MPUMALANGA EXECUTIVE COUNCIL DECISIONS TAKEN AT STEVE TSHWETE MUNICIPALITY ( MIDDELBURG)
The Department of Agriculture and Land Administration made a presentation to Cabinet on the implementation of the National Environmental Management Act Second Amendment (ACT No. 8 of 2004). This Amendment came into force on the 7th January 2005. The transitional clause allows for illegal Environmental Impact Assessment activities to be rectified by applying to the MEC within six months.
Non-compliant individuals and industries that do not apply within the specified period would be guilty of an offence in terms of the Act and could be fined R5m and/or 10 years imprisonment.
The Act stipulates that no person may commence a listed activity, for example, infrastructure development, housing development, building of housing golf estates, etc. unless the competent authority has granted an environmental authorization. Furthermore, a person committing or has committed an offence must apply to the MEC to rectify an illegal activity.
The Department expressed concern at the way stakeholders do not take this legislation seriously, despite these huge fines and prison sentences that can be imposed for violating the Act. So far the Department has received only five queries, four complaints and three applications. Developers, local government authorities and other interested parties have less than a month before the grace period expires on July 7th 2005.
Cabinet has also approved the hosting of a Land Summit on 11-12th July 2005 in Nelspruit. This summit is an initiative of the Department of Agriculture and Land Administration in conjunction with Regional Land Affairs and Regional Land Claims Commission.
The Summit will also include a march by the participants and they will hand over a memorandum to Premier Thabang Makwetla. The purpose of the march is to mobilize people in the province to express their concern and fears about the land and agrarian reform issues including an intervention to accelerate sustainable land reform.
Cabinet also approved the extension of the term of office of the members of the Mpumalanga Gaming Board for another two months. Advertisement were placed in May 2005 calling for nominations
The Auditor-General gave a report to Cabinet on the audit outcomes for the province. It emerged that out of the 12 departments audited, 11 received an unqualified report and only the Department of Education received a qualified report for 2003/2004 financial year.
Issued by the Communication Chief Directorate,
Office of the Premier, NELSPRUIT
Contact Lebona Mosia at 082 561 6465 or
Email: lmosia@nel.mpu.gov.za