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

March

07/03/2008	(a) 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; whether his department has made any interventions to measure the emissions from incinerators; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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; whether any efforts have been made to improve the branding and marketing of the EMIs; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; whether the EMIs have made any sectoral interventions since 1 January 2006; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
07/03/2008	(a) 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; whether the participating countries will establish individual national strategies; if not, why not; if so, (a) what is South Africa’s own strategy or policy document and (b) how does the concept of sustainable use apply to the elephant population?
07/03/2008	Which national parks are already experiencing an overpopulation of elephants; whether more areas are available for acquisition by national pakrs to settle elephants on; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; whether the Knysna forests and adjacent areas are being reconsidered as possible areas where elephants can be resettled; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; what steps is he considering taking to restrict the commercial hunting 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; whether there are any plans to market the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park to tourists attending the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup event; 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; whether (a) social relief measures were an agenda item of this meeting and (b) minutes of this meeting were kept; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details in each case; whether alternative measures for abalone rights holders are still on the agenda of his department; if not, (a) why not and (b) what new measures will be introduced?
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; whether a study has been conducted to determine the costs which will be incurred in adapting to climate change; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; whether any measures are being examined to finance adaptation to climate; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
20/03/2008	(a) 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; whether the new appointment was endorsed by the Board of the SAWS; if not, (a) why not and (b) why was the appointment made; if so, on what basis;   whether the new appointment fulfills the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999; if not, how will the situation be rectified; if so, how was this conclusion reached?
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; whether all tender procedures were followed in appointing the said entity; if not, why not; if so, how was this conclusion reached; whether any of the partners of the said entity is related to any board member of the SAWS; if so, on what grounds is such a conflict of interest justified?
20/03/2008	(a) 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; whether the SAWS paid for any staff members to attend the house warming party of the CEO (details furnished); if so, what (a) are the (i) names and (ii) designations of the staff that attended and (b) was the total cost to SAWS; whether such expenditure complies with the strategic priorities of the SAWS; if not, how is the expenditure justified; if so, how was this conclusion reached?
28/03/2008	(a) 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; (a) what has been the budget for marketing South Africa to potential foreign tourists in each of the past two financial years and (b) what will it be in the 2008-09 financial year?
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; whether a certain business entity (name furnished) has been contracted to provide any service to SAWS; if so, (a) what are the relevant details and (b) what is the (i) name and (ii) designation of the staff member that authorised this contract; whether this service has been provided to SAWS; if not, why not; if so, whether this business entity has been paid for the service; if not, why not; if so, when was it paid?
28/03/2008	(a) What is his department’s policy on abalone fishing and (b) what will happen to the lives of the 200 current abalone rights holders; whether he has considered allocating grants to establish more abalone farms on a commercial basis to alleviate poverty; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
28/03/2008	Whether South Africa is considering selling parts of its ivory stockpile to China; if not, what other countries are potential destinations; if so, on what basis can the sale be made; whether China is a member of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) in good standing; if not; how can the sale be justified; if so, how was this conclusion reached; whether the terms of the sale have been finalised; if not, when will they be finalised; if so, what are the relevant details; whether the (a) entire existing stock and (b) potential stocks from possible future culling will be sold; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?