Question NW2866 to the Minister of Environmental Affairs
25 August 2015 - NW2866
Hadebe, Mr TZ to ask the Minister of Environmental Affairs
Whether, with regard to the awarding of the tender for the development of Portions 87, 148, 149 and the remainder of Portion 1 of the farm Rietfontein 61 IR, City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality, and the stipulation on page 63 of the Final Environmental Impact Assessment Report Gaut: 002/13-14/E0153, wherein it is stated that a vulnerable plant species name Trachyandra erythrorrhiza has been identified on the proposed development area, she has found that there must be a 200m buffer area around the species; if not, (a) on what grounds can the buffer area be reduced and (b) which entity can approve the reduction of the buffer zone; (2) has there been such an application to reduce the buffer zone; if so, what was the outcome of the application?
Reply:
1. The National Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) has no record of an application for environmental authorisation for the abovementioned project. The application was lodged with the provincial department of environmental affairs, the Gauteng Department of Rural Development (GDARD), for which the Member of Executive Council is the competent authority in terms of S24C of NEMA. Please contact the GDARD for a response.
(a) and (b) Not applicable.
2. Not applicable.
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