Chairperson, I must thank the hon member Lovemore for a positive input. We have taken note of the issues: equality, medical waste, all of those. I think you have made very good recommendations that we will be looking at. [Applause.]
I also want to make a point, which I will link up with what Mr Greyling, in his absence, raised. The issue of managing development - I don't want to be specific and say mining; I want to say development - in a way that will not impact negatively on the environment, that is my approach. And that is where I really want us to come together, because it is the how that is the big issue. But, I agree with you, both of you. My emphasis may be elsewhere, but the approach is the same. I don't want to lose more time now.
There were announcements that I wanted to make. Firstly, on the protection of marine life, we know that most of our species are endangered, especially the shark. As a result, we have decided to extend Marine Week; we now have Marine Month. The whole of October becomes Marine Month. So, the Sharks will be playing at the time.
Secondly, the Minister will be very happy to hear that we are taking the shark and the whale and adding them to the Big Five. South Africa now has the Big Seven. [Applause.] Surely, that will have spin-offs for the tourism industry.
Yes, Mr Swart, we are reopening the courts. We are consulting with the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development. We are looking at partnerships with all the law enforcement agencies, because this is a big issue - we are dealing with syndicates. Surely, the courts need to be reopened, and that is the announcement I also wanted to make. On the other issue of the vessel, we are in the process of procurement to pave the way for the building process to start next year, spanning a period of three years. There will be a process and guidelines that will be used to sell the old one. This is where we are. Again, I am trying to be as brief as possible.
I have to express appreciation to my predecessor for the guidance that he has given me, and the support as he has always been there, but, most importantly, I want to thank him for the invaluable contribution that he has made in the negotiations for climate change at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Indeed, he and his team put our country on a very high pedestal in the eyes of the world, and, indeed, I think we need to give him a round of applause. [Applause.]
I do want to make a commitment that we will defend those gains. We will build on them. They are South Africa's gains. To that end, I just want to highlight that Africa has an input to make. There is the Nairobi Declaration that you spoke about, which was adopted in May and will be presented to the heads of state by South Africa, because we happen to chair the African Materials Science and Engineering Network, Amsen. So, as the president of Amsen, the organisation has given us a mandate to present the declaration for Africa to the heads of state. Again, the emphasis is really the balance, adaptation, mitigation, climate change imperatives and development imperatives. That is the kind of input that Africa is taking into the negotiations. I have spoken to the Scorpions.
I think I want to thank the chairperson. Being a very energetic chairperson, I think she will drive this portfolio with energy. I think we are going to have a very vibrant debate, but we must debate. I don't want us to take the easy way out. We must debate the most difficult issues. We are here for that, for the people of South Africa. Thank you very much for a lively debate. I am looking forward to it. [Applause.]