Speaker, the development and building of the Pan- African Parliament is an important building block for the establishment of this institution. South Africa, as a host country, has the responsibility to oversee this development in the proper manner and within the law.
According to newspaper reports, building activities on this proposed site of the Pan-African Parliament were stopped after a complaint was received that an environmentally sensitive vlei [marsh] was being destroyed by the contractors.
The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs has now claimed that misleading information was given in the environmental impact assessment report. The question remains whether the department visited the site, and why this was not picked up.
A shortlist of six sites was produced by the department for approval by the Cabinet. Cabinet approval was given on the wrong information supplied. Apparently, the Gauteng department of agriculture and rural development warned the national Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, but received no reaction. Cabinet is urged to rectify the situation in such a manner that our image and that of the Pan-African Parliament are not tainted. We must be sensitive to the environment and take the necessary steps against those responsible. Thank you.