Deputy Chairperson, I think I want to put the blame on the devil now. The devil must be chased away. [Laughter.] You always have to go back to my question.
Let me thank the hon Lees for the question, and thank you for being kind to me, especially for the fact that you had to go back to the question.
Yes, the Working for Water programme ensures that where an agreement is entered into with a particular landowner, setting out the specific target for clearing on his or her property, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is approached to issue a directive on the affected property when a target is reached, which the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries monitors in terms of the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act. It should be noted that the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries pursues legal recourse in instances where issued directives have not been adhered to.
The Working for Water programme is negotiating for the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to delegate the authority of issuing directives to the Working for Water programme to allow for a more streamlined management arrangement. It is also envisaged that such delegations must be addressed in the promulgation of proposed regulations linked to the management of invasive species under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act.
In the meantime, the Working for Water programme has also adopted a new approach where the landowner is required to contribute some of the operating costs such as transport and equipment for clearing the work from the outset to ensure that the risk of undertaking the work is equitably shared, as well as to ensure ownership of the work by the landowners.
Yes, landowners in the Tintwa area have previously allowed the Working for Water programme to work on their land. Although the area was handed over to landowners with the assistance of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, there was clearly inadequate monitoring of the maintenance of the land in a cleared state. The Working for Water programme has committed to work with the landowners and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to rectify the situation. Thank you.