Hon Chairperson, hon Minister, hon Deputy Minister and hon colleagues, let me say at the outset that I do not serve on this portfolio committee, but I have a deep and passionate interest in environmental matters as I was the MEC responsible for environmental affairs in KwaZulu- Natal for at least eight years.
Let me further say that our environment sustains us and gives us life, shelter and commerce. Without it we are a barren wasteland of nothing, and yet we choose to relegate it far too often to the sidelines, viewing it more as an impediment to progress and less as an overarching provider of everything we hold dear. This perception must change. Our environment must become our primary concern, and any legislation or regulation that does not promote sustainable growth must be amended or repealed.
To this end, Madam Minister, I welcome your announcement that the National Environmental Management: Waste Amendment Act was promulgated in June. However, we need to look at the regulations and the classifications of waste as contained in the Act, that follow from the passing of the Act.
Ash, which is used by many of our citizens to make blocks, is regarded as a hazardous substance, and yet it is of low risk. We urgently need this substance to be declassified; otherwise we will get companies writing to people - I have letters here - saying that they are at risk of the Green Scorpions prosecuting, them if ash is not declassified for our people to use to make blocks. It is an international practice, it is done all over the world. There is less risk than with other substances, and we think this should be done sooner rather than later.
In this connection I would like to thank your Deputy Director-General, Mr Mark Gordon, and Mr Dlamini for interacting with our communities in Umkomaas - the Mkhizes, the Moodleys, and the Shezis - to try to resolve this problem. However, I think your signature is required in this regard, Minister.
The second community matter that I wish to raise, Madam Minister, is one that affects the Durban South Basin. I think we all know that this is a notorious area for toxic pollution. There are many petrochemical industries situated there. The situation is not 100% right, but is satisfactory at the moment in regard to emissions.
What the community is facing there at the moment is large-scale pollution of the rivers and streams. In the past few days thousands of fish have been killed in streams in the Durban South Basin. Community activist Dr Desmond D'Sa has said that he has failed to get the eThekwini Municipality and the provincial government to address this particular problem. Therefore, we would like to ask your department, Madam Minister, to intervene so that we can save not only the fish, but also the livelihoods of people who rely on fish as protein.
The third issue that I would like to raise in my limited time is the question of rhino poaching. We say, we have to save our rhinos. We have a responsibility, a responsibility not only to human beings, but also to our wildlife. Whilst we understand that law enforcement officers are trying to do their best, this situation seems to be getting out of hand. Over 600 rhinos have been poached thus far this year, mainly in the Kruger National Park and in the parks of KwaZulu-Natal. I do not know why the Ugandan President had to say that if anybody is found poaching in a park, they should be shot. I know we cannot go that far, but certainly we need to take drastic measures.
Madam Minister, I also heard you talk about the question of DNA, and the hon Mthembu referred to this. I understand that we signed an MOU with Vietnam with regard to co-operation in respect of rhino poaching. However, to date I do not think they have sent any DNA samples of rhino horn and other products that they have found in their country back to South Africa so that this MOU can be put into effect.
The last item that I wish to raise in the one minute that you are now going to give me, Chair, is the question of lion hunting! [Laughter.] We need to ban canned lion hunting. It is becoming out of control in our country. We are even allowing the exporting of products that we get from lions, eg skeletons and other products. We need to ensure that we do not support canned lion hunting. We cannot allow our country, its conservation and its wildlife to be destroyed by unscrupulous people who just want to make themselves rich. We need to ensure, and you need to ensure, Madam Minister, that something is done about it. Thank you very much. [Time expired.]