Eastern Cape MEC for Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT), Mlungisi Mvoko, says he has noted the media reports and clips circulating around regarding his comments on the Transkei Environmental Conservation Decree No 9 of 1992 seeking to suggest that he denounces the Decree and its current implementation.
“I wish to state that my comments were in response to a specific question which suggested that the Decree and its administration thereof, targeted certain groups with the aim to remove them closer to the sea. I made the comments as a response to this observation by the reporter and I reiterate again that such practice, if it were to be true would not be acceptable in this era,” Mvoko explains.
“I however wish to state that the Decree is currently valid and there are only two sections of it that were declared invalid and those were repealed. In fact, there is a standing court order obtained by the Wildlife Society of Southern Africa compelling the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) as well as the MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEDEAT) to enforce it.”
The MEC reiterated that DEDEAT has a mandate to promote inclusive and sustainable development and align its processes to the provincial development plans including the oceans economy master plan for the Wild Coast, but use the current national and provincial environmental legislation framework to ensure compliance with the country’s environmental laws.
“This includes preventing and stopping all illegal developments that could endanger our environment and derail sustainable development. In this regard, I can report that DEDEAT is taking the necessary steps to achieve these two objectives,” Mvoko notes.
“This includes the ongoing stakeholder engagements which resulted in the recent promulgation of the Wild Coast Environmental Management Plan. Also, through the Departmental permitting process, my office continues to receive requests for, and approving development nodes with several tourism ventures getting approved through the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA). Of great importance is that this is facilitated through the developed structures on the Wild Coast.
“We have also established the Wild Coast Illegal Cottages Task Team (WCICTT) through a Provincial Cabinet Resolution of 2000, to ensure that Cabinet’s objectives are prioritised and that there are no discriminatory practices when demolitions are undertaken.
“I am advised that demolitions of illegal developments are indeed indiscriminatory and I appeal to all who have information to the contrary to advise my office of this and submit supporting evidence. The task team is comprised of inter-departmental representatives to ensure coordination of activities along the Wild Coast. This task team is supported by DFFE Minister and it deals with both legal and illegal developments along the Wild Coast.”
The MEC also said; “I want to inform all stakeholders that the Transkei Decree will be repealed once the current Eastern Cape Environmental Management Bill, that I will table at the Legislature, has been assented to by the Premier after Legislature processes have been finalised.”