Questions and Replies
06 October 2023 - NW2907
Mbatha, Ms SGN to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What (a) are the relevant details of the process to empower communities in the forestry industry to ensure the prevention of deforestation and (b) is the state of pilot projects in this regard?
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06 October 2023 - NW3141
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What (a) amount of (i) abalone, (ii) crayfish and (iii) fish are estimated to be poached from the seas of the (aa) Western Cape, (bb) Eastern Cape and (cc) Northern Cape annually, (b) amount of each of the poached species have been confiscated fresh, dried, and in live condition in each of the past five years, (c) happens to the confiscate species and (d) other illegal items were confiscate in the above-mentioned instances from the poachers?
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06 October 2023 - NW3139
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What (a)(i) total number of and (ii) which fishing rights were allocated to (aa) individuals and (bb) companies and/or any other entity in each province and (b) total number of licences were denied in each province; (2) whether it is a requirement for applicants to indicate their racial profile; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what total number of licences were allocated to (a) each race in (b) each province; (3) whether any communities and/or individuals are excluded from applying and/or being awarded fishing rights, permits and/or licences; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, on what grounds?
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06 October 2023 - NW3128
Yako, Ms Y to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
With regard to the dried-up slurry that is dumped and heaped close to the residential areas around the power plants in Lephalale, which must be causing health hazards for the communities during windy seasons, what steps has her department, in collaboration with Eskom, taken to manage the spread of deadly fine particles that get swept into the surrounding communities?
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06 October 2023 - NW3086
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
By what date will the ordinance be effectively repealed as there are discrepancies between national and provincial legislation and the hunting and other ordinances in several provinces are outdates and no long in line with national legislation and with scientific evident in terms of biodiversity loss?
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06 October 2023 - NW2924
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What is the current status of the implementation of the Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa?
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06 October 2023 - NW2923
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What total number of (a) cheetahs and (b) cubs born later, which were exported to the Republic of India as part of a Memorandum of Understanding, have died as at the latest specified date for which information is available?
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06 October 2023 - NW2921
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether she is actively exploring additional funding mechanisms for the implementation of the Just Transition to a Decarbonised Economy for South Africa to supplement the initial $8.5 billion commitment; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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06 October 2023 - NW2915
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What measures are in place to protect the coast and fishing grounds of the Republic against foreign fishing vessels?
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06 October 2023 - NW2914
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
What assistance is being offered by her department to black-owned small-scale mussel farmers on the West Coast of the Western Cape, who experienced serious setbacks during COVID-19, to ensure their ventures become viable and successful
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29 September 2023 - NW2967
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether she has found that the current pace of implementation of the Integrated Resource Plan 2079 will result in the achievement of the 2030 emissions reduction targets; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
29 September 2023 - NW2941
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether she is aware of the fact that of the 12 cheetahs exported from Namibia to India, only five survived and of the twelve cheetahs exported from the Republic to India, only seven survived, while one cheetah is apparently to remain permanently in captivity and the rejection of cubs is ongoing; if not, why not, in each case; if so, (2) whether, given the high mortality rate and the range of problems being experienced in India with the cheetah reintroductions, she will reconsider the reintroduction programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (3) whether her department has carried out a comprehensive and transparent evaluation of the specified programme and its problems to date, given that since the reintroduction programme was announced, ongoing concerns and appeals have been raised by local and international conservation, animal welfare and camivore specialists and groups for her to reconsider the reintroduction programme; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (4) whether, given the extent and range of the issues, she will consider halting the export of cheetahs from the Republic to India, pending the outcome of the specified evaluation; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
29 September 2023 - NW2942
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) (a) What were the objectives of the Operation Trident of her department, (b) which departments and/or organisations took part in the specified operation and (c) how was it funded; (2) whether the operation achieved its objectives; if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details’?
29 September 2023 - NW2943
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether there is a drive by her department to redistribute (a) abalone and (b) crayfish rights from commercial fishers to (i) small-scale and (ii) new entry small-scale fishers; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details; (2} whether, considering the cost and specialisation of operating in the marine environment, her department has plans in place to assist the affected commercial fishers to diversify their catch and/or move into other fishing industries to help them sustain their livelihood; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
29 September 2023 - NW3030
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
With reference to her reply to question 219 on 3 May 2023, what are the relevant details contained in the database referred to therein’?
29 September 2023 - NW3029
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether the 2 000 rhinos from Mr. John Hume's farm that will be rewilded over the next 10 years will be dehomed; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what will happen to the rhino stockpile?
29 September 2023 - NW3028
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether she has been informed that Seekoeiviei Nature Reserve, a RAMSAR-designated wetland in the Free State, is being destroyed by sewage spills emanating from the town of Memel under Phumelela Local Municipality: if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what steps has her department taken to address this ecocide’?
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29 September 2023 - NW2968
Paulsen, Mr N M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
How compatible has he found the Integrated Resource Plan 2019 to be with the Nationally Determined Contribution targets when considering that coal will continue to play a significant role in electricity generation in the Republic in the foreseeable future as it is the largest base of the installed generation capacity and makes up the largest share of energy generated?
22 September 2023 - NW2846
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What plans has her department put in place to address the health of rivers in (a) KwaZulu-Natal an (b) the Republic; (2) whether there have been any engagements with provincial authorities on a way forward to address instances where a river's health is in a dire state in the specified province and the Republic; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
22 September 2023 - NW2845
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether her department has plans put in place to work with municipalities regarding waste management in informal settlements; if not, why not; if so, (a) in which (i) municipalities and (ii) informal settlements has the specified plan been implemented and (b} what has been implemented?
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22 September 2023 - NW2852
Singh, Mr N to ask the Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Following the North Gauteng High Court declaring the lion bone export quota unconstitutional in 2019 while no official CITES export quotas for lion skeletons have been set, (a) how is commercial captive breeding and canned hunting of lions currently being regulated in the Republic and (b} what has she found may influence consumer demand?
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15 September 2023 - NW2657
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether any rare game species were auctioned by provincial parks and/or nature reserves in the past five financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the (a) name of the park and/or nature reserve, (b) name of the rare species and (c) quantity of the specified species that was auctioned; (2) what (a) auctioned species and (b) quantity thereof was exported to each specified (i) province and (ii) country in each case?
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15 September 2023 - NW2851
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether there are any plans in place to prevent legal trade from being used as a cover for illegal trade and the stockpiling of lion bones; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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15 September 2023 - NW2709
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether, with regard to the allegations made by nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) on Russian prospecting in Antarctica, her department intends to present allegations and information presented to them by NGOs to the Antarctica Treaty Consultative Meeting as a signatory to the treaties, if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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15 September 2023 - NW2708
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What (a) are the details of the plan of the SA Weather Service Infrastructure Sustainability (SAWS) plan, which aims to outline the expansion, automatic and modernization endeavours, emphasizing alternative power solutions for its observation networks and (b) is the timeline for the adoption of the plan; (2) what is the SAWS interim plan to ensure the continued effective operation of its observation networks in instances of load shedding and other energy supply issues?
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15 September 2023 - NW2685
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
With reference to the announcement by an official of her department at a meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on 13 June 2023, that South African recognizes all territorial claims to Antarctica, apart from those that were made after a hold on claims was instituted (a) (i) which claims are officially recognized and (ii) what are the reasons thereof and (b) what were the reasons that the South African delegation to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting in Helsinki rejected a draft resolution on Article 7 put forward by the United States of America, agenda items ATCM 6d and ATCM 6e?
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15 September 2023 - NW2684
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether she and/or her department has investigated the veracity of certain claims made by a certain person (name and details furnished) in a sworn statement signed at Melkbosstrand Police Station, date 12 October 2022, in which he presented himself as an independent specialist and further presented himself to her department as the holder of a BSc Environmental Management (Chemistry) Degree; if not, why not; if so, what (a) were the results of the investigation undertaken by her department and (b) further action is being contemplated in this regard?
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15 September 2023 - NW2669
Van Dyk, Ms V to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether, with reference to her replies to question 2798 on 23 December 2021 and 2114 on 9 June 2022, CA 19/09/2020 that was opened in Alexander Bay regarding the illegal cofferdam mining by Alexkor has been finalised; if not, on what date can the outcome of the case be expected; if so, what are the relevant details of the outcome; (2) whether she intends to collaborate with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy to stop illegal cofferdam mining activities in the Republic, particularly in the Northern Cape; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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15 September 2023 - NW2659
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether any rare game species were transferred to provincial parks and/or nature reserves in the past five financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the (a) name of the park and/or reserve, (b) name of the rare species and (c) quantity of the specified species; (2) what (a) transferred species and (b) quantity thereof were transferred to each specified (i) province and (ii) country?
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15 September 2023 - NW2658
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether any rare game species were donated to provincial parks and/or nature reserves in the past five financial years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what is the (a) name of the park and/or nature reserve, (b) name of the species and (c) quantity of the donated species; (2) what (a) donated species and (b) quantity thereof exported to each specified (i) province and (ii) country in each case?
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15 September 2023 - NW2640
Shikwambana, Mr M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether she has been informed that 120 young persons in Limpopo are left in limbo with no prospects of employment after being trained as field workers and/or rangers at South African Wildlife and that persons who are allegedly connected to the then Member of the Executive Council in Limpopo, with no formal training whatsoever, were placed for jobs over the young persons who had acquired training; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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15 September 2023 - NW2593
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether her department shares a joint corresponding database with the SA Police Service and the Department of Justice and Correctional Services of all rhino poachers who have been arrested referencing their trail and custody status, convictions and prison status and also their associates in order to understand the linkages and networks since rhino poaching has been declared a national priority crime; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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15 September 2023 - NW2592
Singh, Mr N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether she will furnish Mr N Singh with the number of (a) repeat-offenders, (b) suspects and/or (c) arrest persons who have been re-arrested on any know rhino poaching and/or related charges since 2006, including charges of conspiracy to poach rhinos, being in possession of poaching-related weapons and/or other charges; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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15 September 2023 - NW2590
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Whether, with regards to the Mapungubwe National Park in Limpopo, she will furnish Ms T Breedt with (a) a copy of the most recent Management Plan for the park, including relevant details of the most recent mammal counts, (b) relevant details of any plans to expand the boundaries of the specified park including plans to acquire the remaining private farms within and/or on the boundaries of the park and (c) relevant details of initiatives to manage the elephant population of the park in conjunction with Botswana and Zimbabwe, including estimates of the elephant population within the park; if not, what not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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15 September 2023 - NW2589
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) (a) On what date was the last abalone population density estimates and projections done and (b) what are the details of the specified process; (2) what was the (a) result of the counting and projection and (b) effect of the finds on the issuance of permits and quotas in the various industry sectors and the recreational sector?
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12 September 2023 - NO529
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What is the status of the complaint submitted to her department regarding the cofferdam mining by Alexkor in the Richtersveld; (2) whether she has found that the One Environmental System affects the ability of her department to take action on mining sites; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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12 September 2023 - NO532
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment
(1) What impact has she found the delays in the implementation of the small-scale fishing process in the Western Cape have had on the sector; (2) whether her department has put plans in place to create additional opportunities for small-scale fishers in the Western Cape; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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12 September 2023 - NO508
Gantsho, Ms N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment
What are the relevant details of the process that her department has embarked upon to empower small fishers and communities to access the oceans economy?
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12 September 2023 - NO503
Dlamini, Mr M to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Given that her department is a large employer and through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) provides work opportunities to persons who are unemployable in the labour market due to a lack of education and/or skills, what are the (a) relevant details of the EPWP in relation to the sectors of her department in which the employment occurs and (b) levels of skills development for women and youth in the specified programme
30 June 2023 - NW2463
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether Canada and the Republic will split the expenses incurred for firefighting as the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the exchange of wildlife fire management resources (details furnished); if not, why not; if so, what part of the cost will each country cover; (2) whether she will furnish MS A M M Weber with the breakdown of expenses regarding (a) the cost of (i) return flights, (ii) accommodation and food and (iii) equipment and resources and (b) all the other associated costs; (3) (a) from which province does each (i) firefighter and (ii) manger come from and (b) what is the total number of (i) fire fighter and (ii) managers from each province?
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30 June 2023 - NW2476
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) Whether there is any plan for a process to review the total allowable catch (TAC) allotted to commercial fishing rights holders in order to accommodate the allocation of higher quality of small-scale fishing rights; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; (2) whether her department has any plan in place to accommodate customary fishing rights where they clash with existing fishing rights implemented by her department; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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30 June 2023 - NW2459
Myburgh, Mr NG to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What steps has her department taken to salvage the remaining wetlands of the Republic as 50% is destroyed and 30% is in a weak ecological condition; (2) whether she will furnish Mr N G Myburgh with the details of any plans for the effective of already destroyed and/or seriously damaged’ if not, why not, if so, what are the relevant details;
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30 June 2023 - NW2462
Weber, Ms AMM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(1) What are the reasons that Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd has not yet rehabilitate the badly degraded wetland (details furnish) in the Khanye Local Municipality in Mpumalanga; (2)(a) what is the current state of the specified wetlands and (b0 by what date will Eskom Holdings ZOC Ltd commence with the rehabilitation of the wetlands; (3) what are the details of the (a) vegetation and (b) biodiversity that has been destroyed?
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23 June 2023 - NW2414
Nolutshungu, Ms N to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
What are the relevant details of the relief that has been offered to small-scale fisherman in KwaZulu-Natal, in particular the South Coast informal, who are being abused daily because of the lack of fishing permits?
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23 June 2023 - NW2381
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
1) Whether, in view of the death of two South African cheetah that were exported from the Republic to India in the past two months as part of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) undertaken between India and the Republic and the fact that the non-detriment findings for cheetah has not yet been tabled for public participation, she will be halting the export of any further cheetah to india under MOU; if not, why not; if so, 2) Whether her department intends to undertake any policy review to address an inclusion of a welfare mandate for wildlife that falls under its auspices; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
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23 June 2023 - NW2423
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry , Fisheries and EnvironmentWhat was the estimated total elephant population of the Kuger National Parks as at 31 December 2022, bearing in mind that the elephant population was estimated to be 27 992 elephants at the end on 2021
1) What was the estimated total elephant population of the Kuger National Parks as at 31 December 2022, bearing in mind that the elephant population was estimated to be 27 992 elephants at the end on 2021: 2) How was the estimate arrived at; 3) On what date was the last count concluded; 4) What were the confidence intervals within which the specified number was calculated; 5) Whether she ha found that the method used is consistent with the counts of previous years; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?
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23 June 2023 - NW2422
Breedt, Ms T to ask the Minister of Forestry , Fisheries and Environment
1) Whether , with reference to the withdrawal of the Regulations pertaining to Threatened and/or Protected Terrestrial and Freshwater Species (TOPS and its associated species list, as well as the Revised National Norms and Standards for the Management of Elephants in South Africa (Elephant Norms and Standards) on 31 March 2023, in response to a requeste for an urgent interdict on the basis that her legal advisers requires more time to study the objections of Wildlife Ranching South Africa and Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (the applicants) to the TOPS Regulations and the Elephant Norms and Standards, her egal advisors have now completed their study of the applicants’ objections; if not , why not; if so, what are the results of the specified study: 2) Given the scenario implications of the withdrawal of the TOPS Regulations and Elephant Norms and Standards, including uncertainty and potential loss of income for the wildlife farming and hunting sectors, what are the relevant details concerning (a) how and (b) by what date she intends to reintroduce the relevant regulations?
23 June 2023 - NW2374
Winkler, Ms HS to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
what (a) number of compliance directives has her department issued to the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality regarding the ongoing sewage spillage in the city of eThekwini and (b) is the next step that her department will purse over noncompliance by the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality on directives issued by her department?
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23 June 2023 - NW2357
Bryant, Mr D W to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
(a) What is the detailed financial analysis that informed the proposed cancellation of the long-standing free-entry arrangement for members of the SA Botanical Society (BotSoc) and (b) how will the projects that are currently implemented by BotSoc be replicated by the SA National Biodiversity Institute in the absence of BotSoc membership funding?
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23 June 2023 - NW2380
Siwisa, Ms AM to ask the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment
Whether, with reference to her reply to question 1413 on 19 May 2023, she will furnish Ms H S Winkler with (a) the case numbers and details of all the criminal proceedings taken against the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality by her department and (b) the details of the outcomes of the criminal proceedings; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?