
· Challenges
facing the Department.
· Link to
Government Priorities.
· Challenges.
· The
transfers of monies to entities.
The Department also tabled reports which
included the Strategic Plan, the Annual Review and a Fifteen year review of the
activities of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. It also gave
details of a description of the public entities and tourism.
2. Deliberations
by the Committee
2.1.
The Committee engaged with the Department with regards to the realignment of
its strategic priorities, with specific reference to the movement of the mariculture component and the Forestry component to the
Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
2.2.
The Department also reflected on the contribution that Tourism made to the GDP
of the country and that more initiatives were in place to create more jobs and
ensure the sustainable use of
2.3.
The Department was committed to concentrate on increasing the social
responsibility programmes related to the Expanded Public Works Programme that
are currently in place.
3. Challenges identified and areas of consideration for the Department
of Water and Environmental Affairs and Department of Tourism
3.1.
The Department and the Committee engaged on the issue of land and mineral rights
on restituted land and in protected areas. There
seemed to be a conflict of interest between the two sectors of mining and
tourism, since expansion of mining would ultimately lead to more pollution and
degradation of the environment. Further discussions need to be held on this
issue.
4. Recommendation
The Committee,
having considered Budget Vote 25: Environmental Affairs and Tourism, reports
that it supports the Budget Vote.
Report to be considered.