Chairperson, hon Minister and Deputy Minister, hon members and former Minister Buyelwa Sonjica, the UDM supports Budget Vote 30. [Interjections.] We would like to congratulate the Minister on her appointment to this portfolio. The hon Minister is not new in the portfolio, as she was on the committee that debated and approved environmental legislation which started as far back as 1995.
Most environmental issues occur at local government level. The advent of the local government system created a system in which each and every municipality has its own responsibility with regard to developing its area. However, very little is being done to ensure that the councillors understand the nitty-gritty of spatial development planning. As a result, they are vulnerable to bogus consultants and their shoddy work.
The UDM proposes that after every municipal election there should be compulsory training for councillors. The focus of the training programme should be on the implementation and monitoring of the current integrated development programme. Lack of discipline and enforcement of bylaws is costing our environment dearly.
We further propose the development of a basic guide document that would serve as a councillor's bible on environment-related issues. Such a document should, among others, detail basic steps on how to deal with environmental impact studies, land demarcation for waste management, arable land, grazing land, wetland, dams, the preservation of natural resources and the restoration of the biosphere. Lastly, many of our townships and rural areas are vulnerable to the effects of climate change through tornadoes, storms and soil erosion. Perhaps this department should take the lead in the establishment of green battalions in the affected areas throughout the country, by creating indigenous forests, parks and nurseries. It should also work closely with the Department of Human Settlements in ensuring that everyone who gets an RDP house is given trees to plant for the protection and greening of their home. These strategies would create thousands of jobs for communities.
Kodwa ke maqabane, nibagade xa kutyalwa le mithi kuba kukho oosicelo ngoku abahamba namaxhwele begawula le mithi. Enkosi. [Kwaqhwatywa.] (Translation of isiXhosa paragraph follows.)
[However, comrades, you must monitor them when they plant the trees because there are those who are in the company of traditional healers who request to be given the trees and are going around cutting them. Thank you. [Applause.]]