Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon Chief Whip, hon MECs present here this morning, chairpersons of standing committees from provinces and permanent delegates, I am grateful for this moment to participate in this debate.
We have a history which was not environmentally user-friendly and we have a history of dispossession, and if we have a history of dispossession, not everybody would be engaged in environmental issues. We have a history where many people's roots were cut off, therefore they had to die a natural death in so far as environmental issues are concerned. What happens if one is dispossessed or one's property has been taken away? If such a person got a chance, he or she would damage that property, because it does not belong to him or her any longer.
How do we speedily make the dispossessed communities of South Africa aware of their very environment? That is why what we are debating today is extremely important. South Africa is a very beautiful country, seemingly with an endless coastline, majestic mountain ranges, abundant wildlife and unique natural resources that any South African would be proud of.
If one were to visit any of the provinces, one would find them falling over themselves, bragging about the unique beauty that they have to offer. Each of the provinces could be a potential first prize winner for being the best province in the country. Ensuring that such beauty and natural resources remain intact until the next millennium requires careful nurturing and protection. It is the enormous responsibility of both the Minister and all of us here to ensure that it remains this way.
Regarding the question of pollution, part of the challenge facing this department lies in changing people's attitudes towards the environment. The environment was never a priority before 1994. But this Government has realised that for far too long we have taken our environment for granted. I can safely say that the majority of South Africans have not yet realised the need for environmental protection and preservation. When I look around in my own province, in its cities, towns, industrial parks and rural areas, I see ample evidence that none of us takes the hazards of pollution seriously. Even if we change laws to ensure the protection of the environment, but do not educate ourselves about the need for preservation, we will be constantly wasting money cleaning up messes rather than preventing messes from occurring.
Pollution will never be excusable even if it happens in our own homes. But it becomes reprehensible when companies such as Iscor blatantly ignore the rights of residents to a pollution-free, healthy and prosperous neighbourhood. It is even more reprehensible when companies in this industry pay only lip service to the protection of the environment. This is definitely an issue the hon the Minister should follow up with vigour.
The Minister should extend his investigation even further and ask all companies to give an environmental impact report on a regular basis. Provinces and local government can also play their role by collaborating with the national department in eradicating these criminals parading in their three-piece suits. However, all of us, not only the Minister and his department, have to be vigilant in our neighbourhoods in order to reduce pollution.
The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has an enormous responsibility to deliver to our people, through transformational legislation. The select committee will give serious attention to the draft regulations that will protect the sensitive dunes, home to many species of birds. My Minister will also share with hon members the concern that if left unchecked, irresponsible boat owners could potentially threaten the breeding ground of whales. We also need to commend the Minister for following the example set by a small community which outlawed plastic bags in their town.
We support the Minister in the challenge he has given us here in Parliament to make this environment a plastic-free zone. We also look forward to the White Paper on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management for SA.
This department has also proved that it cares about what happens in the SADC region through the White Paper for Sustainable Coastal Development for SA which is due for release shortly or has already been released. We have all read with concern the reports on fishing quotas. Fishing communities have spoken out at length about the inequities within the fishing allocations. They have complained that they are now unable to earn their living because of the inequities in the fishing quotas. They have also complained about the fact that others players, such as the big industries that are far removed from the coastal areas, have been granted quotas higher than theirs. These communities have been led to understand that the department has investigated this matter so as to assist subsistence fishing communities to reap the benefits of the transformation of the fishing industry.
It is long overdue, but we have read in a recent newspaper report and seen on television news how a certain Ms Meter from Hout Bay was able to start her own fishing business in her very poor fishing community. We saw this woman's achievement as a very concrete example of the transformation that this department has realised in a very polarised industry. We want to congratulate the Minister on his efforts which have allowed our disadvantaged communities, such as the Hout Bay community, to benefit. We look forward to his department keeping us informed about more success stories of this nature.
Tourism has proved to be a booming industry for South Africa since the first democratic election in 1994. It seems that almost every day we are either discovering new historical or cultural sites, or rediscovering the natural beauty of our country. These discoveries, through survey marketing, can translate into enormous economic potential for our country. However, we must be vigilant that new tourist attraction projects benefit all our people. The last thing we need is for multinationals to gain exclusive marketing rights to all of our tourist attractions and elbow out local communities.
The department needs to spend some of its budget to develop capacity in our communities which will ensure that their goods and marketing are of the high quality needed to promote international tourism. In conclusion, I wish to thank the Minister and his department for the excellent work that they have done. We look forward to working with them to ensure that all South Africans have a better, pollution-free life, part of which, we hope, will be spent at one of our many beautiful holiday destinations. [Applause.]