farewell agulhas i, welcome agulhas ii: miriam makeba · contents & editorial agulhas ii –...

Farewell Agulhas I,Welcome Agulhas II: Miriam Makeba

Water and Climate Change EditionWater and Climate Change Edition February - May 2012February - May 2012

Minister Slams Rhino Poaching & Highlights Interventions

Deputy Minister celebrates World Wetlands Day

Deputy Minister celebrates World Wetlands Day

GREEN SCORPIONS:Putting the Sting in Enviro Crime

Spotlight on Specialist Unit: International Cooperation

Spotlight on Specialist Unit: International Cooperation

Contents & Editorial

Bojanala Editorial TeamHead of Communications

Albi Modise

Editor in ChiefLavinia Mahlangu-Engelbrecht

EditorYvonne Mashishi

Deputy EditorZibuse Ndlovu

ContributorsZibuse Ndlovu

Mapula TshangelaStuart Mangold Debbie CooperBanele MabenaSoitec (Images)

STX Europe(Images)

Layout/ProductionBembani Group (Pty) Ltd

Cover Image:After Southern Thule the Agulhas I stops at South

Georgia, the final resting place of the legendary antarctic explorer, Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton. - picture STX Europe

Editor-in-ChiefLavinia Mahlangu-Engelbrecht

3 Agulhas II – Miriam Makeba vessel sails home

6 Deputy Minister celebrates World Wetlands Day

9 Working together to conserve water against Climate Change

12 Deputy Minister addresses the Global Network for Women Ministers and Leaders of Environment

15 Landmark Sustainability Strategy: A Decade After WSSD

18 Spotlight on the Specialist Unit: International Cooperation

22 South Africa welcomes the outcomes of the 3Rd Intergovernmental Review Meeting

23 Green Scorpions: Putting the sting in enviro crime

26 iSimangaliso: a new chapter in South Africa’s conservation history

29 Minister slams rhino poaching and highlights interventions

32 Feed the Poor Initiative

34 Vox Pops: Your views on the importance of Wetlands

36 Upcoming and Recent Events

Green Q uotation:

Dear Valued Stakeholder

Water availability is a key climate change-related vulnerability across the globe. Our theme for this edition of the Environment Bojanala, is Water and Climate Change.

In this edition, we explore the implications of climate change on water and food security, as well as the planned interventions across a range of sectors. The impact of climate change on water availability is literally an issue of life and death in developing countries such as our own water scarce South Africa and the Southern African Development Community.

South Africa shares four of its major river systems with six neighbouring countries. These four shared catchments amount to approximately 60% of South Africa’s surface area and approximately 40% of the average total river flow. In the space of a generation, current projections indicate South Africa will exceed the limits of economically viable land-based water resources by 2050.

The negative impacts on the availability of water will be felt by people, ecosystems and the economy. As a result, climate change poses significant additional risks for water security, which in turn has knock-on effects on those sectors highly reliant on water such as agriculture, electricity generation as well as some mining and industrial activities.

Still keeping with water issues, the department and its entities hosted two major events to mark World Wetlands Day. Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental

Affairs, Rejoice Mabudafhasi marked this year’s signing of the Ramsar convention by leading a an event in Limpopo, with SANParks, recognising the efforts of the Makuleke Community Property Association, in conserving their wetland. In KwaZulu-Natal, members of the Environmental Portfolio Committee were hands on with a weed busting day to clean up the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

On the subject of clean up drives, in this edition we also share a letter from Minister of Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa, on the pressing need for the creation of an inclusive national Waste Tyre Recycling plan. As COP17 is still fresh in our minds, many members of the public will be aware of

the major role this department plays in representing the African agenda on environmental issues, at a global scale. To delve further into how this is achieved, we profile the department’s Specialist Unit: International Cooperation.

These are just a taste of the wide ranging environmental topics featured here. Contributions from departmental officials and external stakeholders in the environmental sector are always welcome. As always, the Environment Bojanala team hopes that you learn from, and enjoy the publication.

Bojanala ENVIRONMENT February - May 2012

Contents & Editorial AgulhAs II – MIrIAM MAkEbA vEssEl sAIls hoME

Past and future came together recently, during the commissioning ceremony of South Africa’s newest research and supply ship, the SA Agulhas II, in Rauma Finland. Following successful ice and sea trials the vessel was officially handed over aboard the ship at STX shipyard, on 04 April 2012.

The handover marked the end of an era, in which the Agulhas I served the country well in the research arena. The new vessel, while modern and geared for making strides in future research, does not signify a complete break with the nation’s past. The ship will be dedicated to the life and works of the late great songbird, Miriam Makeba.

After the Finnish flag was lowered and the South African flag raised, signalling a change of ownership of the vessel, the Director-General of the Department of Environmental Affairs, Ms Nosipho Ngcaba said: “While it is sad that this ceremony also marks the end of an era of service in research and supply in Antarctica and the Southern Islands by the old SA Agulhas, we are proud to receive SA Agulhas II, a new and modern research and supply vessel to carry forward our mandate.” Also present at the hand-over was Lumumba Lee, the grandson of the late Miriam Makeba.

The vessel began its journey home on Friday, 06 April and was due to arrive in Cape Town on 03 May 2012. This will be followed by training and equipment testing cruises. Its maiden expedition voyage will be to Gough Island in September 2012 and thereafter Antarctica in December 2012.

“Both the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and STX are very proud of the vessel which is being delivered on budget and on time. This attests to

By Lavinia Mahlangu-Engelbrecht

The Agulhas II Crew ready to sail.

One of the Agulhas II Crew members hoisting the South African Flag.

Imag

e by

STX

Eur

ope

Imag

e by

STX

Eur

ope

BojanalaENVIRONMENT February - May 2012

for helicopters); a passenger ship, a helicopter carrier and above all a scientific research platform. This is the first ship built in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) latest Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Safety Regulations, for passenger ships. What this means is that even if the ship encounters difficulties at sea, it will always be able to get home.

She has eight (8) permanent laboratories and six (6) containerised laboratories. The latter can be removed when not required, for example, during a logistics cruise. She is particularly suitable for Oceanography, Meteorology, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Marine Geoscience and Marine Engineering research.

“All of South Africa should join us being very proud of this new ship, a wise and worthy investment of our government, that will create oppor tunit ies for our young scientists, but more importantly carry out research that will improve our country’s ability to predict climate change impacts,” said Dr Monde Mayekiso, Deputy-Director General: Oceans and Coasts in the Department of Environmental Affairs.

the professionalism with which the build programme has been approached by DEA, STX and other stakeholders,” said the Director-General.

“The SA Agulhas II will enable to attract international scientists thus creating the potential for us to increase the pool and expertise of the generation of deep sea researchers to unlock the secrets of the planet - Southern Oceans.”

Multi-purpose in safety, logistics and research

This ship is one-of-a-kind in the world, because of its multi-purpose application. It is in essence a cargo and dry bulk carrier (taking supplies to the 3 remote stations); a fuel tanker (taking bulk fuel for the bases and vehicles and aviation fuel

The Agulhas II sets off to South Africa. Delegates to the handover of SA Agulhas II in Finland. Standing on the extreme right is Ms Nosipho Ngcaba.

Imag

e by

STX

Eur

ope

Imag

e by

STX

Eur

ope

Imag

e by

STX

Eur

ope

Imag

e by

STX

Eur

ope


June is National Environment Month

GREEN ECONOMY: Does it include you?

As part of Environment Month and Youth Month, South Africa’s young people are encouraged to explore fields of study and career options in the Green Economy. GREEN COLLAR jobs contribute towards conserving our natural heritage. This sector also assists to equitably share the benefits derived from innovations in climate change adaptation and mitigation, climate smart agriculture, eco-tourism, bio-prospecting, environmental quality protection and waste management, amongst others.

Visit: www.environment.gov.za or call 086 111 2468 for information on fields of study and careers in the Green Economy.

The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi handed over certificates to the Makuleke Community Property Association and the graduates during the World Wetlands Celebration gathering in Limpopo on 02 February 2012.

In recognition of the partnership and effort of the Makuleke community’s towards conservation, the CEO of SANParks Dr David Mabunda presented the SANParks First National Bank Kudu Award to the CPA on the 28th November 2011 at Skukuza.

Congratulating the beneficiaries, Deputy Minister urged the Makuleke community to continue working with other stakeholders in ensuring the conservation of wetlands in Makuleke Village. “Ignoring protection of the wetlands can only result in disaster of food insecurity, wiped out biodiversity that would negatively impact on subsistence farming,” cautioned the Deputy Minister.

The African Safari Lodge Foundation also sponsored five young women from the community who graduated on the 18th November 2011 from

the Southern African College for Tourism in Graaf Reinet, in the Eastern Cape.

The World Wetlands Day is celebrated annually to commemorate the signing of the Convention on Wetlands on 02 February 1971 in the Iranian City of Ramsar.

Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister said the annual celebration was aimed at raising awareness on the importance of wetlands on socio-economic development. “The significance of this day is

DEputy MInIstEr CElEbrAtEs WorlD WEtlAnDs DAy

ENHANCING COMMUNITY LIVELYHOODS: (Above) Water and Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi urged the Makuleke community to continue to preserve wetlands as they offer great biodiversity value for human beings.

By Zibuse Ndlovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu


celebrated worldwide through a variety of activities aligned to Ramsar Convention’s theme for this year; which is Wetlands and Tourism. In South Africa this theme has been localized by adding a slogan, Enhancing Community Livelihoods,” explained Deputy Minister.

She said the department chose the Makuleke Ramsar site to obtain first-hand information on the importance of the wetlands and how tourism generated revenue can enhance community livelihoods.

“The Makuleke Wetlands was declared a Ramsar site (Wetland of International Importance) on the 22 of

PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENED: (Above) Chief Joas Makuleke receiving the certificate from the Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudafhasi. Deputy Minister handed over certificates to the Makuleke Community Property Association and the graduates as recognition of the partnership and community’s contribution towards conservation.

(Above from left to right) Water and Environmental Affairs Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Limpopo’s MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism Pitso Moloto and Deputy Minister of Tourism: Ms Tokozile Xasa

June 2007. It is the first Ramsar site owned and co-managed by the community not only in South Africa but worldwide,” she added.

South Africa was commended for its work in designating the wetlands during the Tenth meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention (COP10) at Changwon, Republic of Korea. “The certificate for Makuleke Wetlands was handed over to me. I thank all who participated in the process of designating Makuleke Wetlands a Ramsar site,” Deputy Minister said.

Wetlands are vital for purifying water and regulating water flows, thus acting as sponges that store water and release it slowly, filtering pollutants and easing the impact of droughts and floods in the process.

“We are very familiar with the concept of service delivery and the challenges we face while trying to make sure that all citizens receive essential services. What we are sometimes not familiar with is that it is not only municipalities that provide services, but also our biodiversity and ecosystems,” she said.

“Our vast wealth of biodiversity, our variety of life from species and ecosystems is our endowment fund. We must step up our efforts to unlock the potential of our biodiversity to deliver benefits to communities and provide jobs. Healthy intact ecosystems also give us more options for responding to climate change,” the Deputy Minister explained.

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu


Further elaborating on the benefits of wetlands the Deputy Minister to humans said: “With their natural beauty and biodiversity wetlands are ideal locations for tourism. The income can be significant and support livelihoods locally and nationally. Wetlands provide other ‘services’ , too, such as water, food, water purification, erosion control, etc., for the benefit of tourists and tourist accommodation. The income generated by tourism for national and local economies in and around wetlands can be substantial.”

The Ramsar Convention has signed an MOU with the United Nations World Tourism Organization in recognition of the interdependence between sustainable tourism and the sustainable management of wetlands. There are now joint projects between the two organizations to promote sustainable wetland tourism and great potential for combining their

expertise to further wetland wise use and sustainable tourism on a larger scale. The Ramsar’s 11th meeting of the Contracting Parties (COP11) in July this year will have the same theme, thus putting sustainable tourism firmly on the Ramsar agenda.

Deputy Minister of Tourism Tokozile Xasa also urged the community of Makuleke to continue preserving the natural beauty and the biodiversity of the sites. “With climate change realities it calls on all of us to use the opportunities of celebrations of this nature to educate and learn to protect our environment,” appealed Ms Xasa.

SCENERY: The Deputy Minister said Healthy wetlands such as the Mapimbi and Rietbuck vlei represent the country’s endowment fund for immediate communities and those further afield – all of whom derive benefits.

RUNNING DRY: A study by International Food Policy Research Institute Published on 16 January 2012 found that water resources of the Limpopo River Basin are already stressed under today’s climate conditions. It further reveals that projected water infrastructure and management interventions are only expected to improve the situation by 2050 if current climate conditions continue into the future.

SITE VISITED: The Deputy Minister and other dignitaries leading the media delegation during media tour of the Redbuck Vlei and Mapimbi pans situated within the Kruger National Park.

“We seek to protect our richest biodiversity through practicing sustainable tourism. South Africa is recognised as one of the most bio diverse destinations of the world. Wetlands and tourism are good friends, we need to pay attention to the two,” she added.

Chief Joas Makuleke praised the government for supporting his community and said people should learn from them.

MEC for agriculture in Limpopo Dipuo Letsatsi Duba said the community had shown that communities can stand for themselves. “The province and the country is benefiting from your hard work,” Ms Duba said.

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu


An old Cameroonian proverb states, “Rain does not fall on one roof alone.” This proverb speaks to a collective responsibility for families and communities to face challenges together. In much the same way, South Africans across all sectors and walks of life have a joint responsibility and opportunity, to address the challenges posed by climate change to our water security and access. This remains true and pertinent during National Water Week and beyond.

All states in the Southern African Development Community face challenges including limited water or access to water resources. South Africa itself is already a water-stressed country and we face future drying trends and weather variability with cycles of droughts and sudden excessive rains. Uniquely, South Africa shares four

of its major river systems with six neighbouring countries. These four shared catchments amount to approximately 60% of South Africa’s surface area and approximately 40% of the average total river flow.

Climate change is already a measurable reality and along with other developing countries, South Africa is especially vulnerable to its impacts. Evidence of rapid climate change, including more frequent and intense weather systems and greater climate variability, has already been observed and includes:

• increases in the average global temperature; with the past decade being the hottest on record;

• more intense and longer droughts, particularly in the tropics and subtropics

WorkIng togEthEr to ConsErvE WAtEr AgAInst ClIMAtE ChAngE

By Lavinia Mahlangu-Engelbrecht

Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Rejoice Mabudhafasi (far right), with officials and the mascot, promoting water issues in the context of climate change, at COP17 in Durban, in December 2011.


• rises in the average global sea level;

• changes in average rainfall patterns, with some regions experiencing higher rainfall (e.g. Northern Europe) and other areas experiencing drying (e.g. the Sahel and southern Africa); and

• increased frequency of heavy rainfall and extreme weather events over most land areas, such as the recent and fatal Tropical Cyclone Irina, which devastated areas of Madagascar, Mozambique and closer to home, South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal coastline.

Further to the above, downscaled climate modelling suggests that the western and interior parts of the country are likely to become drier, and the eastern parts of the country wetter. Increased rainfall intensity will exacerbate scouring in rivers and sedimentation in dams, potentially impacting on water supply and treatment infrastructure. Higher temperatures, combined with higher carbon dioxide levels, will contribute to increased growth of algae as well as faster evaporation rates negatively impacting water resources.

Based on current projections South Africa will exceed the limits of economically viable land-based water resources by 2050. The adequate supply of water for many areas can be sustained only if immediate actions are taken to stave off imminent shortages. The water sector must balance the allocation of limited water resources amongst major users (agriculture, domestic urban use and industry), whilst addressing the need to

ensure fair access to water for all South Africa’s people as well as a sufficient ecological allocation to maintain the integrity of ecosystems and thereby the services they provide.

Short-term to long-term solutions

In terms of adaptation, the National Climate Change Response Policy, adopted by Cabinet in 2011, includes a risk-based process to identify and prioritise short- and medium-term adaptation interventions to be addressed in sector plans.

A two-pronged approach will be followed in which, firstly, in the short-term, climate change is used as the catalyst for addressing urgent short comings in the water sector and implementing effective, efficient and sustainable water resources and services management measures. Secondly, a long-term strategic focus on planning, adaptation and the smart implementation of new concepts and proactive approaches to managing water resources.

Water is amongst the sectors identified, which will need particular attention in the immediate future, followed by agriculture and forestry, health, biodiversity and human settlements. The success of our planned interventions in the other four sectors and our attainment of the Millennium Development Goals is undeniably linked to the availability of safe water for drinking, sanitation, industry and in our natural environment.

In the short term, the development of a climate change response for the water sector through the National Water Resource Strategy plays a key role in government’s Integrated Water Resource Planning process and will inform the ongoing maintenance of the water balance reconciliation strategies for water management areas that have recently been developed for water supply systems for up to 75% of the country’s population, and the areas which together generate well over 80% of the national GDP.

In the medium to long term, the Water for Growth and Development Framework, which has a 2030 planning horizon, aims to balance the critical role of water in terms of both poverty alleviation (ensuring the constitutional right to a reliable and safe water supply) and economic development (be it for domestic, industry, mining, agricultural or forestry use).

The official World Water Day banner for 2012.


National Water Week & World Water Day

• Every year during March, our sister department, the Department of Water Affairs, celebrates National Water Week in South Africa, followed by World Water Day on 22 March. In South Africa, March is also observed as Human Rights Month. The campaign also focused on water as a human rights issue.

• This year the campaign was observed under the theme: Water is Life Conserve it, Respect it, Enjoy it.

• The annual campaign aims to raise awareness among South Africans about the role of water in social and economic development, including the need to encourage citizens to change their attitudes towards water use.

• In addition, water conservation is highlighted as one of the major interventions that South Africans need to appreciate, if we are to guarantee water security and availability for the country. It also highlights the centrality of water as a resource in the well being of both the environment and people.

Water availability is a key climate change-related vulnerability and negative impacts on the availability of water will be felt by people, ecosystems and the economy. As a result, climate change poses significant additional risks for water security, which in turn has knock-on effects on those sectors highly reliant on water such as agriculture, electricity generation as well as some mining and industrial activities. Thus, this set of vulnerabilities must be considered and integrated into both short- and medium-term water sector planning approaches. The protection of biodiversity, habitats and ecosystems is essential to the maintenance of these services, which is a key pillar for sustainable development. We have to urgently strengthen the resilience of our society and economy to such climate change impacts and to develop and implement policies, measures, mechanisms and infrastructure that protect the most vulnerable.

Let us continue working together, to take Climate Action Now and Save the Future!


DEputy MInIstEr ADDrEssEs thE globAl nEtWork For WoMEn MInIstErs AnD lEADErs oF EnvIronMEnt

On the 21st of February 2012 in Nairobi, delegates convened for the meeting of the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders for the Environment to address sustainable development in respect of gender issues. The meeting of the Network of Women Ministers and Leaders for the Environment on the 21st of February was organized as a breakfast event at the 12th Special Session of the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) that took place between 20 and 22 February in Nairobi, Kenya.

At this meeting the delegates deliberated on how to ensure gender responsiveness in national environmental policies and legislation; how to incorporate social justice as a cross cutting aspect in the institutional framework at national and international levels and promote gender-responsive sustainable development

institutions; and how to make gender equality and equity in environmental resources mandatory in the Rio+20 outcome document at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development to be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June 2012. Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs and Co-chair of the Global Network for Women Ministers and Leaders of Environment, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi addressed the breakfast meeting.

Tribute to Professor Wangari Mathai

The Deputy Minister kicked off her address by indicating that she was delighted to be at the meeting to talk about a subject very close to her heart; Women Empowerment. She went on to pay tribute to a heroine in the global environmental movement.

Women are important environmental stakeholders and any national environmental policies and legislation should be gender responsive.


“Allow me to once again pay tribute to Africa’s heroine, an environmentalist and a Nobel Peace Laureate, who lived a selfless life dedicated to the emancipation of women and the protection of the environment, the late Professor Wangari Mathai. She lived a lasting legacy that we as women should nurture and conserve for the present and future generations”.

A Call to Action

The Deputy Minister used her address to remind the delegates present about what the Network is supposed to achieve. “The mandate of the Network

is to ensure that women are empowered to ensure active participation in environmental management, opportunities for economic growth, eradication of poverty and job creation”.

Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi bemoaned the fact that planning and policy making is not being translated to action:

Colleagues we have hosted and attended so many international meetings, developed many policies and strategies, established many governance structures, but we haven’t done well on the implementation of

“We lived in a land abundant with shrubs, creepers, ferns and trees... Because rain fell regularly and reliably, clean drinking water was everywhere. There were large, well-watered fields of maize, beans, wheat and vegetables. Hunger was virtually unknown.”

The magnanimous contribution of Professor Wangari Maathai to the environmental fraternity and in fighting poverty and advocating for peace can never be disputed. Not only did this fallen giant plant trees in the very attempt to save the planet, she also through her work put Kenya’s and Africa’s environmental work on

the world map. This has earned her recognition from all corners of the world including the 2004 Noble Peace Prize! She was the first African woman to do so. When she received the Noble Peace Prize, the Nobel committee commended her for her “holistic approach to sustainable development that embraces democracy, human rights, and women’s rights in particular” and that her “unique forms of action have contributed to drawing attention to political oppression -- nationally and internationally”.

Born and raised in Kenya, her early school days were in Kenya, her higher education qualifications were attained in the USA, Germany and later on back in Kenya. Throughout her life Prof Maathai proved to be a pioneer, often taking the road less travelled and thus earning her a lot of firsts. For instance when she received her PhD in Anatomy at the University College of Nairobi in 1971, she was the first woman in East and Central Africa to obtain a doctorate. Maathai advanced in her academic career, becoming senior lecturer in Anatomy in 1974, chair of the Department of Veterinary Anatomy in 1976, and associate professor in 1977. She was also one of the many environmental activists who were there in Rio 1992 to chant the current sustainable development agenda

As a founding member of the Green Belt Movement she helped in the plantation of more than 30 million trees, set up a thousand nurseries, and recruited almost 100,000 women over a period of close to 20 years. She used her passion for the environment to ensure that unscrupulous environmental practices are opposed and one case in point was when, in 1989, she successfully lobbied against the construction of a 62-story skyscraper in Uhuru Park, Nairobi main green-space.

Over and above receiving the Noble Peace Prize, Professor Maathai she also received the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 1991 in the US and received $100,000 for the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger. As an ardent writer in the subject of environmental protection Professor Maathai has written a number of books including her first publication entitled The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience in 1988

On September 25, 2011, Professor Maathai succumbed to ovarian cancer at the age of 71. She was lauded by an international multitude of supporters, including Achim Steiner, the executive director of the United Nations’ Environmental Program: “Wangari Maathai was a force of nature”.

proFEssor WAngArI MAAthAI: A ForCE oF nAturE(1 April 1940 - 25 September 2011)

- Professor Maathai’s words from the article “Planting the future”, The Guardian (06 February 2007)


programmes and projects benefitting ordinary women on the ground, and sharing of information with them.

We haven’t reported much about our country initiatives. We need to spend more time with our sisters on the ground encouraging them to participate in environmental management, sharing information, tapping on their indigenous knowledge as well. I feel very strongly that women out there have knowledge to share with us that we should use as building blocks in all we do.

Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi noted that empowering women to share their knowledge and participate in environmental action will enable participation, eradication of poverty and job creation. She then made a clarion call to action:

That calls for business unusual approach or doing things differently. Thus my expectation of a practical and measurable programme of action which will enable us to achieve the above mentioned goal and leave a legacy that we will be proud of as leaders of during our time.

Recommendations for Rio+20 and Beyond

Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi also took time to reflect and remind the Network of the recommendations made at a meeting held in Durban in December 2011:

During the Durban meeting held in December 2012, I recommended the following actions for the Global Network for Women Ministers and Leaders of Environment towards Rio+20 and beyond:

• Representation in the Rio+20 outcomes document which will be finalised in April by participating actively in the coordinating structures;

• Establishment of institutional structures from country, sub region, regional and global levels with clear roles and responsibilities and reporting mechanisms which are aligned to the existing structures to avoid duplication of initiatives;

• Development of global a programme of action, implementation plans for the Rio+20 outcomes which will be based from country, sub regional and regional plans;

• Inclusion of our progress reports in the Governing Council proceedings rather than being side events;

• Developing mechanisms for monitoring and evaluation. Our future meetings should report progress on the above milestones;

• Ministers to be country champions and appoint country focal points;

Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi concluded her address to the Global Network by stating that the recommendations will change the lives of women and achieve sustainable development.

Women have a lot of indigenous knowledge on sustainable resource utilisation and environmental management.

Women need to be empowered to share their knowledge and participate in environmental action.


Sustainable development is increasingly being acknowledged worldwide and as a conceptual framework for development that recognises the interdependence between economic growth, social equity and environmental integrity. The concept was firstly explored in 1972 at the Stockholm Conference on Human Environment. The most widely accepted definition of sustainable development arose from the report issued by the well acclaimed Brundtland Commission, called “Our Common Future”, published in 1987.

The 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, commonly referred to as Rio or Earth Summit further elaborated on the concept by recognizing the strength of local level interventions including a call for countries to develop national sustainable development strategies as outlined in one of its outcome documents; Agenda 21, and also played a significant role in the global environment architecture by giving birth to three Conventions on biodiversity, desertification and climate change.

Ten years after the Rio Summit, South Africa was given the opportunity to host the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) which was instrumental in providing time bound targets to the achievement of sustainable development goals. In June 2012, the world

will be commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Rio summit which also marks the 10th anniversary of the WSSD. The United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (known as Rio +20) is expected to take the sustainable development global regime further by defining what a green economy entails in the context of sustainable development and providing a framework for enhanced institutional architecture to enhance implementation and planning.

The Earth Summit, the 2002 Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable Development, and the upcoming Rio +20 conference which will be held in Brazil in June 2012 all provide platform to facilitate the sustainable development discussion at a global scale. The theme for Rio + 20 is on green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication, as well as the institutional framework

By Mapula Tshangela

Landmark SuStainabiLity Strategy, a decade after WSSdNational Strategy for Sustainable Development and Action Plan (NSSD) 2011-2014

The Brundtland Commission report defined sustainable development as:

“..development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, [while ensuring social, economic and environmental sustainability].”

- Our Common Future, 1987

National Government recognises the transition to renewable sources of energy as crucial in the drive towards sustainable development. From left, Minister of Energy Dipuo Peters, President Jacob Zuma, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Soitec André-Jacques Auberton-Hervé and Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa and the official opening of thelandmark solar plan in Hazelmere, KwaZulu-Natal, at the sidelines of COP17.


for sustainable development. The World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) which was held in South Africa in 2002 was tasked with reinvigorating the global commitment to sustainable development. It delivered a number of key outcomes, including a political declaration known as the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), and a range of partnership initiatives. Paragraph 162(b) of the JPOI indicates that, “states should take immediate steps to make progress in the formulation and elaboration of national strategies for sustainable development”.

The Development of the National Strategy on Sustainable Development (NSSD) for South Africa

The development of a National Strategy on Sustainable Development (NSSD) for South Africa commenced soon after WSSD, and involved an elaborate multi-stakeholder consultation processes and integration of government programmes and plans. The development process was then divided into three phases where phase 1 focused on the development of the framework document that came to be known as the “Following the WSSD”. Cabinet subsequently approved the National Framework for Sustainable Development (NFSD) in June 2008.

The NSSD defined five priority areas that informed the development of an action plan (Phase 2) which is titled “Work Continued to Develop” the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD 1 2011 – 2014) and Action Plan which was approved by the Cabinet on 23rd November 2011. The NSSD1

with guidance on long-term planning, as the development of sector or subject- specific strategies and action plans must be consistent with and aligned to the NSSD1.

The strategic goals of the NSSD 1 include the following:

Develop and promote new social and economic goals based on ecological sustainability and build a culture that recognises that socioeconomic systems are dependent on and embedded in ecosystems

Increase awareness and understanding of the value of ecosystem services to human wellbeing,

Ensure effective integration of sustainability principles into all policies, planning and decision-making at national, provincial and local levels,

Ensure effective system-wide integration and collaboration across all functions and sectors, and

Monitor, evaluate and report performance and progress in respect of ecological sustainability in relation to socioeconomic goals.

The NSSD Identified the following five (5) strategic objectives:

The strategy has 113 interventions which have been identified for the different strategic objectives that can be monitored for implementation and twenty headline indicators were selected from existing indicators including the Development Indicators, the Millennium Development Goals and the 12 government outcomes to monitor progress in the implementation of NSSD 1 (2011–2014).

therefore builds on the NFSD and several initiatives by the business sector, government, NGOs, civil society, academia and other key role players to address issues of sustainability in South Africa. Phase 3 of this process involves the setting up of institutional mechanisms, monitoring and evaluation framework.

Diagram 1: Sustainable Development in a South African Context

South Africa’s view of sustainable development as a systems approach to sustainability is one where the economic system, the socio-political system and the ecosystem are embedded within each other, and then integrated through the governance system that holds all the other systems together in a legitimate regulatory framework (Diagram 1).

The strategy regards sustainable development as a long-term commitment and marks the continuation of a national partnership for sustainable development. It is a five year strategy which is linked to the Medium Term Strategic Framework for 2009 – 2014.

The strategy intends to provide public and private sector organisations


The NSSD 1 strategic objectives:

(1) Enhancing systems for integrated planning and implementation: objective being to enhance effective governance and institutional structures and strengthening monitoring and reporting by government and private sector;

(2) Sustaining our ecosystems and using natural resources efficiently: with objective to value, protect and continually enhance environmental assets and natural resources;

(3) Towards a green economy: just transition towards a resource efficient, low carbon and pro-employment growth path;

(4) Building sustainable communities: with objective being to change the attitudes and behaviour in consuming resources sustainably and responsibly;

(5) Responding effectively to climate change: with objective being for a fair contribution to the global effort to achieve the stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentrations, effectively adapt to and manage unavoidable and potential damaging climate change impacts.

Diagram 2: Responsibility Matrix

The Department of Environmental Affairs will establish the National Committee on Sustainable Development (NCSD); which will operate at multiple levels to engage governments departments, civil society, the private sector, academia, independent reviewers and other stakeholders. The committee will be responsible for the effective coordination of work on sustainable development and drive sustainable development while using existing structures for both horizontal and vertical coordination. In order to ensure that there is learning and adaptation on sustainable development, the NCSD will also convene multi-stakeholders through conferences and research network. The lessons and evaluation of progress regarding the implementation of NSSD 1 will inform NSSD 2 (2015–2020).

Urgent action is required to direct the development path of the country towards sustainability, particularly in light of the potential consequences of climate change, the financial recession, job losses and declining natural resources. It is imperative that active and urgent interventions are taken to deliver on social objectives, and that all sectors, including all elements of the government and civil society, organised labour and business, need to take part in the social contract to implement the NFSD, the NSSD1 and the Action Plan for 2011–2014.

Enquiries on the contents of the NSSD1 and its implementation can be directed to:

[email protected] or [email protected], 012 310 3738.


The realm of international cooperation and relations is somewhat complex and dynamic, where South Africa’s strategic international objectives are often at stake within the global arena. At the heart of our endeavours on the international stage is furthering the interests of South Africa, whilst also attracting the prerequisite financial and technical resources to effectively address our developmental objectives and contribute to the sustainable development of our country.

Fundamentally, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA’s) international engagements are informed by South Africa’s broad foreign policy mix and priorities, as determined by the International Cooperation, Trade and Security Cluster, which is chaired by the Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO). Broadly speaking, these priorities are as follows:

spotlIght on thE spECIAlIst unIt IntErnAtIonAl CoopErAtIon

• Consolidating the African Agenda, through the African Union and SADC

• Strengthening South-South Co-operation with key emerging fora such as India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Forum, and Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) Forum and with key emerging countries such as China, Brazil and India

• Strengthening North-South Co-operation with the European Union and strategic European countries, and countries such as the USA and Japan

• Participating in the Global System of Governance, such as the governance structures of the United Nations, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

• Strengthening Political and Economic Relations globally

The Specialist Unit International Cooperation played in key role in ensuring the Department and South Africa promoted the unified African agenda at the UNFCCC COP17 in Durban.

By Stuart Mangold


The Specialist Unit International Cooperation is the section of the Department which coordinates the Department’s international engagements on environment and sustainable development issues. The Unit is headed by Mr Zaheer Fakir,who is the Acting Deputy Director-General International Cooperation. The Unit prides itself in being a PERFORMANCE orientated and driven branch, PRO-ACTIVELY engaging in the international arena, PASSIONATELY lobbying for financial and technical resources, promoting the African agenda and positioning South Africa within the global governance system so as to derive PEOPLE-CENTRED benefits in a manner befitting the highest echelons of INTEGRITY.

The Unit is directly responsible for over 50 bilateral agreements and acts as the focal point for more than 40 multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), including marine, desertification, biodiversity, chemicals and climate change

Relations; International Governance and Relations; and International Sustainable Development and Trade. The Unit is supported by an Administration component, which coordinates the multitude of international issues within the Department and our relations with DIRCO. The total staff complement is 30.

One of the recent highlights on the international stage was South Africa’s successful hosting of the 17th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change or UNFCCC COP17/CMP7 which took place in Durban from 28 November to 9 December 2011, which by all accounts was a world standard event that has been complimented by visitors and negotiators from across the spectrum. With the support of Africa and the international community, South Africa successfully steered the highly complex negotiations process towards a successful conclusion, albeit one and half days after the event was supposed to have drawn to a close. The outcome of Durban is considered as a historical achievement that will substantially advance the global climate agenda and kick-start the operationalisation of the Green Climate Fund (GCF), which has been established to finance climate change programmes globally.

One of the main focus areas of this year’s international engagements is the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, more commonly known as Rio+20, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from 20 to 22 June. Most significantly, Rio+20 will mark the 10th anniversary of the World Summit on Sustainable

as well as the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD). In addition, the Unit serves as the country’s focal point for engagement with many regional bodies, including the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and global institutions in cluding the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The scope of the work of the Unit covers national, regional and inter-regional activities and is responsible for the overall management, coordination and implementation as well as monitoring and evaluation including overall programme reporting.

In order to effectively coordinate this wide range of engagements, the Unit has three Directorates, namely Africa and Bilateral

SUIC staff at UN Governing Council meeting of G77 + China in an intense discussion with other delegates


Development (WSSD) referred to as the Johannesburg Summit held in South Africa in 2002. At this meeting, South Africa will advocate for an enhanced United Nations system that promotes international co-operation for the attainment of sustainable development globally, regionally and nationally.

• To play a leadership role in articulating the inter-ests of developing countries especially SADC and Africa.

• To play a facilitative and bridge building role in negotiations on all multilateral environmental agreements, where this is possible in the context of our efforts to advance a developing world agenda

• To engage rigorously in strategic international processes to secure our own interests such as technology transfer (in the fields of nuclear energy technology, biotechnology, gene-modification, the renewable energy industry) creating economic and investment opportunities, building capacity, promoting development and eradicating poverty.

A concerted preparatory process is currently underway in developing South Africa’s national position to take to the Conference. This involves consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, often with diametrically opposing interests and viewpoints, such as civil society, academia, research institutes

and large corporations in various sectors that support sustainable development programmes. This balancing of complex and competing interests in formulating an acceptable overarching national position in preparation for such major international events is one of the main tasks of the International Unit. Depending on the nature of the international engagement, these national positions require Ministerial approval and cases of the UN COPs, require Cabinet approval in order for SA’s negotiators to have a basis from which to engage during these high-pressure meetings. It is hoped that the Rio Conference will provide the additional momentum towards investment in new green technologies and jobs thus paving the path for the world to embark on a low carbon economy development path.

Another important aspect of the Unit’s work is that of mobilising financial and technical resources from international financing

South Africa’s national overarching priorities inform the DEA’s strategic interna-tional engagement priorities, which include the following:

• Utilize the international environmental arena to mobilize financial and technical resources for implementation of national, SADC and NEPAD programmes and strengthening of sub-regional and regional institutions, such as SADC and AMCEN

• To reform and strengthen the international environmental governance systems and institutions so as to ensure equity and effectiveness

• Continue to provide global leadership on sustainable development, particularly within the context of South Africa’s custodianship role in the implementation of the outcomes of the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation emanating from the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg in 2002

Acting DDG SUIC experiencing the thrill of renewable energy on two wheels at COP17


institutions such as the World Bank, GEF and International Monetary Fund (IMF). This has become a complex and daunting task, with South Africa competing with other developing countries for a slice of the pie. The spectre of the after-effects of the international financial crisis and Eurozone are having a negative impact of the available resources for environment work, where amounts of funding are usually quantified in 100s of millions or billions of US dollars. Securing a share of these resources, which are intended to finance key environmental programmes domestically, in the fields of biodiversity, renewable energy and rehabilitation of degraded areas, is cornerstone of the International Unit’s work.

Engagements with key emerging countries such as China, Brazil and India, which have been highlighted as strategic for the consolidation of SA’s international relations have grown in prominence in the past few years. In the spirit of furthering south-south cooperation and solidarity, South Africa is an active member of a number of fora involving these important countries such as the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Forum, Brazil-South Africa-

India-China Forum (BASIC) and Brazil-Russia- India-China-South Africa (BRICS) Forum as well as the G77+China, which share similar developmental and environmental challenges. South Africa also cooperates with a number of these countries on a bilateral basis and has signed an environmental cooperation agreement with China on environmental management and is in the process of finalizing agreements with a number of key African countries, such as Uganda and Nigeria.

The Department’s Africa Programme has grown in stature

Delegates at United Nations Governing Council Closing Session in February 2012.

over the past four years. The broad thrust of our engagements with Africa on environment and climate change programmes has been largely within the SADC, AU and African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN), with South Africa having chaired the latter body from 2008 – 2010. South Africa continues to wield its influence on environmental issues at both the Ministerial and Technical meetings of these African bodies, for the betterment of the Continent and to support the realization of the country’s African Agenda.

The Unit also provides a key service to the Dept in collating and compiling the quarterly international travel for the Department’s various branches for Minister’s approval. This enables the Department to put together appropriate delegations and for officials to plan their travel to important international meetings in a coordinated fashion.

The Specialist Unit International Cooperation of the Department of Environmental Affairs remains at your service!The use of non motorised transport was one of the interventions flagged at the UNFCC COP 17 in

Durban.


South Africa welcomes the outcomes of the 3rd Intergovernmental Review on the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of Marine Environment from Land – Based activities that was held in Manila, the Philippines from 25 – 26 January 2012.

The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA) was adopted by 108 governments and the European Commission at a diplomatic conference in Washington DC in 1995. The GPA provides a comprehensive yet flexible framework to assist governments in their duty to preserve and protect the marine environment from sewage, physical alterations and the destruction of habitats, nutrients, sediments mobilisation, persistent organic pollutants, oils, litter, heavy metals and radioactive substances. The GPA is reviewed every five years by governments, international and regional organizations and NGOs under the auspices of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Themed “Towards a Greener Coastal Economy” the IGR3 was preceded by a two day Global Conference on Land – Ocean Connections which reviewed key and emerging marine and coastal management issues and policy frameworks, to build consensus on improved coastal resources management for the benefit of coastal communities. The conference considered how coastal and marine ecosystems can contribute to a green economy taking into account the need for lower carbon inputs, more efficient use of resources, food and water security, adaptation to climate change and the need for improved water quality.

The objectives of IGR3 was to review progress made in the implementation of the GPA and identify future options for increased implementation at global, regional and national levels,

to define the future programme of work for the GPA Coordination Office for the period 2012-2016 and to prepare input from the governments to the Rio +20 process concerning the contribution of marine and coastal resources towards a green economy and poverty eradication.

South Africa’s participation was led by the Department of Environmental Affairs. The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi attended the high level segment aimed at mobilising political will and renewing the commitment of governments towards further implementation of the GPA.

The major outcome of IGR3 was the unanimous agreement by governments to increase efforts to tackle key land-based sources affecting coastal water quality, namely wastewater, marine litter and nutrients.

“South Africa supports the notion that the three priority pollutants be treated as ‘resources’ with a potential to support ‘green economic growth’. We need to find ways of putting excess nutrients, wastewater and litter to good use,” said Mabudafhasi.

Governments also adopted the Manila declaration aimed at furthering the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the period 2012 – 2016, calling for the establishment of the global partnerships on the priority pollutants.

A total of 85 government representatives and the European commission attended the third session of the Intergovernmental Review Meeting on the Implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities.

south AFrICA WElCoMEs thE outCoMEs oF thE 3rD IntErgovErnMEntAl rEvIEW MEEtIng (Igr3)

Delegates to the 3rd Intergovernmental Review on the Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities. Deputy Minister Rejoice Mabudafhasi is seated on the extreme right.


The Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) took time to reflect on the five years of its existence at the fourth national Env i r o n m e n t a l Co m p l i a n c e and Enforcement Lekgotla in Polokwane. The Lekgotla, held over 5 days between the 5th and the 9th of March 2012, was convened under the theme “Pause, Hold, Engage – Green Scorpions: Half a Decade On”. Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi, Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs delivered a statement and took the occasion to announce winners of environmental management inspectorate awards of excellence a n d s i g n e d a n i n a u g u r a l implementation protocol.

Statement by the Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs; Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi

The Deputy Minister started her statement by drawing attention to the environmental right as enshrined in Section 24 of the South African Constitution and the responsibility that the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) has in upholding that right. She went further to chronicle the background of the EMI and some of the major landmarks since the last Lekgotla in 2009.

Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi noted that since the designation of the first EMIs in 2005, the number

has grown from the initial 26 to the current number of 1080. Since the last Lekgotla in 2009, some important initiatives have been undertaken to support the work of the Green Scorpions. Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi indicated that the initiatives were meant to provide a framework within which the Green Scorpions and other role players could operate. These initiatives include the publication of the EMI Operating Manual; production of the Magistrates Benchbook to provide guidance to judicial officers in dealing with environmental cases; updating of the Prosecutor’s Guidelines; specialised EMI courses on priority compliance and enforcement topics

grEEn sCorpIons: puttIng thE stIng In EnvIro CrIME

Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi and Deputy Director General: Environmental Quality and Protection Mr Ishaam Abader (right) share a point at the Legkotla.

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu


have been conducted, and 559 learners underwent basic training through various institutions that were responsible for training of EMIs.

The Deputy Minister noted that perhaps “…one of the most significant areas of progress recorded was with regard to the effecting of legislative amendments that strengthened the powers of the Green Scorpions and also increased penalties, for example, there are now maximum fines of R5 million and R10 million depending on the offences that have been committed”. These legislative amendments opened the way for Silicon Smelters in Witbank to be fined R3 million in August 2011.

Another major success raised by the Deputy Minister is the improvement in the prosecution of environmental crimes arising from the allocation of resources and/or personnel (dedicated Advocates) by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) towards the prosecution of environmental crimes. The Deputy Minister took time to outline and applaud the great work been done by the Green Scorpions in the Healthcare Risk Waste (HCRW) sector which has seen companies invest more in compliance. In her statement, the Deputy Minister outlined cases of violations in the HCRW sector in the Eastern Cape and in Welcom in the Free State.

Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi noted in here statement that a “…significant amount of work has been done over the last five years in relation to proactive industrial compliance and enforcement work” in the Ferro Alloy, Iron and Steel Industry, Refineries, Cement, Paper and Pulp and Hazardous Waste facilities. She noted that more success has however been recorded through enforcement than through proactive industrial compliance work as very few companies responded

after being given time to address contraventions identified during the initial inspections. Most companies responded to address the contraventions and to move towards compliance after some enforcement action. For instance, Ms Mabudafhasi noted that Arcelor Mittal in Vereeniging and Assmang Cato Ridge only commissioned a secondary extraction system (worth R220 million rand and R100 million respectively) to address significant fugitive emissions after some enforcement action. The last four years (2007/8 – 2010/11) of enforcement have seen a total of 9404 criminal dockets and admission of guilt fines being registered and 6986 arrests.

The Deputy Minister in her statement acknowledged the challenges the EMI has been facing in the last five years and these include insufficient funding as well as capacity and resource constraints. The competition with the private sector for competent and dedicated staff has been another challenge for the EMI. She wrapped up her statement by indicating that the priority for 2012 is the rollout of the Green Scorpions to local authorities and this was kick started by the signing of the implementation protocol by the MEC of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) for Limpopo and executive mayors.

WINNERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT INSPECTORATE AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE ANNOUNCED

Later in the evening at a gala dinner the Deputy Minister announced the winners of the Environmental Management Inspectorate Awards at the Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Lekgotla in Polokwane. The awards are recognition of government officials who have made an outstanding contribution to the implementation of environmental legislation in South

Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Ms Rejoice Mabudafhasi addressing the media at the Legkotla while accompanied by Chief Director for Communications (left).

Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi with two of the excellence award winners.

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu


African. The first award was handed out in 2006, then in 2007 and 2009. Calls for nominations for the awards of excellence were widely distributed within EMI institutions, the NPA and SAPS.

Awards were handed out for four categories, one for prosecutors and three for Environmental Management Inspectors (Green Scorpions). The first category was for outstanding contribution to the prosecution of environmental crime. The winner in this category, for her successful prosecution of several rhino poaching matters in Gauteng, coupled with a 100% conviction rate in all the environmental cases prosecuted during the period 2010/11, and her management of the South Gauteng Environmental Prosecution section is Marle van Heerden.

matters, both of which received much media attention.

The award for outstanding contribution to the inspection of environmental crimes went to Motebang Molise of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Molise has undertaken over 200 compliance inspections within the reporting period, often having to deal with difficult personalities during these inspections; with many of the sites inspected coming into compliance as a direct result of his inspection activities, including post-inspection report writing and the drafting of legally defensible administrative enforcement notices.

The fourth and final category was for outstanding contribution to the administrative enforcement of environmental legislation. The award went to Frances Craigie of the DEA for her ongoing excellence in the field of administrative enforcement and the preparation of legally defensible notices and directives, which have, in many instances achieved direct compliance, including the well-documented Mapungubwe and Welkom Medical Waste cases. She is also committed to numerous capacity building initiatives and the support which she renders to other EMI institutions.

INAUGURAL IMPLEMENTATION PROTOCOL SIGNED

The MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Mr Pitsi Moloto also signed an inaugural Implementation Protocol with respective Executive Mayors within Limpopo province. This protocol is an instrument provided for by the Intergovernmental Framework Relations Act where the performance of statutory duties depends on the participation of organs of state in different spheres of government. The signature of this document will pave the way for local authority officials to be designated by the MEC and operate as Environmental Management Inspectors within their respective local authorities.

Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi went on to urge all Green Scorpions to continue with the same drive and passion that they had displayed in the past half a decade that the Inspectorate has been in operation. “Despite the highlighting of the performance of certain individuals for these awards, the true test of success will be the ability of all of you, as a collective, to work together to protect the environment for the benefit of present and future generations,” she said.

The category for outstanding contribution to the investigation of environmental crime proved the toughest to adjudicate and the panel of judges eventually decided on two winners. Firstly, for his outstanding work in fighting against abalone poaching in the Western Cape, which at times has placed his life at risk; the innovative ways in which he has attempted to tackle these crimes; and his ongoing commitment to sharing his vast knowledge through capacity building initiatives, the award was presented to Carl Nortier of SANParks.

Nortier shared the award with Marie Louise Lume from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), who received the award for her outstanding achievements in investigating pollution and waste crimes, including the securing of convictions in two precedent-setting cases, i.e. the PAN African Parliament and Silicon Smelters

Deputy Minister Mabudafhasi congratulates Francis Craige for winning the administrative enforcement of environmental legislation award.

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu


In 1999 the Greater St Lucia Wetland Park became South Africa’s first World Heritage Site. Its listing was based on its beauty and biodiversity, which were declared a global treasure, precious to all the World’s people. In 2000, then Deputy President Jacob Zuma noted that this selfsame beauty co-existed with terrible poverty, and that the region’s challenge was “to use its natural wealth to bring reconstruction and development.” The iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority was mandated to secure the area’s World Heritage values while renewing its identity as both a `People’s Park’ and key driver within a regional development master plan.

The Authority’s initial focus was to strengthen the viability of the Park’s conservation footprint by consolidating separate parcels of land and incorporating new ones to form a unified area. These efforts were complemented by land care and restoration programmes which have removed 12 000ha of commercial timber, restoring ecosystem functioning, creating new habitat and

providing employment for thousands of the Park’s neighbours. 157 alien clearing SMMEs have won 1 550 contracts to clear invasive plants, and local contractors have erected 300 kms of new fencing. Between 2001 and 2008, 1 503 mammals from 17 different species were introduced into the Park, including 40 elephant, 225 buffalo, 115 kudu, 60 white rhino and 8 cheetah.

Conservation Management is also pursued through the Park’s Community based Natural Resource Management Programmes. iSimangaliso provides access to resources which are needed by the Park’s neighbours, especially when they are locally scarce. Many people rely on the Park’s mussels, fish and prawns; wood for building, fuel and carving; medicinal plants, grasslands for grazing and iNcema for craftwork. Sustainable use guidelines are developed in terms of environmental legislation and in consultation with beneficiary communities, whose ongoing sharing in these resources turns neighbours into allies.

iSimangaLiSo a neW chapter in South africa’S conServation hiStory

By Debbie Cooper

Learners taking part in an interective educational session at iSimangaliso Wetlands Park.


iSimangaliso has also sought to lessen this reliance on natural resources by supporting sustainable agriculture. In 2008 the Authority established 40 food gardens around the Park, worked by about 900 mainly women gardeners, of whom 400 have participated in certified training courses.

The Authority has also pursued long-term management approaches to Lake St Lucia, the health of which is central to iSimangaliso’s ecological significance and World Heritage status. Historical human interference in the Lake’s hydrology has led to its progressive desiccation, and the World Bank’s Global Environmental Facility recently awarded iSimangaliso R 66.3 million to investigate permanent solutions to the Lake’s water deficit and impaired estuarine function. This grant also funds a social component that will enable iSimangaliso to broaden its entrepreneurship, skills development and tertiary education finance programmes.

While sound ecological management underpins the Park’s benefit flows, tourism is recognised as the region’s lead economic driver, and the goals of empowerment and transformation cut across all aspects of iSimangaliso’s commercial development work. Land claimant groups and neighbouring communities are the primary beneficiaries of growth in the tourism sector. The Park’s World Heritage status, and its new branding and marketing strategies have seen a steady growth in both occupancy and the number of tourism establishments in the region; improvements in infrastructure and access, and

increasing numbers and species of game have further driven ongoing growth in the sector.

Running in parallel with these trends, training programmes in tourism, hospitality and guiding have enabled local people to participate in the abovementioned growth, and tourism-driven concessions for local entrepreneurs include scuba diving, boat cruises, horse riding, birding, turtle viewing, game drives and canoeing. These new participants and concessionaires thus benefit directly from conservation – for them, the Park’s globally-valued intrinsic worth has become tangible.

Many of iSimangaliso’s land claimants were forcibly dispossessed of their land within their living memory. This picture shows elders of the Bhangazi community revisiting and reacquainting themselves with an area they knew intimately prior to their removal, and to which they retain a strong emotional attachment. Through the Park’s land restitution process land claimants have been awarded rights of access to ancestral sites for cultural ceremonies

Aided by its local contractors, iSimangaliso has moved swiftly to remove pines, erect fences and improve tourist facilities including roads, picnic sites, view sites and hides. These programmes have supported local development by creating employment, jobs and training, while assisting the Park to fulfill its conservation obligations

The Park’s fee pricing strategy is designed for equitable access, and visitors to iSimangaliso are offered a wide range of accommodation from rustic camps to up-market lodges; the Park also provides a range of facilities for day visitors, while schools and neighbouring communities are regularly invited to the Park for educational and personal development purposes.

The construction and upgrading of conservation and tourism infrastructure is a similar driver of development, providing business opportunities for local contractors and SMMEs, and employment and training for Park neighbours. To date, the Park has supported 270 local SMMEs with contracts totalling R 116 million; these contracts have provided training for 7 000 people and created over 22 000 jobs. Many of these SMMEs have been further assisted by the Park’s Small Business Development Programme which mentors community-based entrepreneurs.


iSimangaliso’s support of the Regional Land Claims Commission is a further mode of beneficiation, and the Authority has to date settled 9 of 14 land claims on the Park. iSimangaliso works with successful claimants to transfer title, while retaining the land for conservation in a manner allowing for satisfactory compensation. Claimants become mandatory equity partners in tourism development and co-managers of the lands that once were theirs. iSimangaliso is the first Park to have adopted such co-management agreements, five of which have been signed to date. Joint ventures between land-claimant communities and the private sector deliver employment, training and entry into the tourism industry, among others benefits. In two conservation firsts for SA, land claimant community representatives sit on the iSimangaliso Board, and the Park’s methods have informed national policy on the settlement of protected area land claims.

The Park also honours how conservation is understood, and may be supported through the abundant creative and artistic talents of its neighbours. Fifty artists have been trained in technical and business skills, and iSimangaliso’s ongoing School Awards Programme attracted 373 submissions from student artists and performers in its first two years. Sculptors, painters, and dance and drama groups have received support and recognition for their talents and their openness to exploring the links between art and conservation. Additionally, iSimangaliso’s craft programme focuses on product and organisational development, adding value to a traditional local skill by linking 300 women crafters to higher value urban markets, including a contract with Mr Price Home.

Perhaps most importantly, our understanding of what protected area management can mean has been renewed. The Park’s commitment to balance the needs of conservation, social justice and public interest has authored an unprecedented common ground. This has revealed that conservation values are not the preserve of the few, and that protectionism is not the sole means of their defence. The Park has fulfilled its responsibilities to the UNESCO World Heritage Committee against the stringent ecological guidelines to which it is obligated, and been cited by UNESCO as a leading example of the `benefits beyond boundaries’ conservation model. On the occasion of the Park’s tenth anniversary, the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs congratulated iSimangaliso on turning the Park into “a driver of economic upliftment and social regeneration” – she described it as an approach which had “effectively changed the face of conservation.”

Looking to the future, iSimangaliso supports the education of young people from land claimant and neighbouring communities in the fields of conservation and tourism, and hopes that these students will return to work in the Park on completion of their studies. The Programme provides financial assistance through bursaries and loans, an academic support and development programme, an annual students’ workshop and in-service training assignments.

iSimangaliso has made measurable progress toward its goal of becoming a ‘People’s Park’ – it has opened conservation’s doors widely, and invited all to enter. Thousands of Park neighbours have benefited from employment and encouragement via its land care and infrastructure contracts, SMME programmes, sustainable agriculture and natural resource use policies, and its tourism, leadership, environmental education, art, craft and cultural heritage training.

In conferring World Heritage Site status on iSimangaliso, the World Heritage Committee stipulated the need to settle land claims speedily, stating that the World Heritage listing should not obstruct this process. The Mabaso and Libuyile Community’s stake in iSimangaliso is made clear in this picture, and is proof that conservation can be used as a force to redress the exclusion and discrimination of the past

An expanding conservation footprint accompanies the clearing of pines, and the area shown in this photograph may now be actively managed for conservation purposes. Land rehabilitation and alien clearing has provided 2 570 jobs over the course of the Programme and over 1 500 training opportunities for Park neighbours.


The Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, Edna Molewa decried the alarmingly high trends of rhino poaching in South Africa.

Speaking at the Media Engagement on rhino poaching held in Kruger National Park on 04 April 2012, the Minister raised the alarm amidst efforts to curb the butchering of the protected species in the country.

“Currently, the death toll of rhino stands at 159 for 2012. The Kruger National Park continues to bear the brunt of these losses, with a staggering 95 rhino having been killed at that park alone,” she said.

Minister Molewa said various interventions such as involving all law enforcement agencies in the

fight against rhino poaching had since been introduced.

The Government’s seriousness to curb rhino poaching has catapulted

MInIstEr slAMs rhIno poAChIng AnD hIghlIghts IntErvEntIons

The fight to save the Rhino from poaching has been ramped up in South Africa.

THE RHINO CRY: SANParks Chief Operating Officer Dr David Mabunda and the Water and Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa at the rhino poaching media engagement at Kruger National Park on 04 April 2012

By Zibuse Ndlovu

the issue high on the standing agenda of the National Joints Committee (Nat Joints Com), which comprises of senior members of South African Police Service


(SAPS) Organised Crime Unit, The Hawks, National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the South African National Defence Force.

“The arrests of suspected poachers made in 2012 have reached 90, which is a milestone. The continued arrests of rhino poaching suspects is reflective of the coordinated enforcement efforts across government aimed at addressing the scourge of rhino poaching,” said Minister Molewa.

A group of 75 of a total of 150 new rangers are currently undergoing paramilitary training at the Kruger National Park. They will help safe-guard the park against poachers. The Minister said her department had also joined efforts with the Department of Public Works and the Defence ministry to create a buffer zone between the Kruger Park and private reserves in Mozambique.This will hopefully assist in the fight against rhino poaching.

Minister Molewa said the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had also been approached for help in conducting inspections to verify white rhinoceros trophies exported from South Africa to Vietnam.

“We are consulting at a diplomatic level and the outcome of this process will allow us to refuse all applications for white rhinoceros hunting by foreign hunters whose state of usual residence is Vietnam,” she said. After some engagement with

CRIME SCENE: The Kruger National Park officials engaging with journalists at the crime scene.

The Kruger National Park rangers at the crime scene, the media were taken for a tour during Media Engagement on Rhino Poaching.

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu


the Department of Environmental Affairs, Ministers and Members of Executive Council (MinMec) approved the amendments made on the marking of the rhino horn and the hunting of white rhino.

The amendments were published on 30 September 2011 for public comments.

“The amendments approved by MINMEC will come into effect as soon as it is published in the government gazette,” said The Minister. Some of the key amendments in the norms and standards include, the marking of all live rhinos sold and transported.

“The management of hunting of rhinoceros has been strengthened through among others, clarification that a person may only hunt and export one rhino for trophy purposes within a twelve month period. Rhino hunts must take place under the supervision of a conservation official preferably an environmental management inspector from the province concerned,” explained the Minister.

The new norms and standards

will strengthen the regulatory framework in terms of monitoring the legality of hunts and control over rhino horns. Stricter provisions relating to hunting were required to ensure processes are standardised and to reduce possible abuse of the system.

The provinces have indicated that they will be able to implement

the norms and standards.We are continuing to do research work to find more innovative mechanisms to curb rhino poaching.

We once again make a call to members of the public to continue with all efforts they have mounted and call for more innovations and involvement of the South African society.

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

Imag

e by

Zib

use

Ndl

ovu

A rhino in the wilderness of the Kruger National Park.

Kruger National Park; a haven for wildlife.


This initiative was the brain child of Kruger South WfW project manager, Mr. Walter Mzimba, who came up an idea to help poor families in the local communities from which the WfW workers are sourced. The idea was to target at least one family per village. The initial seed was planted when the WfW Implementation Manager, Sis Mavis Moyo, suggested to the project managers that the Working for Water Projects should give something back to the communities in the form of helping improve people’s lives. The idea of food parcels was born from an already existing initiative at the Skukuza Primary school which asks scholars to assist the school workers, by donating food, to supplement their wages.

The idea was tabled to the management team of the Kruger South project and the idea was immediately adopted. The Southern contractors were also very supportive ofthis initiative and were tasked, with their teams, to identify a family from their home community that they could see is poor and would need such help. The management, together with the contractors, each contributed R300 and the beneficiaries were each asked to donate a can of fish, backed beans or beef. The money that was contributed was use to buy a food parcels per selected family.

BeneficiariesCalcutta village

The Tibane family from Calcutta were the first family to benefit. This family has no parents as the father has

passed away and their mother has left them in the care of their sister, Thembi. Thembi is not working and their only means of survival is through the two brothers who work as gardeners in the village. The money they are managing to save is being used to buy cement to make bricks and build a house.

Mkhuhlu village

The Mkhuhlu family is headed by granny Selinah Ntshane who lives with her five grandchildren. Their mother passed away and Selinah now takes care of them all. They live in an RDP house.

Cork village

The Mnisi family were the beneficiaries of the food parcel for Cork village. Both parents have passed away and there are 7 (seven) siblings that are dependant on the brother who supports them all. His income comes from a barber shop that he runs in Mkhuhlu village as the family as no other support or grants.

Area village (3 families assisted)

The chosen Area village family lives in real poverty and are in real crisis. Thembi is originally from Mozambique and her mother died of malaria shortly after their arrival here in South Africa. Thembi has two children but because she has no identity document she can not register for any grant or work and their only means of survival is through their neighbours who give them

FEED thE poor InItIAtIvE

By Walter Mzimba (Project Manager: Kruger South WfW )

Working for Water (WfW) officials giving back to their communities.


food and clothes. Thembi and her family live in an RDP house that belongs to a government employee. They use the house at no cost. Another family from Area, living right next door to Thembi, also received a food parcel. Rosilinah Mashele was born in 1938 and gets no pension money. She lives with her daughter and grandchild.

The poverty in this area is bad and the Louis Ndlovu’s

family live in realpoverty. There are 11 in in this family

and none of them are working. Louis is marries and

their only source of income is through farming.

Lilydale village

This initiative further opened eyes as the Ubisi family

was assisted. Saliminah Ubisi has 4 children. Her

husband works and earns R5OO/month but does not

buy food for his family. One of Saliminah children (24

years old) is disabled and is not at all in good health. He

receives no grant or pension.

Summer Set village (2 families)

Selinah Zitha has 6 dependants. They have an RDP

house but it is incomplete. Selinah’s husband is a

herdsman, another family in Summer set, was assisted.

Alinah Duze is a grandmother who lost her husband

and who’s one child who was murdered.

She had a traumatising experience in which she was

attacked when a person broke into her house and tried

to rape her. She no longer sleeps in her own house but

uses her sons house (which is opposite to her house)

because she is scared of further attacks.

Belfast village

The Belfast beneficiaries are a family with no parents.

The parents passed away and left 6 dependents. Allegry

is the oldest sister and she gets a social grant of R 520

which she uses to take care of her daughter and other

siblings. No one in the family has work.

Goromane village

Mariah Mbungela is not working and her 5 children, and grand daughter, live off a social grant that she receives. All 5 children are in school, 1 in high

school and the 4 in primary school. They live in an RDP house but have no toilet in the yard, so use the bushes.

Jeffrey (WfW contractor) is the one who found this family and who also found and involved the Ward councillor, who showed the community that WfW is looking at giving something back to the community. A little girl, who’s family benefited from this initiative, called her friend (on receiving the food parcel) shouting “hey woza uzo bona kuthi ku nani Ia ekhaya” which means “come and see what they brought here at home “, She was pointing at the bottle of tomato sauce saying “ngempela kuzo dla mina loku” (really am I going to eat this).

During the initial stages of this process we had a few challenges, as with any project. We had a limited time to get the submission of recipients within the required time frame. In one case we has a late submission when all food parcels had been allocated, but the contractors came together and generously gave additional money for food packs for the family in question.

The Kruger South project is extremely proud to have been able to help these few families. You can see how much of an impact this initiative has been to the people out there during the festive season. It is extremely humbling to see this type of poverty and what a big difference such a relatively small contribution makes. It was gratifying to see how the South management and contractors worked together and made this such a success.

A Special thanks must go to:

The Working for Water South project with the vision

of assisting these poor families with food parcels the

contractors and management who donated money

the workers in the teams who contributed the tinned

goods as requested Lucia Mashaba, Rachel Lubisi and

Sakhile who took their time to buy and distribute the

food parcels.

I am truly honoured to be part of the Working for

Water programme, and to have the ways and means

to be able to help a few of those in need.


Departmental Staff

voX pops:

KHOLOFELO MOSEBEDISection: Employee Development

I think wetlands are part of a wider hydrological system, the services and benefits they provide can play a key role in sustaining the livelihoods of communities and the survival of wildlife and biodiversity.

Wetlands perform these and many other vital functions that reduce the impacts of climate change, conserving and restoring them is an important adaptation strategy.

Christa du ToitSection: Human recources Management

The ecological value of wetlands arises from their high primary productivity and rich biodiversity. Wetland organisms are important in global water and nutrient cycles. Large quantities of carbon are stored in these ecosystems, so they help to moderate global climatic conditions.

There is great economic value in the natural resources of wetlands and many local and indigenous people depend on wetlands for their food and livelihood. Commercial fish species, breed in wetlands. Wetlands act as

natural sponges, absorbing surplus rainwater, snowmelt, and floodwaters.

Jabu KubhekaSection: Human recources Management

Wetlands protect life, production systems and ecosystems. They provide resilience against drought by replenishing and providing sources of water during drought.

Coastal wetlands like mangroves can assist the recovery of local community livelihoods after storms by providing sources of food and building materials.

Hellen KgaditseSection: Human recources Orginisation Development

Wetland conservation contribute towards enhancing community livelihoods by reducing vulnerability to poor health of community members (reduces the risks of diseases like Malaria) and reducing poverty by generating food security and providing drinking water.

Bulelani BubuSection: Human recources Management

It contributes to the protection of rural livelihoods and food security as well as to increasing our resilience to the impacts of climate change. The contribution by wetlands conservation provides habitat for wildlife, water storage and biological productivity.

It also prevent sea level rise from inundating low-lying coastal property, eroding beaches or worsen flooding.

Ntsako TemanaSection: Human recources Management

Maintaining the wetland may provide jobs (people required to maintain the wetland). Well-maintained wetlands lead to high biodiversity. The higher the biodiversity the higher is the ability of a wetland to adapt to climate change.

Higher biodiversity may mean the increase in number of birds or animals that visit or stay in the wetland, or it can mean high number of plants that are found in that wetland.

your vIEWs on thE IMportAnCE oF WEtlAnDs.By Zibuse Ndlovu


Members of Public

Jenet ClingenWetlands are a habitat for wild life and they make the environment clearer and more echo-friendly.

They play an important role in water purification, flood control, and shoreline stability. They are also considered the most biologically diverse of all ecosystems.

Sello Patric MasetheIt is very important to sustain wetlands because there are certain plants that only grow in such areas. In some areas unemployed people create products made from local wetland grasses and palm leaves.

Mats are woven by the local women in these areas using weaving skills which have been passed down from previous generations.

Sipho ZwaneIt is a habitat for small living organisms in the water. It also helps water underground to run.

It is important that we conserve wetlands because they are a source of income to people who are unemployed. Many of the poor rely on wetlands for food, water, construction materials and similar necessities.

Mathabela GeorgeI don’t know much about wetlands, but I know they provide important habitat for a wide variety of wildlife.

Some animals live their whole lives in wetlands and others depend on wetlands for essential parts of their life cycle. There are certain plants that grow in wetlands which can be used for medicinal purposes.

Fhumwani MandiwanaWetlands should be preserved as we already have problems of global warming. We do not need additional things to worry about. The food chain will clearly be affected if such areas are not protected.

When we preserve wetlands, we are also protecting species that live in such areas. It is also important for future generations to see the area as natural as it was.

Rendani SithariI believe that when we conserve wetlands we are also protecting the animals that live in the area. If we don’t protect wetlands, all the animals and plants in it might disappear.

They are among the most productive environments in the world and form a link between our land and water resources.

Images by Zibuse Ndlovu


upCoMIng AnD rECEnt EvEntsRecent

January – March 2012Upcoming

April – July 2012

02 February 2012

World Wetlands Day Celebrations in Makuleke Village Limpopo

22 APRIL 2012

Earth Day

13-14 February 2012

The South African Weather Service (SAWS) Community Awareness Road Shows In Duduza, Ekurhuleni

3-9 MAY 2012

National Bird Week

21 FEBRUARY 2012

Address By Honourable Deputy Minister of Water And Environmental Affairs at the Global Network For Women Ministers and Leaders of Environment

05 JUNE 2012

National and World Environment Day

05 - 09 MARCH 2012

Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Lekgotla in Limpopo

08 JUNE 2012

World Oceans Day

5 - 11 March 2012.

National Water Week,

17 JUNE 2012

International Day for Biological Diversity

22 MARCH 2012

WORLD WATER DAY

17 JUNE 2012

World Day To Combat Desertification

23 MARCH 2012

World Meteorological Day

20-22 JUNE 2012

United Nations Conference on Sustainability Development, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

30 MARCH 2012

Earth Hour Day

6-13 JULY 2012

Ramsar Convetion, The 11th Meeting of the Conference of Contracting Parties (COP11), Bucharest Romania

The Minister of Water and Environmental AffairsMs Bomo Edna Molewa Private Bag X313PRETORIA, 0001

Sedibeng Building 185 SchoemanPRETORIA

Tel: (012) 336 8733Fax: (012) 336 7817

The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Ms Rejoice Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi

Private Bag X313PRETORIA, 0001


Tel: (012) 336 7960Fax: (012) 336 8311

Department of Environmental AffairsDirector General: Ms Nosipho Ngcaba

Private Bag X447 PRETORIA, 0001

Fedsure Building, 315 Pretorius StreetPRETORIA

Tel: (012) 310 3960Fax: (012) 322 4832

E-mail: [email protected] Center: 086 111 2468, [email protected]

For any enquiries or contributions, please contact:Mrs. Lavinia Engelbrecht, Tel: 012 310 3858 email: [email protected] www.environment.gov.za

Durban, venue of COP17

The Minister of Water and Environmental AffairsMs Bomo Edna Molewa Private Bag X313PRETORIA, 0001


Tel: (012) 336 8733Fax: (012) 336 7817

The Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs Ms Rejoice Thizwilondi Mabudafhasi

Private Bag X313PRETORIA, 0001


Tel: (012) 336 7960Fax: (012) 336 8311

Department of Environmental AffairsDirector General: Ms Nosipho Ngcaba

Private Bag X447 PRETORIA, 0001

Fedsure Building, 315 Pretorius StreetPRETORIA

Tel: (012) 310 3960Fax: (012) 322 4832

E-mail: [email protected] Center: 086 111 2468, [email protected]

For any enquiries or contributions, please contact:Mrs. Lavinia Engelbrecht, Tel: 012 310 3858 email: [email protected] www.environment.gov.za

Durban, venue of COP17

farewell agulhas i, welcome agulhas ii: miriam makeba · contents & editorial agulhas ii –...

Documents