Department of Environmental Affairs & Tourism - About Us

	Parliamentary Updates - 2006

Questions and Answers from Parliament by
the Ministery of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on:

February

06/02/2006	Perlemoen (abalone) that is confiscated from poachers
10/02/2006	’n omvattende besigheidsplan ingestel is vir die uitroei en beheer van indringerplante en -bome
10/02/2006	Permits are readily available for recreational divers to dive in marine protected areas
17/02/2006	Department and the SA Weather Bureau have considered the possibility of setting up a weather monitoring station in the Mtatha area
17/02/2006	Certain companies (details furnished) operate on concessions in the Kruger National Park

March

24/03/2006	What was the value of (a) assets and (b) products seized by all law enforcement agencies from poachers of seafood products in respect of each year in the preceding two financial years
24/03/2006	What amount was (a) spent on implementing his department’s drug master plan and (b) budgeted for this purpose during the (i) 2003-04, (ii) 2004-05 and (iii) 2005-06 financial years
31/03/2006	305. THE MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM ANSWERS
31/03/2006	Whether, with reference to comments made by a certain Zimbabwean Minister (details furnished) on 8 March 2006 that the Zimbabwean government would not remove illegal settlers from the Gonarezhou National Park, he or officials of his department have contacted the Zimbabwean authorities to seek clarity on this statement; if not, why not; if so, when
31/03/2006	Whether his department intends to take over the enforcement of the Animals Protection Act, Act 71 of 1962, from the Department of Agriculture
31/03/2006	Negotiations between Marine and Coastal Management (MCM) and the Marines Unit run by the Overstrand Municipality are under way to renew the contracts of members of the Unit in order to prevent poaching

May

05/05/2006	Department will become the lead department of the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (NSSD)
05/05/2006	Department ever carries out unannounced inspections at the Kruger National Park facilities to monitor the standard of service
05/05/2006	Whether his department has any details on the Lake Fundudzi Community Project, based in the Vhembe district, in Limpopo
05/05/2006	Whether, with reference to his reply to Question 721 on 24 June 2005, ambient monitors have been (a) purchased and (b) installed; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details
05/05/2006	The use of four wheel drive vehicles (SUVs) causes more carbon pollution than the use of (a) hybrid motor vehicles and (b) conventional sedan cars
12/05/2006	What are the statistics in respect of tourists from 2001 to 2005
15/05/2006	What progress has been made to transform the local tourism industry?
19/05/2006	What have been the (a) dates, (b) venues and (c) subjects of discussion at each meeting of the National Environmental Advisory Forum (NEAF) since 1 August 2005
26/05/2006	Whether, with reference to the implementation of the Threatened and Protected Species Regulations in July 2006, the majority of existing captive predator breeding facilities will close down
26/05/2006	Whether, with reference to his reply to Question 305 on 2 May 2006, the deviation in the supply chain management policy in June 2005 in respect of quotes for the Innovation and Research Strategy Development was ultimately approved by the Bid Adjudication Committee; if not, why not; if so, on what date

June

02/06/2006	What is the (i) total annual remuneration package of the CEO of the SA Weather Service and (ii) package comprised of, (b) how many international trips have been undertaken by the said CEO since 1 January 2005, (c) what was the (i) destination and (ii) reason for each trip and (d) what was the cost to the taxpayer of each trip?
02/06/2006	Whether, with reference to his reply to Question 305 on 2 May 2006, a survey was conducted by a chartered accounting group to assess procurement processes at the SA Weather Service between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2005; if so, (a) what was the name of the group, (b) for what period was the assessment commissioned, (c) what was the mandate of the assessment and (d) what were the relevant findings?
09/06/2006	Why, contrary to the advice of the judge of the Equality Court, did he go to the Appeal Court in respect of the application brought by approximately 5 000 fishers to have the fishing rights policy reviewed, (b) how much did (i) his department have to pay in costs and (ii) his department’s own case cost in legal fees, (c)(i) who took the decision to go straight to the Appeal Court and (ii) what was his department’s legal opinion in this regard and (d) why was his department not prepared to hear the matter in the Equality Court?
12/06/2006	Of die departement dit tans oorweeg om visvangregte aan voorheen benadeeldes in die Tsitsikamma Nasionale Park toe te laat; so nie, waarom nie; so ja, watter voorsorgmaatreëls oorweeg word om inheemse bedreigde spesies soos rooi roman, rooi steenbras en mosselkraker teen uitwissing te beskerm?
12/06/2006	How many environmental management inspectors (a) have completed their training to date and (b) will have completed their training by the end of the 2006-07 financial year;

November

03/11/2006	Whether, during the period 15 June 2001 up to the latest specified date for which information is available, there were any cases where employees of the SA Weather Service started their period of service before having concluded a written employment contract.
03/11/2006	In respect of each of the five financial years from 2001-02 up to and including 2005-06, (a) what amount did the SA Weather Service spend on legal costs, (b) in cases where the year-on-year increase in legal services exceeded 20%, what were the overarching reasons for that and (c) what is the breakdown of the costs for the services rendered by legal service providers;
03/11/2006	(1) In respect of each of the five financial years from 2001-02 up to and including 2005-06, (a) how many legal professionals were in the direct employ of the SA Weather Service, (b) at what post level were they appointed
03/11/2006	(1) Whether regular surveillance in respect of incidents of pollution (a) at sea and (b) on the coastline takes place (2) whether anyone has been contracted by his department to provide emergency support during incidents of pollution?
10/11/2006	(1) In light of the disturbing fact that four entrance gates and camps of the Kruger National Park have been the targets of armed attacks during the past three months, what arrangements have been made to increase visible security and the protection of officials of and visitors to SA National Parks (SANParks);
10/11/2006	(1) Whether his department envisages depletion in the marine resources; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details;
10/11/2006	(1) With regard to the legislation under my jurisdiction, the relevant Act that supports the constitutional right to a safe environment is the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No 107 of 1998-NEMA). In terms of NEMA I have listed certain activities that may not commence without environmental authorisation from a competent authority. Various of these listed activities relate to aspects of town planning as well as agricultural and industrial development. The specific legislation regulating town planning is administered by the various provinces.
13/11/2006	Whether his department has taken note of an oil spill outside Randfontein allegedly caused by an oil company and reported to his department by a certain person (name furnished) in December 2005; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps have been taken to clean the site?
10/11/2006	Whether he will provide details and the impact/success of high seas anti-poaching trips including joint international training trips undertaken by his department to curb illegal fishing along the South African Coast?
10/11/2006	Whether, with reference to his reply to Question 1403 on 19 September 2005, the computer equipment from the media information resource centre sponsored by the Norwegian government has been located in Alexandra; if so, (a) where and (b) who use the computers; if not, Whether these are the same computers that have been stored at the Alexandra Renewal Project offices in Wynberg since the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD); if so, why the computers are not being used for the purpose originally intended?
27/11/2006	Whether his department has initiated any project or programme to empower municipalities for and increase their capacity in implementing environmental laws and regulations; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
30/11/2006	Whether, in respect of each of the past two years including 2006, his department has obtained any sponsorships; if so, with regard to each sponsorship obtained, (a) which (i) company and (ii) parastatal were they received from, (b) what was the amount received and (c) what was it used for?
17/11/2006	(1) Watter bedrag in die boekjaar (a) 2001-02, (b) 2002-03, (c) 2003-04, (d) 2004-05 en (e) 2005-06 deur die SA Weerdiens aan verskaffers oorbetaal is vir die lewering van instrumente om toestande in die bolug te meet; (2) of die betrokke instrumente wat in elke geval gelewer is wel die waarde gehad het van die geld wat aan die verskaffers oorbetaal is; so nie, waarom nie; so ja, wat die tersaaklike besonderhede is; (3) of die SA Weerdiens ooit instrumente om toestande in die bolug te meet, aangekoop het van verskaffers waarin sy raadslede of bestuur ’n belang gehad het; so ja, wat die besonderhede van die (a) amptenaar, (b) belang en (c) verskaffer in elke geval was; (4) of die SA Weerdiens vroegtydig deur die betrokke raadslid of bestuur van sodanige belang verwittig is; so nie, waarom nie; so ja, wat die tersaaklike besonderhede is; (5) (a)(i) ingevolge watter (aa) aanskaffingsriglyne, (bb)-prosedure of (cc)-beleid en (ii) deur wie sodanige transaksie goedgekeur is en (b) wat die waarde van die aankope was?
17/11/2006	(1) Of raadslede van die SA Weerdiens sedert 15 Junie 2001 ooit operasioneel by dié organisasie betrokke geraak het; so ja, (a) wat die duur en (b) rede van sodanige betrokkenheid in elke geval was; (2) of sodanige betrokkenheid sy goedkeuring weggedra het; so nie, waarom nie; so ja, wat die tersaaklike besonderhede is; (3) of sodanige raadslid enige insae gehad het in die aanskaffings en tenderprosedures van die organisasie, bo en behalwe dit wat sy of hy in ’n normale raadslidposisie sou gehad het; so nie, wat die posisie in dié verband is; so ja, wat die tersaaklike besonderhede is; (4) watter vergoeding sodanige raadslid bo en behalwe haar of sy raadslidtoelaag ontvang het; (5) of daar vir dié vergoeding begroot is; so nie, waarom nie; so ja, wat die tersaaklike besonderhede is?
17/11/2006	(1) Whether, with regard to the compulsory plastic bag tax imposed three years ago to fund a national recycling programme, his department requested from the National Treasury the total amount raised for this purpose to date; if not, why not; if so, (a) what was the amount, (b) what amount was raised for the period May 2003 to June 2004 and (c) what happened to the money raised during this period; (2) why has the section 21 company (name furnished), which was set up to create and manage the recycling programme, failed to fulfill its mandate to date?