Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister and hon delegates of the Council, I indeed appreciate the privilege of addressing this august House. I will confine myself to the environment, as the hon member of the Northern Province legislature has already spoken about tourism. Regarding the environment and quality of life, there is an ongoing debate regarding quality of life and poverty alleviation. It is something that we debate continually, and I would urge the Minister and his department to come out clearly on the issue of biospheres.
Biospheres seem to be spreading everywhere within our country, and yet there seems to be a focus on land ownership where there should be a focus on poverty alleviation. We would urge the Minister to come out on that particular issue. However, I have been mandated by the standing committee of the legislature to talk particularly on solid waste management.
We would like to start by considering the lack of personnel in the environment department. There are only two appointed members for waste management, while 17 posts are recognised. This may sound as if nothing is being done in the waste fraternity. However, an audit has been done and a needs assessment has been concluded. The outcome indicates blatantly that what is needed is empowerment. Most waste management is done at a local government level. In a province like ours, which is very rural, the management of solid waste may be problematic if clear lines of communication are not established between local government and provincial government.
Owing to the ruralness of our province, as I have mentioned, and to small villages spread amongst vast areas, numbering 2000, it has been suggested that a collective solid waste site would be necessary. These particular sites would have to be identified by scientists, and local governments would have to manage these landfill sites. Here, again, we refer to empowerment. We cannot have landfill sites without particular councils having the ability to manage them.
Our limiting factor is the lack of personnel at rural government level. However, with the new demarcation and the establishment of district councils, this shortage of personnel may be resolved to a point, but empowerment should still be the focus of the department, empowerment in the management of solid waste and landfill sites by local rural governments.
With the assistance of its scientists, the department is currently empowering the inspectorate division regarding waste management and what the current legal framework stipulates. This means the inspectorate division will know what constitutes transgression of the law concerning solid waste, and act accordingly. We must place the emphasis regarding solid waste management on the issue of empowerment. We must ensure that personnel dealing with this crucial service know what they are up to.
The selection of a correct landfill site is crucial owing to leaching, and leaching from rain. Should the incorrect soil be chosen, we could be condemning our ground water, and what with this source becoming more and more accessed by local governments, we must ensure that solid waste issues are dealt with correctly, thereby ensuring that there is clean potable water for future generations.
There is no doubt that both tiers of government have a role to play. Where there is a lack of strategy in this regard, the provincial department must and should assist in establishing a strategy. One method suggested is to engage local governments and councillors, in particular, to discuss waste management and the consequences of noncompliance.
The biggest amount of waste created in our country, as far as we are concerned, is packaging, packaging meaning tin cans and plastic bags. Whether it be a plastic bag or a tin can, the packaging industry is definitely the biggest culprit in the creation of waste. When one thinks of recycling, those who make the primary products, who make the plastic bags and cans, are also the ones who recycle. One would hasten to add, the recyclers are the Mondis, the Sappis and the Metal Boxes of the country. Hence, the slowness of communities to become vigilant regarding recycling.
Recycling, surely, should be seen as a job creator. However, those who are the major role-players in the recycling industry, as mentioned, do not see this as an opportunity, but rather as a threat to their profit margins. Let us create opportunities in the recycling industry, and, at the same time, protect our environment for our future generations.
The Northern Province therefore supports the hon the Minister and his department in the current policy adopted by his department. [Applause.]