Hon Deputy Speaker, hon members and hon Ministers, numerous studies have been undertaken on waste management in South Africa, but most were focused largely on operational management, environmental aspects and the legislative framework.
Very little research has been dedicated to addressing the funding, mechanisms and policies affecting and influencing the financing of waste management projects in municipalities across South Africa.
Firstly, I would like to say to the hon Rogers that the hon Minister and the department have agreed that there is huge waste in South Africa, which is why the government has taken the initiative to undertake the issue of managing waste in South Africa.
You may also criticise the ANC-led government as far as waste is concerned, but you must also tell us how waste is managed in the Western Cape, and not only in Kokstad. I wish you could go to areas like Khayelitsha, Du Noon and Langa, and then you could tell us whether this is the good governance that you are always telling us about in the Western Cape. [Applause.]
The main causes of an increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are known to be human activities, namely the unrelenting population explosion and the drive for industrialisation and urbanisation. The greenhouse gases that contribute the most to global warming are carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide, which are all produced during the management and disposal of waste.
The adoption of our democratic Constitution has made government accountable to the people. The Constitution sets out the legislative and executive authority of the different spheres of government within a framework of co- operative governance.
Firstly, the Bill of Rights, Chapter 2 of the Constitution, contains a number of rights relevant to integrated pollution and waste management. To the extent that an Act or particular statutory provision does not uphold these rights, it is unconstitutional. Secondly, the Constitution provides the legal basis for allocating powers to the different spheres of government and is thus relevant to the institutional regulation of integrated pollution and waste management.
This section of the Bill of Rights guarantees the people of South Africa the right to an environment that is not detrimental to human health or wellbeing. It also specifically imposes a duty on the state to promulgate legislation and take other steps to ensure that this right is upheld and that, amongst other things, pollution and ecological degradation are prevented.
The aim of the National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Bill is to reform the law regulating waste management in order to protect our health and the environment by providing reasonable measures for the prevention of pollution and ecological degradation, and for securing ecologically sustainable development.
In this regard, the Bill provides for institutional arrangements and planning matters; the establishment of a national waste information system; national norms and standards for the management of waste by all tiers of government; and the licensing and control of waste management activities.
The ANC takes great pleasure in addressing Parliament and reporting back on the mandate bestowed upon its members by the people of South Africa. As we approach the third decade of democratic government, we reassure all South Africans that we will spare no effort in realising their dreams.
It is also the resolve of the democratic movement to build a better life for all by assisting in the achievement of the programmes of the ANC-led government. We do so, guided accordingly by the New Growth Path, as well as the National Development Plan.
We have a good story to tell and we are building on our previous successes. In the 2012-13 financial year, the ANC created about 62 860 new work opportunities; 31 277 full-time equivalent jobs; and ensured that a significant number of unemployed women, youth and SMMEs continue to benefit from the ANC-led government's programmes.
We will increase our planned performance in this regard year by year as we aim to make a positive impact and improve the lives of ordinary South Africans.
We funded the domestic-waste-collection pilot project in the Mahikeng Local Municipality. The objectives of this pilot project are to reduce waste backlog, create employment opportunities and encourage the implementation of the three Rs, namely reduce, reuse and recycle.
For this purpose five waste collection trucks were procured, and five contractors and seventy workers were appointed. Training was provided to both contractors and workers in order to capacitate them in areas of waste management and business management.
The waste collection service to 31 856 households has been carried out successfully. Furthermore, through our working on waste programmes, we will continue to provide support to municipalities through the construction of waste-buy-back centres, material recovery facilities and other activities.
The ANC-led government created jobs for the youth in waste projects this year. This initiative assisted municipalities in the delivering of efficient and effective waste services. We continually encourage youth, women and all fellow South Africans to champion waste management in their respective municipalities. In conclusion, let me accentuate the fact that before 1994, waste management was not afforded the priority it warrants as an essential function required to prevent pollution and protect the environment and public health. Consequently, insufficient funds and human resources were allocated to this function by the ANC-led government.
In many instances, this neglect has resulted in a lack of long-term planning, information, appropriate legislation, and lack of capacity to manage waste streams. The ANC-led government believes that waste management is one of the most effective means of protecting South Africa's people and our environment. The ANC supports the Bill. Thank you. [Applause.]