Question NW1540 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
31 July 2017 - NW1540
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
(1)With regard to illegal land invasion in the green belt of the Magaliesberg in Tshwane, what (a) was the allocated budget for the Environmental Managements Inspectorate (EMI)-Green Scorpions unit in the (i) 2014-15, (ii) 2015-16, (iii) 2016-17 and (iv) 2017-18 financial years, and (b) amount of the allocated budget was spent in each of the specified financial years; (2) what is (a) the current vacancy rate in the EMI-Green Scorpions-unit in Gauteng and (b) the total number of vacant positions in the unit; (3) whether the inspection unit at OR Tambo International Airport is still operational; if not, why not; if so, what amount of own revenue was received from fines imposed by the unit in the (a) 2015-16 and (b) 2016-17 financial years?
Reply:
1. (a) The Environmental Management Inspectorate did not allocate any budget for the illegal land invasion in the green belt of the Magaliesberg in Tshwane for the (i) 2014-15, (ii) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17 and (iv) 2017-18 financial years. The Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMIs) did not budget for the financial years stated above because they are not mandated to deal with any illegal land invasions. The mandate to deal with illegal land invasion in the green belt is vested in Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
(b) Given that no budget was allocated by the National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) for the illegal land invasion in the green belt of the Magaliesberg in Tshwane, no amount was spent in this regard.
2. (a) The current vacancy rate in the EMI-Green Scorpions unit in Gauteng is 12.68%.
(b) The total number of vacant positions in the unit is 9.
3. The national Department’s inspection unit at OR Tambo International Airport is still operational.
(a) 2015-16: In terms of a sentence handed down by the court as a consequence of a criminal investigation by DEA EMIs, a monetary penalty of R20 000.00 was paid by the accused. This amount was, on application by the prosecutor upon conviction, specifically paid into the account of the Department in the 2015-16 financial year. Environmental Management Inspectors do not, currently, issue fines themselves, but all non-compliances with biodiversity legislation detected at OR Tambo are investigated, and administrative or criminal action is taken against the transgressor, which may then lead to either a fine or another criminal sanction.
(b) 2016-17: No revenue was received from fines during this financial year.
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