Chairperson, it is an honour for me today, as we celebrate Heritage Day, to take part by reporting on our joint oversight visit to KwaZulu-Natal with the Select Committee on Economic Development. This report was in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports of 14 May 2010.
The joint committees visited different areas in KwaZulu-Natal, firstly St Lucia, where they met with communities and officials from iSimangaliso Wetland Park, local businesspeople, SMMEs and the local municipality of Mtubatuba. In Richards Bay they met the local municipality, the City of uMhlathuze, the MEC for economic development in KwaZulu-Natal, hon Mike Mabuyakhulu, and officials from his department. We also visited KwaMbonambi where we met communities and two amakhosi and we visited the local mine, which is Richards Bay Minerals. We visited Empangeni where we met with officials from Exxaro mine, thereafter meeting with community members of eMadlankala, where Exxaro mines. In Durban we visited the Engen Refinery. On this oversight visit, we were also accompanied by the KwaZulu-Natal Regional Director of the Department of Mineral Resources. We also went to Richards Bay, where we visited the industrial development zone, IDZ, and the Richards Bay harbour.
After all the oversight visits, the joint committees recommended that the Department of Trade and Industry should properly fund the industrial development zone in Richards Bay. The Richards Bay IDZ should hold their own account, which means that their grants and monies should not go via Ithala Bank.
The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs should look at the possibility of building a dam within the Mtubatuba municipality. We also recommended that Mtubatuba municipality should submit to Parliament a progress report regarding the exchange of land with private owners.
The national Department of Tourism should strengthen relationships for a national marketing strategy involving all stakeholders.
UMhlathuze municipality should provide a progress report with regard to SMME development and the manufacturing sector. Relationships between the mines, Richards Bay Minerals and Exxaro, and the communities must be improved through formal forums, and the Department of Mineral Resources should be the facilitator. Richards Bay Minerals and Exxaro should treat amakhosi and traditional leaders with respect and hear their side of the story when they are about to mine in those areas. Richards Bay Minerals and Exxaro should formally consult communities about new developments so that they are on the same level as the local communities. There should be a follow-up on the Engen Refinery with regard to compliance with the new air emissions standards.
In conclusion, the committees felt that after submitting this report and the recommendations to the relevant department, there should be a follow-up on the recommendations and their implementation after about six to nine months.
I therefore, on behalf of all the members of both committees, submit this report for adoption. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.