Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy President and hon colleagues in the House, let me start by commending the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs, under the able leadership of Adv De Lange, for finalising five very important Bills that were placed before them, three of which we are discussing today. They are very important Bills for the Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as the provinces. Once promulgated, these Bills will go a long way toward closing the identified regulatory gaps and the progressive realisation of the environmental rights set out in section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa.
The first of these Bills is the Bill under the National Environmental Management Act, which is the Air Quality Amendment Bill. This Bill will enhance service delivery, as it provides for the establishment of the national Air Quality Advisory Committee to advise the Minister on quality- related matters. Members of this committee will be appointed in accordance with the provisions of National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act of 2004.
One of the important aspects of the Bill is that it now compels the Minister to establish an advisory committee, which is currently a discretionary power in terms of the Act. This was amended because of public submissions received during the public consultation process. The advisory committee will not only advise the Minister on current and future trends in air quality matters, but will also give feedback mechanisms on the implementation of the Air Quality Act. The Bill is important and closes very important regulatory gaps with respect to the implementation of atmospheric emission licences.
Clause 3 inserts a new section, section 22A, in the Act, to provide for the consequences of unlawfully conducting a listed atmospheric emission activity without the necessary authorisation. This clause will address these scenarios.
Firstly, it is where atmospheric emissions take place without an environmental impact assessment, which must be addressed through section 24(g) of the National Environmental Management Act of 1998; then, where activities are conducted without the necessary registration certificate under the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1965; and thirdly, where activities conducted had an EIA environmental authorisation granted, but no atmospheric emission licence was issued, which must be addressed through section 22A.
This clause, which emulates section 24(g) of the Nema, sets out the process and the information required for such an application. The clause also provides the licensing authority with various options when considering such an application. The clause further provides for the payment of an administrative fine not exceeding R5 million before restarting an activity. In other words it does not indemnify any person who starts an activity.
The amendment to section 29 is also important in monitoring, evaluation and reporting of approved pollution prevention plans. The information that is collected in the process of monitoring is important to ensure compliance with our international obligations in relation to climate change. Section 53 is amended to be able to obtain the information on greenhouse gases, which is our international obligation, as required.
Clause 5 will also insert a new subsection in section 36 of the Act. The licensing authority will also deal with the issues of the powers and functions of MECs and the Minister. The additions propose that in instances where the licensing authorities fail to take a decision within the time period set, an applicant may request the MEC or the Minister to do so. Currently this is not the case.
The licensing authority that has the power to issue an atmospheric licence is usually vested in the relevant local authority. However, clause 5 will designate the Minister to be the licensing authority where the applicant for an atmospheric emission licence is a provincial organ of state that has been delegated by the municipality the power to issue such emission licences.
I am moving on in the interest of time to the next of the Bills, which is the Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill. This Bill takes an important step in securing the natural assets of the sea and the beaches belonging to the people of South Africa, and at the same time ensuring that organs of state can use these assets for the benefit of all. The Act creates the notion of coastal public property, which gives special status to the beaches, the sea and the seabed that are part of the coastal public property.
The Republic of South Africa's public property stretching into the sea extends our sovereign waters to 200 nautical miles and will soon include the continental shelf once South Africa's claim has been finalised, as we have submitted a claim through the United Nations. This notion is progressive and realises a good balance between environmental integrity, public ownership and economic growth.
Having vested ownership of these natural assets in the citizens, to be held in trust by the state, the current Act fell short of securing the proper use and ownership of structures within coastal public property by organs of state. The current Act did not deal clearly with the impact of coastal public property on other organs of state that own assets or operate in the sea space. The Bill now clarifies the ownership of coastal public property, which is important for job creation and economic development.
Our ports are gateways to economic growth and stability, as they are a conduit for exports. More than 90% of South Africa's exports are done through the ports. The Bill also enables more efficient regulation of port activities such as dredging. Dredging is an integral part of the functioning of the ports in South Africa. The Bill enables easier operation of ports by increasing the time period of permits.
The Bill clarifies reclamation. Reclamation enables us to use an area which would otherwise be covered by water, and it is especially important as we discover the economic importance of our oceans and coasts.
The Bill simplifies processes, and improves and streamlines governance structures to facilitate accountability and integrated coastal planning and intergovernmental co-operation. It aims to address regulatory gaps, but also consolidates and simplifies coastal EIAs, coastal leases and concessions, and coastal access fees and delegations. It simplifies technical definitions such those of the high water mark and estuaries, and makes adjustments to that of climate change. It also clarifies national arrangements, making obligations and consequences easier to understand and implement. The Bill also strengthens the offences and penalties by consolidating offences from three to two categories and creating higher penalties.
South Africa is very proud to have legislation such as the Integrated Coastal Management Act. This amending Bill, which is leading legislation within the continent and beyond, goes a long way in managing critical ocean and coastal resources in an effective and holistic way.
The last Bill that I would like to deal with is the Protected Areas Amendment Bill. This amendment Bill is important milestone in the final step towards implementation and the restructuring of government, which saw the separation of the Fisheries and Environmental functions. The amending Bill gives effect to the presidential proclamation by clearly separating Environmental and Fisheries functions and ensuring that there is appropriate consultation and co-operation where the functions overlap.
The Bill places marine protected areas under the Protected Areas Act and ensures co-operative governance within fishing zones. It further enhances accountability and good governance in environmental managing authorities and promotes holistic management of all protected areas - marine protected areas as well. All existing marine protected areas are retained and the amending Bill generally brings the management of marine protected areas under the purview of the Protected Areas Act regime. The Bill facilitates integrated and co-operative management of the country's conservation estate, which is highly regarded in international circles.
This is an important step in implementing the vision of the presidential proclamation and the restructuring of government to enhance the priorities of government.
The marine protected areas enable environmental integrity whilst at the same time increasing productivity. As I conclude, I would like to indicate that these are very important as marine protected areas not only for conservation, but also for economic activities such as tourism for our country, South Africa, and the international visitors for fishing and recreation. They provide protection, economic use opportunities and job creation. I would like to thank you very much, hon Deputy Speaker. Thanks once again to the portfolio committee for having done such a wonderful job. Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy President, hon Ministers, ladies and gentlemen, and hon members, I want to start with some thank yous. The first is to my long-suffering portfolio committee. I want to thank all the members, across party lines, for the tremendous work that they have done. At the moment we are trying to process eight pieces of legislation. We have now finalised five, and three of them are at an advanced stage of processing. So, I really want to thank all the members for going that extra mile. Then, I would like to thank the department, the Minister and the Deputy Minister for the excellent support and service they have given us.
Today we were going to deal with four pieces of legislation. You have heard that we are dealing with only three, and I will give some background to that.
Firstly, with regard to the Protected Areas Amendment Bill, that we are debating today, there has been a difference of opinion as to the tagging of this Bill. The Bill is tagged presently as a section 75 Bill. The committee is of the view that it should be tagged as a section 76 Bill. Although we are debating this matter today, it will be referred back to the committee until this tagging issue has been dealt with and then the Bill will be passed.
The fourth Bill, which is not here today although we passed it in the committee, is the South African Weather Service Bill. This Bill was introduced in Parliament in November 2011 and was tagged as a section 75 Bill. Then, after we had processed the Bill, one or two constitutional matters were raised and the Bill was withdrawn. It was then introduced again in July this year. On Tuesday, when we passed the Bill, we heard for the first time that the Bill has not been tagged in Parliament; hence we will not be able to debate the Bill.
Let me then turn to the three Bills, which all deal with environmental matters. As you are aware, the National Environmental Management Act, Act 107 of 1998, which we call Nema, is the umbrella environmental framework legislation which provides the bedrock for environmental management in South Africa.
Then there are other specific environmental management acts, which we call Semas, and which were promulgated after dealing with specific media of environment. They deal with air quality, coastal management, protected areas, etc. Today we are amending three of those Semas. As you have heard from the Minister, they are complicated in some senses. Firstly, let me deal with the Air Quality Amendment Bill. The issue of air quality is relatively complicated in our constitutional dispensation because it is one of those matters - air quality and air pollution - that have been given to local government to deal with. Today in our country, when atmospheric emission licences have to be given, they are given by local government.
We all know that there are difficulties at local government level with regard to capacity, and particularly complicated capacity like this, where companies want to open a factory which will emit atmospheric emissions, and then they want licences. We have had quite a number of problems at the local government level with the issuing of these licences and we will deal with them.
The constitutional dispensation creates some problems. You know that in our Constitution we have schedule 4, which deals with concurrent powers. Environment and nature conservation fall under concurrent powers. At one stage the Constitution was amended to deal with local government issues. At that stage, the Minister of Finance was probably part of it and I opposed it at the time. Now, that is probably why I am getting my own back at this stage! The Constitution was amended and there were certain issues around local government which were added to schedule 4. Those issues are dealt with in schedule 4, but are administered at local government level. Air pollution is one of those.
The problem is, of course, that they put it in schedule 4, which is the concurrent power between national and provincial levels. You can imagine the kind of constitutional scenarios that arise when one tries to debate this issue. It is a complicated issue and we have tried our best to stay within the confines of our Constitution.
As I have said, there are certain capacity problems at local government level. No one wants to take away the powers of local government, but equally, especially for developmental purposes for example, in their giving licences to open factories and so on, we cannot rely totally on the capacity of local government that cannot produce, give licences and follow up.
What we have done is to create a whole host of tools in the area of the environment and those tools will allow for interventions from higher up in government down to local government level to make sure that those functions are fulfilled. One is not trying to take away the functions of local government, but to capacitate local government. There are certain procedures that have to be followed, and only when there has been a failure to do something within the timeframes, will the MEC or the Minister in the area of environment will intervene and take over the function in that specific application. I want to emphasise that in the specific application that has been submitted the MEC or the Minister can take over the decision to issue such a licence or not.
We have also provided that when such a power is moved from local government up to the MEC or the Minister, the timeframes are also applicable to them. If the MEC, for example, has not intervened and fulfilled his function properly and within the timeframes, then the applicant can also make an application to the Minister. You can see we have created a much nuanced system, in which we have tried to make sure that where there is a failure to meet the timeframes applicants can try to get to a higher authority. We have set out in the Act all the procedures that must be followed. Most of them have an assisting nature to try to allow local government to fulfil its function and only after all has been done and there is still a failure will the function be taken over by the MEC or the Minister.
The second area that we have dealt with is making sure that the national Minister is the national competent authority in those functions in the area of atmospheric emissions that are usually fulfilled at the national level. There are five such instances in the Act, again to make sure that there is a proper functioning of the system. Firstly, where the provincial organ of state is the applicant for an atmospheric emission licence, the Minister will be the competent authority. When there is a transmunicipal application, of course, one of them can't deal with it, and then the Minister will be the national competent authority.
In the Nema and the National Environmental Management: Waste Act, the Minister is the competent authority in certain areas, and in the area of air emissions the Minister will remain the competent authority. You will remember that with regard to Nema, as we explained last time, we have allowed, where there are bigger infrastructure projects, for Cabinet actually to decide whether that infrastructure is a national priority. If it is a national priority, the decisions around environmental issues for air emissions will be dealt with by the national Minister.
Lastly, there is the complicated area of mining activity. We are already busy with the Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources, trying to harmonise and synchronise all the licensing procedures for the environment and for mining. To facilitate that process, we are also making the Minister the competent authority where there is a mining activity and we are dealing with atmospheric emissions. We have provided that when the Minister deals with a mining matter, she will do so after consultation with the municipality.
Then, as I said to you previously when we dealt with Nema, our environmental laws did not have procedures to deal with people when they proceed with activities that actually have not been authorised and impinge on the environment. So, we amended section 24(g) of Nema in the previous legislation.
However, in the area of air quality, we do not have a similar clause to curb unlawful activities that may be taking place. There is no procedure allowing the Minister to intervene and take remedial action. Now, we have provided for such a procedure in the legislation.
It has been quite complicated to do, so we dealt with three different scenarios. Firstly, when there is a lack of an environmental impact assessment and someone has started to emit emissions, in that instance section 24(g) of Nema will still be applicable, and not this Act.
When the old Act, which is the forerunner of this Act and which we call Appa, the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act or something or other ...[Laughter.] ... was in operation, there were also unlawful activities under that Act, and we have now provided that unlawful activities under that Act can be dealt with using the procedures that we have provided for in this Act.
The third scenario is the instance when someone has had an EIA done, but they start emitting emissions from their factory when they do not have a licence yet. In that instance we have provided for procedures in this Act that will make sure that the Minister has powers to intervene and take remedial action.
There are quite a few other issues under this Act, but I will skip them for now.
The second Bill is the Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill, a very important piece of legislation. This is the amendment of a thick Act that deals with all aspects of the sea and the coast. Our work has been bedevilled for a long time by problems with the major concept and definition in this Act of public coastal property.
Public coastal property is all that territory in South Africa from the high water mark right into the sea until where our territory ends. That is called the coastal public property. Coastal public property is kept by the state in trust for the citizens of this country. No one should be able to own that property and this Act has provided for that for some time now. The previous Act, when it was passed, did two things. Firstly, it amended some of the clauses and in the end the amendment did not cater for every situation. Organisations like Transnet in particular felt that these amendments that were made previously did not clearly cater for what they wanted.
Secondly, in that previous Act an exemption was created, where Parliament on certain occasions could pass a resolution and could exclude certain land from the definition of coastal public property. Of course, that is absolutely a loophole for disaster to come in. Some of you will remember the problems we had here at the Waterfront when Transnet tried to give away half of South Africa to private owners and tried to sell off the land.
What we have done now is create a very clear definition of coastal public property. We have very clearly stated that infrastructure, particularly in ports and harbours, remains the property of whoever the owner is using it, which is Transnet. We have stated this very clearly, because Transnet came and also wanted to own the sea! They said the sea and the harbour should belong to them. We said, "No way! You can jump off the bus right now! We are not going to allow that." What we made quite clear was that the use of the sea space in a harbour or a port would not be affected by this legislation.
So, I think these definitions are quite clear and there shouldn't be further problems. I think everyone is as happy as one can be.
Of course, the previous regime also included leases over coastal properties. We are doing away with the whole lease system because sometimes you have leases that are 99 years long! That is equivalent to ownership. We are doing away with the system of the leasing properties. That will be phased out over a period of time and we are introducing a permit system that clearly stipulates that the ownership vests with the state. This will be by way of permits, and not by way of leases or ownership, when we deal with these properties.
The third big issue is the issue of reclamation. Reclamation is when you start taking part of the sea back and you make it part of the land. For example, in Coega, when you erect all those buildings there, that will be reclamation. If you have been to Dubai, you will see there are islands there that they are building in the sea and they are engaging in all kinds of funny activities on those islands. That is reclamation.
There was no proper procedure in the legislation to deal with that and we have now created that procedure. We have also clearly distinguished between reclamation when it is to do with the state, a parastatal or an organ of state, and when it is private. We have set out very clearly what the role of the executive will be, and what the role of Parliament will be.
If any of you follow these reclamations, you will know that they're a den of iniquity, corruption and bribery anywhere in the world. So, we have made sure that we have created transparent and open processes that Parliament can particularly be part of when there is private reclamation. Those procedures are set out very clearly in the Act.
There are three other issues that weren't in the Act, which you can read in the resolutions. I do not have the time for that.
The Minister has already dealt with the Protected Areas Amendment Bill, the last Bill. As you know, under the previous administration the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Department of Tourism were all under one department. The new administration removed the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Department of Tourism from the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs, and the legislation in the Marine Living Resources Act dealt with those matters. However, in terms of a proclamation of the President, the environmental issues were dealt with by the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries.
The Ministers are now passing a piece of legislation to deal with their aspects. This legislation will deal with those aspects that the President gave to our department in the proclamation and the legislation will now take marine protected areas and place them under the whole protected areas regime for which we have legislation. That is the long and the short of it. The Minister will retain her usual powers of determining protected areas and what can be done in those areas, etc. Those aspects have not been amended.
I once again thank everyone who has worked very hard in trying to get all these matters before Parliament. I hope that we will get the protected areas voted on soon and that the South African Weather Service Amendment Bill will also be brought back so that we can finalise that Bill before rising. I thank you so much. [Applause.]
The National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act has been in operation since 2005. However, the national Department of Environmental Affairs, as well as their provincial counterparts, identified certain provisions in the Act that were absolete. The national norms and standards have now been set and the Act now finally provides for a more effective regulatory framework for air quality control and compliance, as well as enforcement.
During the public participation phase, the committee took note of the various inputs by NGOs, companies and individuals. Enforcement and compliance have been a huge problem throughout the country. The uncontrolled emissions have caused huge health problems in communities, and the big companies have been flouting the law and ignoring the plight of those communities. Therefore, we welcome clause 4 under section 29, which seeks to provide for monitoring, evaluation and reporting requirements on the implementation of the approved pollution prevention plan.
The insertion of the new section 22A in the Act is a move in the right direction and will assist in taking action against emission activities that take place without the necessary authorisation. We also welcome the establishment by the Minister of the national Air Quality Advisory Committee, which will be advising the Minister on quality-related matters.
In many instances, the metropolitan and district municipalities have failed in their duty of taking decisions within the timeframes provided and prescribed. Now, clause 5 of the Bill provides for the MEC or the Minister, as the case may be, to take decisions on the issuing of atmospheric emission licences. Should the MEC not deal with this matter or not have the necessary capacity to fulfil these duties, the Minister will become the issuing authority. Agreeing to this amendment, the committee was mindful of the powers and functions of the municipalities and provinces.
The insertion, under clause 10 of subsection 3 in section 41 of the Act provides for the issuing of a one-year provisional atmospheric emission licence from the date of commissioning. A further one-year option is provided for based on good cause shown to the licensing authority.
The Bill provides for five instances where the Minister will be the licensing authority for applications for the atmospheric emission licence instead of the relevant municipality. These are, namely, where the provincial organ of state is the applicant; where there are cross-boundary activities; a Cabinet-declared activity of national priority; activities related to the National Environment Management Act and the Waste Act; and activities relating to mining. When the Minister issues atmospheric emission licences in a mining area, this must be done after consultation with the relevant municipality.
The National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill of 2013 is an important piece of legislation towards ensuring a sound framework for South Africa's conservation for the present and future generations. The Act provides for the protection and conservation of ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa's biological diversity, and its natural landscapes and seascapes.
The purpose of the Protected Areas Amendment Bill is to give effect to the separation of functions between fisheries and environmental management by removing the marine protected areas, MPAs, from the Marine Living Resources Act being regulated by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries incorporating the MPAs into the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act.
The Protected Areas Amendment Bill now focuses on incorporating marine protected areas into the existing protected areas regime. Marine protected areas have become a flagship of marine conservation programmes in many parts of the world. In line with the international community's conservation agendas, South Africa, too, through this Bill, will begin to shape and translate its policies for the marine protected areas.
Marine protected areas offer a range of benefits for fisheries and the marine environment by providing safe havens for depleted fish stocks to recover. They also provide services to local communities that depend on the sea and its resources, increasing food security and reducing poverty.
We must be mindful of the MPAs' targets, as the one-size-fits-all approach will not suit all habitat types. Objectives must be treated with caution and the MPAs must be seen as a tool to be considered in the overall goal of achieving sustainable use of the oceans. The DA will support the Bills. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, Deputy President, Ministers and members, the Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill is for all practical reasons an improvement on the 2008 Integrated Coastal Management Act, a positive move that innovatively gives greater powers regarding coastal protection.
It amends powers relating to leases, inclusive of transitional arrangements, and draws specific attention to offences and the increase in penalties. Cope is encouraged by the legal and obligatory responsibilities it provides for, and the attempts it makes regarding correction and clarification of terminology, which make this Bill friendlier.
We appreciate the recognition of the public participation processes, and thus the inclusion of the coastal protection zone, which was previously omitted.
It is progressive and encouraging in the right direction, in protecting our environment and resources, and seeks clarity regarding coastal waters.
While it is essential to regulate and set the criteria for the environmental impact assessment applications for coastal activities, Cope notes, for the sake of future good governance relations, that it is equally important to undertake a study of the real effects of these changes. We also need a responsive database on offenses and penalties and a clear undertaking of court jurisdiction. Notwithstanding this, the Bill is an improvement and Cope thanks the Minister for her foresight.
One of the objectives of the Air Quality Amendment Bill is to align the establishment of the national Air Quality Advisory Committee with the requirements of the National Environmental Management Act of 1998. If we remember, last November we debated the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment Bill, the Nemla Bill, giving the Minister political and legal powers to take action against other government departments regarding violations of environmental issues.
These issues often affect our people, resulting in serious health consequences. In rural areas of South Africa waste collection is almost nonexistent. In urban areas children are dying as a result of the illegal dumping of waste chemicals. Other pollution activities include the contamination of water, and pollutants as a result of illegal mining. Cope supports the insertion of section 22A and urges the Minister to act swiftly, using this law to halt the destruction of the environment, specifically in the Mpumalanga area.
For the first time the International Agency for Research on Cancer has declared that air pollution is a carcinogen, alongside known dangers such as asbestos, tobacco and ultraviolet radiation. Emissions of soot and other air pollutants are also blamed for causing climate change. Pollution poisons plants and can block sunlight, stunting their growth. The Bill, when implemented, will protect our health and aid crop growth in areas like Mpumalanga, where farming is affected by illegal mining activity.
In the communities in the South Durban townships of Wentworth, Merebank and the Bluff, who are in close proximity to the oil refineries, ambient air pollution reporting will come in handy. This Bill will bring the environmental justice that has eluded these communities from the apartheid era to this day. They have been bearing the health costs associated with the petrochemical industry. These include high levels of asthma, severe chest complaints and cancer. This Bill will help them monitor the air quality and then give them the tools to take appropriate action.
The purpose of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill is to give effect to the presidential proclamation, separating the functions of fisheries and environmental management by removing the marine protected areas from the Marine Living Resources Act and incorporating the marine protected areas into the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act. Therefore, the amending Bill focuses on the incorporation of marine protected areas into the existing protected areas regime. The Bill also provides for the protection and conservation of ecologically viable areas representative of South Africa's biological diversity and its natural landscapes and seascapes; the establishment of a national register of all national, provincial and local protected areas for the management of those areas in accordance with national norms and standards; and intergovernmental co-operation and public consultation in matters concerning protected areas.
Without a systematic approach under one Ministry, this Bill will float between departments and may become the subject of unique and different interpretations. We must remain vigilant.
Cope supports all the Bills. These Bills may not be embraced with the same passion and interest that Minister Pravin Gordhan's Budget Speeches are. However, I can assure you, without the protection of our air quality, water and environment, the most grandiose of budgets won't matter.
I would also like to acknowledge the cohesion of this committee under the chairmanship of the hon De Lange. I believe we worked well together to create these results today, and, of course, I am not forgetting the work of the department.
Finally, in the words of Theodore Roosevelt:
Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance.
I thank you. [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker, hon Deputy President, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Members of Parliament, traditionally climate change and pollution were managed separately in different spatial scales. However, in recent years there has been a considerable advancement in the understanding of the links and interaction between climate change and air quality. A warmer, evolving climate is likely to have severe consequences for air quality due to the impact from all pollution sources and meteorology.
Climate-induced changes are likely to lead to changes in both the concentration and the dispensation of near surface ozone that could offset improvement in air quality. The control of air pollution through air quality management is also likely to have an impact on climate change.
Improved understanding of the relationship between air quality and climate change provides a scientific basis for policy intervention. South Africa's approved National Climate Change Response Policy is intended to effectively manage inevitable climate change impact through an intervention that will build up and sustain our social, economic and environmental resilience and emergency response capacity, ensuring that the country makes a fair contribution to the globe.
Air pollution is a serious environmental health threat to human beings. Adverse effects range from nausea, difficulty in breathing, skin irritation, birth defects and immunosuppression to cancer. Moreover, the severity of health outcomes that are associated with air pollution exposure is not uniform within the population.
In South Africa the problem is exacerbated, since vulnerable communities reside on land that is in close proximity to the pollution sources or polluted areas. It is estimated that air pollution costs the public health system over R3 billion each year to address air quality-related respiratory infections. This pollution includes greenhouse gas emission, which is the cause of human-induced global warming and climate change.
It is necessary to address air pollution in the dense low-income communities in such a way that all interventions are carried out in an effective and co-ordinated manner to ensure that the overall goal of ambient air that complies fully with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in South Africa and in communities is achieved. In this regard, the ANC-led government has developed and continues to fine-tune the legislative framework for air quality management.
Continuous air quality monitoring is conducted to measure and report on compliance with the National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which places more emphasis on the protection of human health, especially in the national priority areas where there are challenges in regard to meeting the standard, and the implementation of the Air Quality Management Plan to address the problem.
The purpose of the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act of 2004 was to replace the outdated Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act of 1965, and it brought air quality management in line with the constitutional allocation of functions between the three spheres of government. The Act provides for the establishment of national norms and standards; a Framework for Air quality Management; a planning and reporting regime; and numerous regulatory instruments for the control of air pollution, compliance and enforcement.
While certain sections of the Air Quality Act of 2004 have become obsolete, South Africa has advanced its effort to provide a vision for climate change. As is encapsulated in the National Climate Change Response White Paper, the amending Bill identifies certain provisions of the Air Quality Act that have become obsolete.
Of importance, though, in the amending Bill, is the strong emphasis on strengthening institutional aspects pertaining to air quality, which in the long term will fit into all the actions that are relevant to the mitigation of climate change.
One of the critical components of the amending Bill is to ensure that plans, procedures, regulations and other administrative issues are strengthened. As some of the members have already mentioned, it will strengthen the entire sphere - provincially, locally and at national level.
In conclusion, one should not lose sight of the fact that the ANC's National Policy Conference in June 2012 reaffirmed its pursuance of the environmental protection agenda as an important element of a sustainable development agenda. It recognises that the country has to effectively adapt, and manage unavoidable and potentially damaging climate change impact through interventions that build and sustain South Africa's social, economic and environmental resilience.
The ANC supports the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Amendment Bill, as amended by the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, it has been a pleasure for me to serve on this committee, whose members have, despite minor differences, been largely of one mind in dealing with the challenges that are associated with the protection and conservation of our environment. The Bill before us seeks to further such protection and conservation and the IFP wholly supports this Bill.
The weather Bill and its amendments quite aptly deal with and update offences committed in terms of the principal Act and establish custodianship of the SA Air Quality Information System, and the national Air Quality Monitoring Network. The amendments to the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act implement further steps to ensure that our coastal zones remain productive, and their ecosystems stable.
We agree that their successful management will require a holistic approach. A multisector approach to this end is the right way to go, and concerted efforts to create government and business partnerships are essential in this regard. The tightening up of clauses dealing with the provisions for offences and penalties is also very necessary and most welcome.
In the Air Quality Amendment Bill, we particularly welcome the removal of discretionary power held by the Minister in terms of section 13 thereof and look forward to the establishment of the national Air Quality Advisory Committee. This particular amendment is a good example of committee and public interaction, and is evidence to us that there is a healthy and functioning portfolio committee.
Regarding the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill, there was a split function between the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on matters relating to marine life. However, we trust that the departments remain of one mind regarding the protection our marine environment and that this split function will not be used as an excuse for any delays in regard to the mandate associated therewith.
According to a recent study conducted by the United Nations, over 75% of the world's fisheries are fully exploited, over-exploited or significantly depleted. Some species have already been fished to commercial extinction, while many more are on the verge. Sub-Saharan Africa is now the only region on earth where per capita fish consumption is actually falling, partly because foreign fishing fleets have removed so much fish. Our marine life and its habitat require the utmost protection.
In this regard, we also support all calls for a moratorium on applications for bulk extraction of minerals on the seabed until sensitive offshore marine ecosystems along our coastline are adequately protected, as habitat destruction will lead only to a greater depletion of the already depleted marine fish reserves.
In conclusion, the IFP supports these Bills. We support a healthy environment. We support a bounteous land for future generations and will do everything within our power to ensure that this occurs. I thank you. [Applause.] [Interjections.]
SEKELA SOMLOMO: Lungu elihloniphekileyo, Zikalala, kudala ixesha lakho liphelile, musa ukundixhaphaza. [Kwahlekwa.] [The DEPUTY SPEAKER: Hon member, Zikalala, your time expired a long time ago; don't abuse me. [Laughter.]]
Phini likaSomlomo, Phini likaMongameli, oNgqongqoshe, malungu ahloniphekile, ngizoqala nje ngisho ukuthi, njengoba eseshilo uSihlalo, ukuthi kunezinye izigatshana ezizobuya zingene kulo Mthetho we-National Environmental Management: Protected Areas, kodwa-ke ngizoqhubeka ngikhulume ngawo lo Mthethosisivinywa. (Translation of isiZulu paragraph follows.) [Ms P BHENGU: Deputy Speaker, Deputy President, Ministers and hon members, I'll start by saying, as the chairperson has said, that there are subsections that will be added to the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill. However, I'll continue to talk about the Bill.]
The ANC believes that all citizens of South Africa at present and in the future have the right to a life of wellbeing. Accordingly, the broad objectives of our environmental policy are aimed at fulfilling this right. The ANC's policy objective is, therefore, to develop a framework aimed at creating conditions conducive to sustainable development. This requires that a growth strategy is compatible with ecological and human rights principles, and that growth is geared towards the provision of basic needs to benefit the whole community.
The work being facilitated under the biodiversity and conservation programme is underpinned by the desire to ensure that South Africa's rich biodiversity and natural resources are sustainably used and conserved. The other key priority is to facilitate and promote fair access to and equitable sharing of socioeconomic benefits from biological resources.
The ANC-led government has facilitated the process of adding a further 1,9 million ha of land surface under formal protection to the Register of Protected Areas by adding the declared privately owned protected areas, bringing the total coverage of South Africa's protected areas to 7,7% of the country. This constitutes a total of 9,5 million ha of South Africa's 121,9 million ha of land surface. This is part of the continuing work of increasing the country's protected area to above 10%, and towards the internationally agreed figure of at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water areas, and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services which are conserved.
These efforts are a contribution to a global effort towards conserving ecosystems, endangered species, habitats and valued cultural landscapes by creating an effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected system of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrating this system into the wider landscape and seascape.
In terms of the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, No 57 of 2003, the system of protected areas in South Africa consists of special nature reserves, national parks and protected environments, as well as World Heritage Sites, especially protected forest areas, forest nature reserves and forest wilderness areas, mountain catchment areas and marine protected areas.
The amending Bill under discussion today, however, specifically refers to amendments to authorise the declaration of marine protected areas and to provide for the management of marine protected areas.
The amending Bill focuses on the incorporation of marine protected areas in to the National Environmental Management Act: Protected Areas regime. The Marine protected areas are currently regulated under the marine Living Resources Act of 1998, with the exception of certain provisions which are regulated in terms of the Protected Areas Act.
Fisheries and marine environmental management were previously administered by the then Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. In 2009, via a presidential proclamation, the fisheries function was transferred from the Minister responsible for environmental affairs to the Minister responsible for agriculture, forestry and fisheries. It is necessary to provide for legislation to give proper effect to the restructuring of the two departments and Ministries.
The following parts are, therefore, inserted in chapter 3 of the principal Act, and provide that the Minister may declare an area as a marine protected area" or "as part of an existing marine protected area" and "assign a name to the marine protected area". It is, however, stated that such a declaration may only be issued inter alia to: conserve and "protect marine and coastal ecosystems;" conserve and "protect marine coastal biodiversity;" conserve and "protect a particular marine or coastal species, or specific population and its habitat;" and, "if the area contains scenic areas", to conserve them and "protect cultural heritage".
It is also stated that, despite any other legislation, no person may, in a marine protected area, amongst others: "fish or attempt to fish", "take or destroy any fauna or flora", undertake any dredging or extraction of sand, rock, gravel or minerals, "discharge or deposit waste or any other polluting matter", "in any manner which results in an adverse effect on the marine environment, disturb, alter or destroy the natural environment or disturb or alter the water quality or abstract sea water".
The resource usage restrictions that a marine protected area implies are very likely to affect different groups of people and stakeholders in different ways. When planning a marine protected area, it is important to ensure that it will not deprive particular groups of their livelihood, without providing alternatives. This is particularly important for coastal marine protected areas in the context of poverty or in areas with limited livelihood options. The designation of marine protected areas needs to be based on a combination of bioecological and socioeconomic criteria, ensuring long-term sustainability, but also considering and mitigating short-term costs.
Hon Speaker, I would like to conclude by saying that the use of marine protected areas has taken on a greater importance lately in discussions on how to protect marine ecosystems and reverse the degradation of aquatic habitats. We have to do our bit to preserve our marine resources for future generations, and accept the establishment of marine protected areas as one of the tools to be used towards the overall goal of achieving the sustainable use of oceans.
Therefore, the ANC supports the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, the ACDP believes that, as custodians of our planet, we have the inalienable right to protect our environment, whether it is on land, in the sea or in the air.
This responsibility cannot be entrusted or transferred to multinationals, big or small businesses, or the environmentalists alone, but must be a collaborative effort of the private and public sector, nongovernmental organisations and civil society. It is the belief of the ACDP that these Bills will go a long way toward ensuring that we are indeed serious about protecting our national environmental assets. We are endeavouring to provide for our children and future grandchildren an environment in which they are able to live, work and play without endangering their lives or destroying the flora, fauna and animal species with those protection we have been entrusted.
The ACDP welcomes the adoption of an integrated approach in dealing with the management of our environment, as well as the creation of the Air Quality Advisory Committee and the capacitating of our local government to ensure compliance with respect to the quality of our air. One has only to study the number of respiratory health cases in the Wentworth, Merebank and Bluff communities in the Durban South Basin area to understand that there is indeed a causal link between poor air quality and respiratory diseases.
The ACDP believes that the placement of our marine protected areas under the authority of the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs is indeed a better placement, and will serve to mitigate the devastating impact that exploitation has on our marine protected areas.
The ACDP commends the Water and Environmental Affairs Portfolio Committee for their hard and diligent work on these amending Bills, to which the ADCP gives its support. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, Deputy President, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, hon members and all our visitors, marine and coastal environmental assets provide and sustain a wide range of economic, social and ecological services that are the foundation of the livelihoods of millions of South Africans, which underpin national and international transport, coastal tourism and fisheries industries.
South Africa's policy and regulatory framework to facilitate sustainable coastal development and conservation is outlined in the 2009 Integrated Coastal Management Act, which enables the ANC government to focus on the formulation of coastal management strategies, spatial development and management plans, norms and regulations that guide sustainable development and conservation programmes. In essence, the policy aims to achieve sustainable coastal development through a dedicated and integrated coastal management approach, in partnership with all South Africans.
In this regard, the 2012 ANC National Policy Conference recognised that the pursuance of the environmental protection agenda is an important element of the sustainable development agenda, food security and the promotion of economic growth, and that it would require, amongst others, long-term coastal planning.
Deputy Speaker, the question is often asked: Why is there a need for dedicated coastal management legislation? Is the coast not simply part of the general environment, and is it not already covered by existing environmental legislation?
The coast is a unique part of the environment. It is the meeting place of the land and sea, a limited spatial area that supports many human activities. The coast is a distinctive system in which a range of considerations, biophysical, economic, social and institutional, interconnect in a manner that requires a dedicated and integrated management approach.
In 1992, the year in which the World Summit on Sustainable Development took place in Rio de Janeiro, and Agenda 21 was published, the ANC government embarked on a process to change the way South Africa's coast would be managed, from an ad hoc and fragmented approach to an inclusive and integrated approach.
The amending Bill offers a new and fresh approach to managing the activities of poor people in the coastal zone and is based on a national vision for the coast, which includes the socially justified sharing of benefits derived from a resource-rich coastal area without compromising the ability of future generations to access those benefits.
A welcome addition to the Bill is the provision for improved management of estuaries. In terms of the Bill, an overarching national estuary management protocol will be established to ensure that estuaries are managed in a co- ordinated and standardised manner, and that minimum requirements for estuarine management plans are provided.
The amending Bill presents an opportunity to proactively reduce incidents of illegal developments and inappropriate and unsustainable land use, planning and practices along the coast, thus reducing potential future loss of life and property due to storms and other ocean dynamics.
In this regard, the Bill states that: "When determining or adjusting the inland coastal boundary of coastal public property, the Minister must take into account" a variety of factors, among which, "are the dynamic nature of the shoreline", the need to make appropriate allowance for... the periodic natural movements in the high-water mark; and... the erosion... of the seashore".
The use of the term "coastal public property" was a shift away from resource-centred management, and placed the ownership of large areas of the coastal zone, which is vested in the citizens, in trust by the state. The intention of coastal public property is to prevent exclusive use of the coast by facilitating access to and sustainable use of the productive coastal resources for the benefit of all South Africans. The amending Bill defines the exact composition and purpose of coastal public property, which are to protect sensitive coastal ecosystems.
What is of great importance is that no organ of state may reclaim land for the development of state infrastructure unless authorised by the Minister, and that reclaimed land may not be utilised other than in accordance with the purpose stated in the original application and conditions of the authorisation. An application for reclamation for purposes other than the development of state infrastructure will only be considered in exceptional circumstances which are not contrary to the purpose of coastal public property.
Hon Speaker, this amending Bill signals a fundamental shift in thinking about our coast and ushers in a new era for coastal management. It is rooted in the understanding that our coast is a national asset and belongs to all the people of South Africa. It recognises that our coast is a place of value, opportunity and potential, and that it is a diverse, special and distinctive place and is also a driving force in the national economy, with an enormous future development potential. To harness this potential, we need to manage our coast wisely.
The ANC supports the Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]
Hon Deputy Speaker, coastal areas and coastal resources are vital to the development and future, not only of those occupying these areas, but also our country. It is estimated that almost half the world's population live in coastal areas and are dependent on the resources in these areas. It is therefore of utmost importance that a sound coastal management system is enforced to ensure sustainability in our coastal areas.
We need to remain cognisant of the challenges of climate change - increased level of the sea, storm damage and nutrient regulation all factors that have a direct effect on the livelihood and future of coastal communities, including commercial fisheries, boat building, trade, tourism, agriculture and coastal city dwellers.
It is with the above in mind that the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill seeks to amend the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act of 2008. Coastal management has experienced a number of concept shifts since 1970. The evolvement of the Integrated Coastal Management Act has resulted in an Act of Parliament that recognises the ecological, social and economic interactions at the ocean and the land interface.
The Act created the principle of "coastal public property" which identifies and defines territorial water up to the high water mark and includes everything below the high water mark. Ownership, as you heard from the chairperson, of these natural assets is vested in the citizens of the Republic of South Africa and held in trust by the state.
The Bill further seeks to address the challenges experienced in the leasing of coastal public property, currently not adequately addressed in the Act. The Act did not deal clearly with the impact of coastal community property on other organs of state owning assets and operating within that land space. Coastal leases and concessions are now replaced with coastal use permits in terms of sections 65 and 66, and the maximum period is now 20 years.
The proposed amendment Bill seeks to further address some the following. Firstly, these is the designation of the coastal access strip. Currently, the Act does not allow for intervention, should a municipality fail to designate coastal access land. The Bill now mandates the MEC to intervene in terms of sections 18 and 19 of the Act, should a municipality not comply, and it mandates the Minister, should the MEC fail to comply with his or her duty.
It is now up to municipalities to ensure compliance in terms of section 18(c)(9). The Department of Water and Environmental Affairs has been tasked with undertaking an investigation in this regard to determine to what extent municipalities have complied. It will be interesting to access this information, taking into account the current lack of accountability in certain spheres of local government.
The Bill further proposes in terms of section 27 to remove the power to exclude areas from coastal public property. This is specifically due to the challenges faced during the past with Transnet with ownership, about which the chairperson has also given detail.
Section 70 of the Act now expands categories of activies requiring dumping permits. This is an activity that is ever on the increase and is an easy method of waste disposal by certain unscrupulous operators, an activity that needs close monitoring.
The Bill further revises offences and increases penalties. Those who continue to flaunt their abuse of our environment for their own benefit can now look forward to a fine of up to R2 million or imprisonment of up to five years, or both, in terms of section 80.
Excluded from the Bill, but of major concern to the portfolio committee, was the following: sea mining and seabed mineral resource exploration and exploitation. It is vitally important that the department develop legislation and a strategy to ensure that any activity of this nature is strictly regulated, in order to protect our environment.
Shipping incidents along the South African coastline have also been a cause of concern. With recent incidents and the subsequent environmental impacts, it is of great importance that a review of current legislation is undertaken, including by all departments, to ensure that the potential danger of shipping and marine pollution is monitored and regulated with the relevant responsible departments.
Speaker, the DA supports this vital piece of legislation. However, adopting legislation is only the first step. The key challenge, particularly with the scope our environment, is the implementation and regulation.
Speaker, kindly afford me the opportunity to thank the members of the portfolio committees on all political sides and the department heads and staff for their commitment. I must also in particular thank hon De Lange for his input and his dedication to the portfolio - we are extremely fortunate to have a person with his legal knowledge and understanding as our leader.
However, having given the good news, hon Speaker, I wish to raise my concern in this forum today regarding the attendance of both the Minister and the Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs, who have not managed to attend one portfolio committee meeting since I became a member of this esteemed House some eight months ago. Now, does this show dedication towards the cause, and does it show drive and service delivery, when in fact both the Minister and the Deputy Minister have found plenty of time to travel internationally at our expense? I say, if we are going to take this portfolio further, we should do it collectively! Thank you. [Interjections.] [Applause.]
Hon Chairperson, hon Deputy President, hon Ministers, hon Deputy Ministers and hon members, let me start by thanking all members of the portfolio committee who participated in dealing with this legislation that we are discussing today. Our thanks also go to our Ministers and the Cabinet in general, who have allowed us to debate this legislation in our portfolio committee and here in Parliament today.
I must also thank all participants who came to the portfolio committee meetings to make presentations and voice their views. These were addressed, some were incorporated in the legislation itself, some were rectified, and so on. This means that we as the portfolio committee under the leadership of the hon Johnny de Lange welcome everyone who wishes to come and present their case in regard to legislation. Our legislation always works with public participation and we allow everybody, even the political parties we are working with, to participate.
I must say to the hon Thring, I should think you are the only member who is not part of this family, but we thank you for your input today. You are also welcome to make your input. Even if you are only making it here today, we accept it. In the cases that you alluded to here in regard to poor air quality management, I should think that is why we are discussing this legislation in this Parliament today, because we want to pass this legislation in order to prevent that.
I want to refer to the issues raised by the member of Cope when she spoke about the responsive data relating to penalties. It is through that in this legislation that the data collection will be in place during the implementation. We will get it. It will be transparent. Anyone who defaults, anyone who is engaged in pollution issues, will be brought to book. That is why you have this legislation today. Farming in Mpumalanga is affected by air pollution today. That is true. I know that you are referring to the Secunda area, which has many mines, as well as Witbank. What you are saying is true. I must say, however, that we in the portfolio committee, debated this and we gave this information to the administration in order for them to assist us in attending to all these problems. The legislation will give us more power in dealing with these forms of air pollution.
I am pleased to state that in the discussion in the meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Water and Environmental Affairs on 29 October 2013 the members of the committee unanimously voted to adopt the four amending Bills being debated in this House today. In addition, on behalf of the ANC, I propose that we adopt this Bill, that we support the Bill and its adoption in this Parliament.
Allow me to highlight a few items that arose during the deliberations on these amending Bills.
In the discussion on the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Amendment Bill, it was mentioned that there would be a provision for retrospective application of the law to companies that had been under the previous legislation. In some cases industries might have expanded their activities without an updating of the environmental impact assessment. Where no EIA was conducted, section 24(g) of the National Environmental Management Act would be applicable.
Where a municipality failed to provide a licence within the required timeframe, as was alluded to by the Minister and the chairperson, the new clause would allow for the member of the executive committee or the Minister to intervene. I should think that is a step forward, and it is a Bill that will give powers to the executive and the Minister in dealing with these issues.
With reference to the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill, we were of the opinion that reclaimed state- owned land would have to be registered and that there should thus be a reference to the title deeds for that land.
In both state and other applications, the details of the funding should be included as part of the necessary information. This would prevent corruption. Furthermore, there did not seem to be any procedure to cover a pre-approval being ratified by Parliament.
Relating to the dumping of effluent, we were satisfied with the R5 million penalty, as contained in section 80, as some of the substances contemplated could be very poisonous. In extreme cases, this penalty might not even be enough. We did not think the fine could be increased, but perhaps the jurisdiction of the court could be changed in the most serious cases. If a person was convicted in a High Court, the limits in the legislation could be set aside and the court could set its own sentence. Ten years' imprisonment might even be insufficient. I thank you. [Applause.]
Hon House Chairperson, let me take this opportunity to thank all hon members who have participated in this very important debate on our three Bills. It has already been indicated that our chairperson is, indeed, leading this committee very well. Thank you very much, and thanks to all our hon members.
There are a few issues that have been raised that I thought were quite important for me to reflect on a bit, firstly from the side of committee members, particularly the hon members Manganye and Tsotetsi. A very important aspect of what we are dealng with in the environmental arena is the agenda on sustainable development as set by the ANC. All these Bills that are in front of us do, indeed, deal with that. I also include the two that are still coming. We would like to indicate to and assure this august House that this is the path that we are going to be travelling from now on, ensuring that there are development, growth and environmental integrity, all at the same time.
The hon member Rodgers and somebody else raised the issue of sea bed exploration. I would like to indicate that we are currently still developing a policy that will deal with that issue. It does not mean, however, that we do not have tools we can use to address these issue now. Together with our departments, my colleague in the Department of Mineral Resources, Minister Shabangu, and I have a very good working relationship, as does the public out there who work with us as NGOs, and so on. There is a need for us to really strengthen implementation of these Bills once they become Acts, and we undertake to do that.
An issue I should deal with quickly is that of shipping incidents. There is legislation that has been developed together with Treasury and Transport that deals with this issue of shipping incidents, and I think hon members can refer to that area.
The last issue I want to deal with is the very important words of praise and wonderful accolades given to the chairperson of the committee and to the entire committee. However, ...
... een lammetjie gaan sommer uit ... [... one little lamb went out on a limb ...]
... and he said something - I do not know where he gets it from! Let me just say, in the first instance, that when we leave this country with the Deputy Minister, we represent South Africa. There is never a single trip that is a study tour, like other hon members on my left undertake.
Do not point fingers!
We are representing South Africa only in areas where decisions are made ...
So, who takes those decisions?
... and those decisions are made on behalf of South Africa, with us present. [Interjections.] The ANC government is governing. Tell him! Tell him! [Interjections.]
Governing badly!
Order! Order! Order, please!
Let me tell you something. The hon member has not been to all the portfolio committee meetings. [Interjections.] We come to those portfolio committee meetings. As a matter of fact, when we were preparing for this Budget Vote this year, we appeared before that committee. He arrived at the portfolio committee meeting, took part in the discussion and debated the matter, and just threw stones from nowhere. [Interjections.] We were there! We attend upon invitation, so please, do not be "laat lammetjies" [Johnnies-come-lately] and lost "lammetjies" [lost sheep] ... [Laughter.] ... saying things that originated who knows where. [Interjections.] Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.
Chairperson, I move:
That the Reports on the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill and the National Environmental Management: Air Quality Amendment Bill be adopted.
Motion agreed to.
Report on National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill accordingly adopted.
Report on National Environmental Management: Air Quality Amendment Bill accordingly adopted.
Chairperson, I move:
That the Report on the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill as well as the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Amendment Bill [B 8B - 2013] be referred back to the committee for further consideration.
Motion agreed to.
Report and Bill accordingly referred back to the committee for further consideration.
National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Amendment Bill read a second time.
National Environmental Management: Air Quality Amendment Bill read a second time.