ATC090707: Report Budget Vote 25

NCOP Land Reform, Environment, Mineral Resources and Energy

Report of the Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs on Budget Vote 25, dated 7 July 2009:

 

The Select Committee on Land and Environmental Affairs, having considered Budget Vote 25 for the 2009/10 financial year, reports as follows:

 

1. Introduction

 

On 26 June 2009, the Select Committee met with the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs (the Environmental Component) and the Tourism component to engage in discussions on the budget as presented in Vote 25. The Department presented to the Select Committee on the following:

 

·   Overview of sectors – environment, fisheries and tourism.

·   Realignment of the departments (Environmental Affairs and Tourism) and the implications.

·   An overview of programmes and allocations.

·   Appropriations to Budget Vote 25 for the financial year 2009/10.

·   Challenges facing the Department.

·   Link to Government Priorities.

·   Challenges.

·   The transfers of monies to entities.

 

The Department also tabled reports which included the Strategic Plan, the Annual Review and a Fifteen year review of the activities of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. It also gave details of a description of the public entities and tourism.

 

2. Deliberations by the Committee

 

2.1. The Committee engaged with the Department with regards to the realignment of its strategic priorities, with specific reference to the movement of the mariculture component and the Forestry component to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

 

2.2. The Department also reflected on the contribution that Tourism made to the GDP of the country and that more initiatives were in place to create more jobs and ensure the sustainable use of South Africa’s natural resources.

 

2.3. The Department was committed to concentrate on increasing the social responsibility programmes related to the Expanded Public Works Programme that are currently in place.

 

3. Challenges identified and areas of consideration for the Department of Water and Environmental Affairs and Department of Tourism

 

3.1. The Department and the Committee engaged on the issue of land and mineral rights on restituted land and in protected areas. There seemed to be a conflict of interest between the two sectors of mining and tourism, since expansion of mining would ultimately lead to more pollution and degradation of the environment. Further discussions need to be held on this issue.

 

4. Recommendation

 

The Committee, having considered Budget Vote 25: Environmental Affairs and Tourism, reports that it supports the Budget Vote.

 

Report to be considered.