Question NW1857 to the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
03 September 2021 - NW1857
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1)(a) What control measures did her department put in place to ensure that the invasive plant Salvinia minima that is present in the Hartebeespoort dam, Roodeplaat dam, Roodekoppie and Bon- accord dam will not double when spring comes since it reached over 350/ cover of the Hartebeespoort dam during the winter months; (2) how does her department intend to ensure that this invasive plant is controlled when spring comes as it is set to start to grow rapidly; (3) how does her department assist the Centre for Biological Control in order to ensure that Biological agents will be available when Spring comes?
Reply:
1.(a) Teams made up of participants of the Government’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) have been employed to manually remove Salvinia minima on the Hartbeespoort, Roodeplaat, Roodekopjes and Bon Accord dams.
2. Tenders have been awarded to small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) to complete the work:
a. Hartbeespoort Dam — 7 SMMEs
b. Roodeplaat Dam —4 SMMEs
c. Roodekopjes Dam —6 SMMEs
d. Bon Accord Dam -1 SMME
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is finalising the contracting process for these tenders.
3. The DFFE supported the Centre for Biological Control to import biocontrol agents into quarantine in early 2021 for testing. The scientific process is long and together with obtaining the necessray approvals, the process may take a while. These agents will have to go through rigorous tests to ensure that they are host specific to Salvinia minima before they can be released into South Africa. Therefore, these agents will not be ready for release by Spring 2021.
Regards
MS B D CREECY, MP
MINISTER OF FORESTRY, FISHERIES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
DATE: 3/09/2021