February

08/02/2008	Since the ban on diving from 1 February 2008, (a) how many objections were received against this ban and (b) what process was followed in dealing with the objections;
08/02/2008	Since 1 November 2007, (a) how many suspected abalone poachers have been arrested, (b) in each case, (i) where was the suspected poacher arrested and (ii) how much abalone was retrieved by enforcement officials and (c) how many abalone poachers have been convicted;
08/02/2008	Whether all staff currently employed by his department have signed performance agreements; if not, what percentage has signed;
08/02/2008	Whether the hospitality industry has ratified and implemented a grading system for the physically challenged; if not, by when is such a grading system expected to be fully implemented; if so, what are the relevant details?
08/02/2008	(a) What are the relevant timelines for the appeal process following the Record of Decision (ROD) for the King Shaka Airport, (b) how were these guidelines determined, (c) how many appeals were received and (d) when will he make his final decision on the appeals?
08/02/2008	How many vacancies existed in Marine and Coastal Management as at the latest specified date for which information is available,
08/02/2008	Whether the environmental effects of the new energy saving lamps have been considered; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what is envisaged with regard to disposing of the toxic waste resulting from the mercury content;
15/02/2008	How many Marine and Coastal officials are employed in the Eastern Cape and (b) at which harbours and launch sites are officials stationed;
15/02/2008	When was the Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) tip-off hotline established, (b) how many calls were (i) received by this hotline in 2007 and (ii) related to tip-offs of alleged illegal activities in the abalone fishery and (c) where are the operators of the hotline located;
15/02/2008	Whether his department operates (a) national and (b) provincial wildlife crime databases; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
15/02/2008	Whether any measures have been put in place to alleviate the plight of legal rights holders in the abalone fishery affected by his decision to close the fishery;
25/02/2008	Whether the operation of any marine vessels of his department have been affected by the unavailability of marine diesel or any other maritime fuel at any time since 1 January 2008;
25/02/2008	Whether there are areas that have formalised civilian or honorary ranger organisations that assist Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) officials in compliance and enforcement operations; if so, what are the relevant details;
25/02/2008	Whether, in light of the diving ban that came into force on 1 February 2008, there are any measures allowing the legal operation of divers conducting (a) scientific research, (b) marine salvage and (c) underwater repairs;
29/02/2008	Whether his department will continue to fund the Continued River Rehabilitation programme in Clarens in the Free State; if not, why not;
29/02/2008	Whether any staff members of the SA National Parks have been involved in any illegal killing of animals within the national parks since 1 January 2004;
29/02/2008	What is the breakdown of species poached (a) in each national park and (b) in respect of the past four calendar years?

March

07/03/2008	How many legal incinerators are in operation countrywide and (b) what is the (i) location of each incinerator and (ii) latest date the permit regulations for each incinerator were reviewed;
07/03/2008	What was the breakdown of Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) for each relevant institution as at the latest specified date for which information is available;
07/03/2008	What is the current status of the Southern African Regional Elephant Conservation and Management Strategy, (b) which countries are part of this strategy and (c) what are the (i) dates and (ii) venues of the meetings at which the strategy has been formulated;
07/03/2008	Which national parks are already experiencing an overpopulation of elephants;
14/03/2008	Whether any progress has been made with the integration of the Gonarezhou National Park into the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
14/03/2008	Which (i) provinces and (ii) municipalities (aa)(aaa) have completed State of the Environment Reports to date and (bbb) when was the report completed in each case and (bb)(aaa) are currently in the process of completing these reports and (bbb) when are they expected to be completed in each case, (b) what was the budgetary allocation from his department for assistance in completion of such reports for the 2007-08 financial year and (c) what is the expected allocation in this regard for the 2008-09 financial year?
20/03/2008	With reference to his reply to Question 184 on 6 March 2008, (a) where did the meeting on 24 January 2008 occur and (b) how much notice was given of this meeting, (c) who was invited to this meeting, (d) which departmental officials attended the meeting and (e) what are the names of the abalone rights holders who attended the meeting;
20/03/2008	Whether his department is taking any measures to promote adaptation to climate change; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
20/03/2008	On what basis was the employment of a certain person (name furnished) in the SA Weather Service (SAWS) terminated, (b) what was the annual salary of the said person at the time of the termination, (c) what was the value of the said person’s settlement, (d) what is the name of the person that replaced the said person in this position and (e) what was the starting annual salary of the new person;
20/03/2008	Whether a certain business entity (name furnished) has been contracted to provide any services to the SA Weather Service (SAWS); if so, (a) what has it been contracted to provide, (b) on what date was the contract authorised and (c) what services has been provided by the said entity since the start date of the contract;
20/03/2008	How many days has the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SA Weather Service (SAWS) (i) physically worked in the office and (ii) signed leave for since her appointment as CEO and (b) what (i) is the current annual salary of the CEO and (ii) are the component parts of this salary;
28/03/2008	What foreign tourist markets will be targeted to create increased tourist arrivals in South Africa in the 2008-09 financial year, (b) which countries are South Africa’s main competitors to attract foreign tourists from (i) North America and (ii) Europe and (c) what efforts are being made to compete against these countries;
28/03/2008	Whether the SA Weather Service (SAWS) currently has an induction programme for employees; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
28/03/2008	What is his department’s policy on abalone fishing and (b) what will happen to the lives of the 200 current abalone rights holders;
28/03/2008	Whether South Africa is considering selling parts of its ivory stockpile to China; if not, what other countries are potential destinations;

May

09/05/2008	(a) In each of the latest two calendar years for which information is available, (i) what was the total number of foreign tourist arrivals in South Africa and (ii) what is the breakdown of this figure according to country of origin,
09/05/2008	What (a) has been his route for each international trip undertaken by air, including the (i) departing city and (ii) final destination, since 1 July 2007 up to the latest specific date for which information is available and (b) was the purpose for each trip?
09/05/2008	Whether, the department is currently making active use of the Long Term Mitigation Scenarios when planning future transport decisions;
09/05/2008	When is it expected that the Cabinet will approve the National Strategy on Sustainable Development (NSSD) and (b) what have been the reasons for the delay in obtaining approval of the NSSD;
16/05/2008	Whether, with regard to his reply to Question 1931 on 7 December 2007, there are medical waste treatment facilities that have now come to the attention of the department which were not included in the initial answer;
16/05/2008	Whether his department has supplied any funds to the Bethelsdorp Development Trust in each of the past five years up to the latest specified date for which information is available;
16/05/2008	Whether, with reference to his reply to Question 307 on 9 May 2008, poaching statistics in the national parks are regularly analysed to ascertain trends;
16/05/2008	When will the enquiry by the chairperson of the board of South African Weather Services (SAWS) into the various alleged irregularities at SAWS be concluded;
23/05/2008	(a) What was the total rand value of (i) hotel accommodation procured for departmental officials and (ii) conferencing facilities hired by his department during the period 1 October 2007 to 31 March 2008 and (b) in each case, what percentage was spent at establishments graded by the Tourism Grading Council;
23/05/2008	(a) What was the total inbound economic value of foreign tourists visiting South Africa in (i) 2006 and (ii) 2007 and (b) what is the expected total inbound economic value of foreign tourists visiting South Africa in 2008?
23/05/2008	Whether his department will continue to provide funding to coastal municipalities that have invested heavily in the necessary infrastructure to attain blue flag status for some of their beaches;
23/05/2008	Whether he will ensure that his department (a) monitors and (b) reduces its carbon footprint with immediate effect; if so, how will this be done;
23/05/2008	With reference to his reply to written Question 1105 on 17 August 2007, what core markets were surveyed in the 2005 SA Tourism brand tracking survey;
30/05/2008	Whether (a) systems and (b) technology are in place in (i) Table Bay and (ii) in the vicinity of Koeberg Power Station to respond to the challenge of an oil spill;
30/05/2008	Whether, with reference to the schedule for fishing harbour fees published in the Government Gazette on 25 April 2008, stakeholders were consulted in the formulation of these fees;
30/05/2008	Whether his department makes use of private security firms; if so, how much money was spent on such firms in 2007;
30/05/2008	Whether his department has conducted an energy audit to determine its (a) use of energy and (b) opportunities for reduction of energy use; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
30/05/2008	Whether his department’s comments on the environmental impact assessment and environmental management plan regarding a certain proposed mining development (name furnished) were submitted to the regional director of the Department of Minerals and Energy (DME) within the required time-frames of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, 2002 (Act No. 28 of 2002);

June

06/06/2008	Whether the laws governing the prevention of poaching and the prosecution of poachers in our protected areas are sufficient to discourage (a) poaching for subsistence, (b) casual poaching and (c) poaching by organised crime operations;
06/06/2008	Whether South Africa recently registered 51 tonnes of ivory with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES);
06/06/2008	How much (a) ivory had been stockpiled up to 1995 and (b) ivory has South Africa been permitted to sell since 1995, (c) of the amount of ivory sold since 1995 up to the latest specified date for which information is available has been sold...
09/06/2008	What is his department doing to support SA Tourism’s effort to attain its strategic goal of making South Africa a “top 3” destination on the list of any foreign tourist planning to travel long-haul from our core markets in 2014;
09/06/2008	Whether, with regard to the release of the Long Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS), South Africa is likely to commit to any mitigation action under a post-2012 climate framework;
13/06/2008	Whether his department has taken any steps to (a) prevent further erosion of the Lookout beach in Plettenberg Bay and (b) rehabilitate the beach;
13/06/2008	Whether his department has any initiatives to pursue steam railway tourism in South Africa; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
13/06/2008	Whether his department has (a) kept records as required by the Public Finance Management Act, 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999, and (b) reported any incidents of losses through (i) criminal conduct...
The Keurbooms Estuary inlet migration. The red lines show sewer pipelines; pump station also shown. The inlet margins at various times are plotted.
20/06/2008	Whether any members of his department are currently suspended on full pay; if so, (a) how many, (b) at what rank level, (c) in which management areas and (d) for how long have they been on suspension;
20/06/2008	Why did he not invoke section 24 of the Marine Living Resources Act, Act 18 of 1998, to accommodate artisanal fishers from traditional coastal fishing communities;
20/06/2008	Whether there were any staff shortages to deal with environmental impact assessment (EIA) applications in each province as at the latest specified date for which information is available;
20/06/2008	Whether he intends to open any new fisheries before the end of his term of office; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
20/06/2008	Which West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) permit holders were the beneficiaries of the increased WCRL total allowable catch (TAC) over the (a) previous and (b) current WCRL fishing season;
27/06/2008	(a) What is the estimated population of Cape Fur Seals along the South African coast and (b) how was this figure arrived at;
27/06/2008	Whether any function was organised to mark the occasion of the delivery of his budget vote in 2008;
27/06/2008	Whether any scuba diving businesses operating under concessions at Sodwana Bay are withholding their fees due to alleged grievances at the way concessions are being managed;
27/06/2008	Whether his department investigated a case in which a certain person (details furnished) recently allegedly shot at a seal; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what were the findings of the investigation;
27/06/2008	Whether he recently wrote an official letter to each member of the National Environmental Advisory Forum (NEAF) informing them that the body was to be dissolved;

August

01/08/2008	Whether Sarah Baartman vessel has been on lease to a business entity; if not, why has it allegedly been seen assisting a gas platform off the coast of Mossel Bay;
01/08/2008	How much revenue is expected from the sale of ivory to China and (b) when is this revenue likely to be received;
01/08/2008	Whether he has been informed of the threat of poor water quality and proposed development in the buffer zone around Kamfer Dam to the flamingos that live on the dam; if so, what are the relevant details;
01/08/2008	Whether a certain mine (details furnished) is operating within the provisions of its environmental management plan; if not, what steps are being taken to ensure compliance;
01/08/2008	What are the (a) (i) names and (ii) locations of all concessions granted in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park since 1 January 2005 and (b) what is the name of the entity managing such concession in each case;
01/08/2008	What amount was spent by officials of her department on (a) hotel accommodation, (b) restaurant expenses and travel costs (i) in the 2007-08 financial year and (ii) during the period 1 April 2008 up to the latest specified date for which information is available?
08/08/2008	Whether any vessel operated by Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) have been on lease to business entities; if not, what is the position in this regard;
08/08/2008	Whether any prospecting rights have been granted in protected areas during the period 1 January 2006 up to the latest specified date for which information is available; if not, what is the position in this regard;
08/08/2008	Whether the dates of issue and expiry and the identity number of the buyer is printed on the green “Wild Card” for access to national parks;
08/08/2008	(a) What was the tonnage of the West Coast Rock Lobster (WCRL) quota rolled-over from the (i) 2005-06 to the 2006-07 and (ii) 2006-07 to the 2007-08 fishing season,
08/08/2008	Whether his department gave any funding to the erection and development of an arts and crafts centre, cultural village or accommodation centre at Clarens in the Free State;
15/08/2008	Whether his department will play any role in ensuring that a certain company (name furnished) complies with the environmental management programme when mining at Xolobeni along the Wild Coast;
15/08/2008	whether a certain company (name furnished) is in compliance with its (a) air quality and (b) waste licences; if not, what is being done to rectify the situation; if so, what are the relevant details;
15/08/2008	Whether his department is investigating the recent spate of unnatural crocodile deaths in the Kruger National Park; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details;
22/08/2008	Whether, with reference to his replies on 15 March 2008 to questions (a) 542, (b) 543, (c) 544 and (d) 549, he can now provide the relevant details requested therein;
22/08/2008	What was the actual number of species hunted according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permit system in each province in 2007?
22/08/2008	Whether, with reference to his reply to Questions 1787 on 3 December 2007, the Minister for Agriculture has been consulted on the draft Alien and Invasive Species Regulations;
22/08/2008	(a) What was the total cost to the State of consultants used by his department in the (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 financial years, (b) what are the names of the consultants used;
29/08/2008	What amount was spent on research in the (a) 2006-07 and (b) 2007-08 financial years for each of the fisheries that currently exist;
29/08/2008	Whether his department has made any progress in coordinating efforts to green the 2010 Soccer World Cup tournament; if not, why not; if so, what efforts are being made (a) by each host city in respect of (i)(aa) waste and (bb) water management, (ii) energy efficiency and (iii) carbon offsets and (b) to appoint green ambassadors for the tournament?
29/08/2008	Whether (a) his department and (b) SA Tourism were involved in any initiatives at the Beijing Olympic Games to promote tourism to South Africa;

September

05/09/2008	Whether her or his department will be the relevant competent authority to consider the Northgate development application in Kimberley;
05/09/2008	With reference to his reply to Question 1128 on 16 July 2008, (a) who conducts the aerial surveys of seal populations, (b) when was the last survey done and (c) how often are surveys done?
05/09/2008	With reference to his reply to Question 1202 on 28 August 2008, (a) who are the directors of Eurozulu as listed on the concession agreement, (b) what does this concession allow the managing entity to do and (c) when will the concession end?
12/09/2008	Whether laws and regulations governing the prosecution of suspected poachers who kill animals in (a) private nature reserves and (b) private conservancies are used to prosecute similar crimes in national parks;
12/09/2008	Whether, with reference to his reply to Question 721 on 24 June 2005, the on-site ambient monitors that were purchased in the USA (a) were delivered and (b) have been in regular use;
12/09/2008	What is the current total allowable catch (TAC) for the anchovy fishery
19/09/2008	Whether his department will make representation to Statistics South Africa about amending the measurement of what is a valid tourist arrival to include a stay of at least one night in the country;
19/09/2008	What is the estimated number of tour guides not registered in terms of the Tourism Second Amendment Act, 2000 (Act No. 70 of 2000);
19/09/2008	Whether there has been any illegal clearing of forests or other land cover in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park for the purpose of agriculture;
26/09/2008	What total amount has been budgeted for the Lillydale Community Greening Project in Mpumalanga,;
26/09/2008	Whether there has been any decrease in poaching of the abalone resource since his decision to close the abalone fishery on 1 February 2008;
26/09/2008	In respect of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 annual reports of his department and the annual reports of each statutory and other entity reporting to him,
26/09/2008	THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS: No decision has been taken regarding this appeal and it is not appropriate to pre-empt a decision on this matter.

October

10/10/2008	In respect of each of the past 15 years, (a) on what date did the Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) conduct the recruitment survey regarding the annual catch and bycatch limits for the sardine and anchovy fisheries,
17/10/2008	When was the Benguela Current Commission (BCC) first instituted and (b) what was its purpose;
17/10/2008	What was the size of (a) the compliance budget, (b) fisheries management budget and (c) fisheries research budget of the Marine Living Resources Fund in each of the past five financial years;

November

21/11/2008	Whether his department will take action against municipalities who fail to maintain their sewage infrastructure which causes contamination of wetlands and rivers; if not, why not; if so (a) when and (b) what action has been taken against a certain municipality (name furnished);
21/11/2008	Whether all sections of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004 (Act No. 39 of 2004) are in effect;
21/11/2008	What is the status of the complaint lodged with the Environmental Management Inspectorate concerning a certain person (name furnished) allegedly having worked to undermine the success of the Conservation Stewardship programme...
21/11/2008	What spheres of government are responsible for regulating the effects of pesticides on (i) air quality and (ii) biodiversity and (b) what (i) legislation and (ii) regulations are relevant in this regard;