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.]