Hon Chair, I want to start by thanking all the hon members, especially the chairperson of the portfolio committee and all members of the portfolio committee, as well as the director-general - I did not do so earlier on - and your team, and all those who supported us throughout this year and whose support is ongoing. I would just like to mention a few things, acknowledging the inputs and additions made by hon members Manganye, Bhengu and Tsotetsi. I will touch on some issues, as I try and respond within the limited time, raised by hon Holomisa and the hon member Mama Zikalala from the IFP, as well as hon Ferguson. Starting with the issue of rhino, I think all of us are concerned with the rhino poaching, but let us all understand that we are really doing everything in our power. The interventions that we are making range from the legal to even the ICT; everything, including intelligence, hon Holomisa. It is because we are working with the security forces, and this is why this has been elevated into a priority crime. It is a very challenging crime. There is something extra that we have to do. Perhaps the issues raised by the hon Chair are part of the answer, and we are going to try that.
We will be hosting another Cop 17, and that is where we think that we should start preparing to actually put on the agenda the possible trading issue in respect of rhino horn. It is one of the things that we have not tried, but we have tried many others. So, let us work together and begin with those preparations right now.
As for the issues that the hon Wenger raised about matters of possible fencing, we are engaging with Mozambique. I am only left with the opportunity to go and meet my counterpart, and we have been trying to discuss the issue of possible fencing. It is still in the programme - still in the treaty. So, this could be done once we agree. We have also elevated this matter to our Presidents. So, we have to start discussing because we cannot, unfortunately, just arrive and put up a fence. We have stockpiles, which are part of the programmes that we are preparing for as we go towards Cop 17.
Concerning rhino poaching, let me also say that what we are beginning to see, and what we are dealing with, is not just rhino and elephant poaching. It includes general environmental crimes because there are people who steal everything, even our lizards and apes; we find them elsewhere, which I will tell you more about when we are in the portfolio committee.
We are also looking at issues of air quality programmes - I am just touching on issues that are within the limited time. Renewable energy applications are in the pipeline. I think you know that in this country we have the integrated resource plan that also talks to the need to increase renewable energy as opposed to coal-powered and fossil-fuelled energy creation. So, we are moving in that direction, and that is the reason why I was earlier on talking to the figures that we have achieved.
Hon Rogers, we accept the green economy, and the fact that there are provinces that are moving. And I think we need, just for a little bit, to stop politicising this matter. I am glad that in environmental circles we are saying, without real politics, that taking care of our environment is at the heart of the matter. What I want to ask from our colleagues from the DA in the Western Cape is that they really need to help us speed up the environmental impact assessment. That is the highest priority that is remaining behind. Help us deal with the issue and we will take care of the rest, like the green economy. We will drive the process in that direction. Thank you very much.
I have informed the Deputy Minister that I have 11 issues that I have to deal with in 3 minutes. I think, colleagues, the last thing that I need to deal with is the authorisation between the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Mineral Resources. The matter is being taken care of. As a matter of fact, the two portfolio committees have been requested to meet to make sure that we synchronise the amendments in the two laws, which are both before Parliament as we speak, in order to bring about the synchronisation authorisation between us. We are mindful of the fact that we need to make the mining industry also comply with the environmental laws as they should, and we are glad that many of them have already begun to do so. Those are really the issues that I thought were important, not that the others are not important, but thank you very much.
We will definitely engage at portfolio committee level on many other issues that have been raised; nothing that you have raised is unimportant. Thank you very much for your support. [Applause.]
Debate concluded.