The response to the hon Morgan's question is as follows: With regard to the implementation programme which we have embarked on to deal with the issue of acid mine drainage, particularly in the area of the western basin, we would like to indicate that we have begun with the implementation of an immediate solution that will reduce or even completely eradicate the surface decant in this basin.
A process has been embarked upon to ensure that a due diligence review is undertaken by one of our institutions, the Trans-Caledon Tunnel Authority, TCTA. This work will result in the production of a business plan on 7 July 2011. We will then be able to go further with regard to actually and tangibly dealing with the very difficult challenge of acid mine drainage.
Regarding the central basin, the implementation of a solution that will also prevent the underground mine water level from reaching environmentally critical levels there is also recommended in the report. Once again, TCTA is dealing with that analysis and with due diligence in that area.
In the eastern basin, the implementation of a solution that will prevent the underground mine water level reaching the environmentally critical level is also recommended. In this regard, our department is monitoring the rate of mine water rise in the eastern basin on a continuous basis. We are also maintaining contact with the liquidators who are currently busy at that mine, because, as we know, it is currently under liquidation. As a matter of fact, we can indicate that there is a meeting tomorrow between the liquidators and our officials to address this matter.
Regarding the second question about funding and full costing, yes, we believe that as we go on there will be a need to cost this exercise further. For now, we are certain that the costing for this financial year, which was done on an amount of R225 million, will help us deal with this problem. For the following year, 2012-13, a guesstimated figure has also been looked at, but we are able to now guess that the final figure for these three basins will need to be more than a billion rand. It will definitely depend on the solutions that are proposed. [Time expired.]
Hon Minister, thank you for your very comprehensive reply. I guess it's understandable that we don't have all the costs at the moment. It is a short-term, medium-term and long-term solution that is required to deal with acid mine drainage, AMD. Indeed, we will have to manage it for ever because one cannot come up with a solution to get rid of AMD permanently.
The question I want to put to you, though, is this: One of the most important environmental governance principles is "the polluter pays". That means that if you pollute in South Africa, you are held to account and you have to pay for the rehabilitation. With that in mind, how can it be justified that your department is using R225 million of taxpayers' money to get the ball rolling? In essence, this is a subsidisation of the polluter. Secondly, will your department commit to aggressively pursuing some kind of cost recovery from the polluters to ensure a sustainable solution to the funding of the AMD response over time?
Indeed, it is true that this exercise requires long-term planning as we go forward. Even this amount of money is not enough. However, as a responsible government in South Africa, it is of critical importance that we don't look at a problem becoming worse and worse every day. It is for that reason that we resolved, at a Cabinet level, to allocate this amount of money as a short-term measure to eradicate the problem for now, while we are also looking at all other solutions, including the "polluter pays" principle. As a matter of fact, three of our pieces of legislation contain the "polluter pays" element, such as the Mining Act and Water Act, as well as our National Environmental Management Act. So, we can use any of them. At this time we have resolved to use section 19 and 20 of the Water Act to follow all those mines that have to come on board in terms of payment and really ensure that this principle of "the polluter pays" works.
Also, Treasury is currently working with us to investigate other methods and mechanisms of ensuring that there is sustainability and the possibility of a long-term funding programme going forward to deal with this problem. As government we definitely can't come on board all the time and pop out taxpayers' money to deal with a mining problem when people have pocketed profits and left. Particulars regarding achievement of 2015 target to send 10 000 qualified artisans into the economy annually
39. Ms N Y Vukuza-Linda (Cope) asked the Minister of Higher Education and Training:
Whether his department is on track to reach its target by 2015 to send 10 000 qualified artisans into the economy on an annual basis; if not, why not; if so, (a) how will his department ensure that the artisans are qualified to enter the job market and (b) how much money has been allocated to training these artisans annually?