Response to the impact of social activities on the environment 

The response to the impacts of social activities on the environment are discussed under the following headings:

Responses to combat population growth and demographic change

Responses to enhance social and economic development

Responses to reduce crime

Responses to improve health

Responses to improve education

Society's responses to the environmental impacts of human pressures and activities are manifest in a number of ways. The purposeful alleviation of poverty by concentrating on basic needs has been the main governmental response, under the direction of the Reconstruction and Development Programme. Since 1994 most government departments have issued White papers and introduced new legislation touching every aspect of the social environment. The participation by the public to ensure that policies are acceptable to the majority of people as well as the protection of the natural environment form integral parts of these policies. Specific reference can be made to social impact assessments which are a required component of environmental impact assessments in terms of updated regulations to the Environment Conservation Act (No. 73 of 1989), the Minerals Act (No. 50 of 1991) and the Development Facilitation Act (No. 67 of 1995), which are all concerned with development in the physical environment.

Responses to combat population growth and demographic change: 

Job creation to reduce unemployment

The government in its policies and the ruling party in its leadership role have purposefully aimed to improve the status of women. This should contribute to a decline in the fertility rate. A draft White paper on population policy has also been drafted. It aims to address fertility, mortality and migration, in order to optomise social development and minimise environmental pressures.

There are currently major job creation initiatives underway to reduce unemployment. For example, the tourism industry has been targeted to create an additional 450,000 jobs by 2005. This will be achieved through a combination of public and private investment in tourism. Government, business and the trade unions have separate and joint programmes to create jobs while possibly restrictive labour laws are under review. This will contribute to a reduction in poverty, and its associated environmental problems. However, with the current population increase, these schemes will do little more than absorb the number of school leavers.

The government has also identified several key areas for development across the country. These are called Spatial Development Initiatives, and promote industrial, commercial and tertiary sector activities. The Maputo Corridor, an area surrounding the arterial route between Pretoria and Maputo is one example, the Wild Coast, an area between Port Alfred and Port St John’s on the Eastern cape coast is another. These development initiatives are aimed at creating employment opportunities, the strategic location of industry and commercial activities, and stimulation of international trade and global competitiveness.

Responses to enhance social and economic development: 

In response to the urgent need for adequate housing, approximately 400 000 subsidised houses for low-income earners were built or were under construction between 1994 and 1997. In total, 951 000 subsidies were allocated by end of 1998 (Mandela, 1998). This will contribute to the provision of adequate housing under formal urban controls and reduce the negative effects of land invasions and informal settlement on the natural environment.

Responses to reduce crime: 

The National Crime Prevention Strategy was adopted in 1996 as a four-pillared offensive against crime. The four pillars are:

• improving the criminal justice system,
• the activation of community pressure against crime,
• environmental design to limit opportunities for crime in the built environment, and
• attention to cross-border crime (Department of Safety & Security, 1996).

Responses to improve health: 

In response to the urgent need for health care, especially in rural areas, the Department of Health has recruited professionals from other countries, embarked on a country-wide clinic-building programme (in which 500 clinics were built or upgraded during 1997) and instituted free health care for mothers and children under 5 years. Together with better family planning services and facilities, this will contribute towards a reduction in mortality. Expenditure on health care also increased by 24% from R20 billion in 1997/8 to R25 billion in 1998/9. This represents 12% of the total budget, the second largest proportion (after education), and 4% of GDP.S South African Institute for Race Relations, 1998).

The Department of Water Affairs and Forestry has secured foreign funding to help finance the implementation of projects that ensure easy access to clean water and sanitation for all citizens. By the end of 1997 clean and accessible water had been provided to 1.3 million South Africans. Approximately 420 000 new electrical connections were made during 1997 (Mandela, 1998). This will contribute to a reduction in water and air pollution and ultimately to an improvement in community health.

Responses to improve education: 

Environmental education a priority in South Africa

The Department of Education has made environmental education a priority. In the current national Curriculum 2005 the environment is an organiser which runs across all eight areas of learning. It is also reflected in the critical outcomes outlined by the South African Qualifications Authority. Curriculum 2005 is currently being implemented in the first three years of schooling, i.e. through Grades 1-3, in what is called the Foundation Phase. It is envisaged that by the year 2005 all learners will be exposed to environmental education in their respective learning environments in the general education and training band (up to the first year of high school, Grade 9). In the further education and training band, during the last three years of high school, i.e. Grades 10-12 in schools, the environment becomes an optional module (Hughes, 1999).

Government allocation for education amounted to R46 billion in the 1998/9 budget (23% of the total budget, an increase of 2% on the previous year). South African Institute of Race Relations, 1998).

>     Social Environment: Outcome

There is also information about the Social Environment in the following reports:
Metropolitan reports:
	Cape Metropolitan Council (1998 edition)		Durban Pilot Study
	Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Council (1999 edition)		Greater Pretoria Metropolitan Council (1999 edition)