Environmental Governance, Policy Coordination & Enforcement
Maintain an integrated provincial environmental governance framework. Monitor and enforce compliance with environmental legislation and to provide a legal support / administration. Tend to the Department’s knowledge and management information requirements.
Environmental Law Enforcement
ABOUT US
The Directorate: Environmental Law Enforcement (“the Directorate”) was established in early 2009 and resides within the Chief Directorate: Environmental Governance, Policy Co-ordination and Enforcement.
The Directorate has Environmental Management Inspectors (“EMIs”) who enforce environmental legislation in the Western Cape. These EMIs, also known as the “Green Scorpions”, conducts administrative and criminal investigations into serious environmental crimes. The Directorate also conducts intergovernmental compliance and enforcement operations and create awareness about environmental rights and contraventions.
The Directorate consists of four Sub-Directorates, namely:
- Environmental Law Enforcement (Region 1 – Cape Town/West Coast)
- Environmental Law Enforcement (Region 2 –Cape Winelands/Overberg)
- Environmental Law Enforcement (Region 3 – Eden/Karoo)
- Criminal Investigations
SERVICES
The Directorate enforces the following pieces of legislation:
- National Environmental Management Act, 1998
- National Environmental Management Act, 1998, Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations
- National Environmental Management: Waste Act, 2008
- National Environmental Management: Air Quality Act, 2004
- Environmental Conservation Act, 1989.
- National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management, 2008
The Green Scorpions investigates complaints such as, but not limited to:
- Illegal removal or clearing of indigenous vegetation,
- Illegal construction of facilities or infrastructure for the storage of dangerous goods,
- The construction or earth moving activities in the sea or a distance of 100 metres inland of the high-water mark of the sea,
- The illegal infilling or excavation within a watercourse or the sea,
- Illegal disposal of general and hazardous waste (which includes health care risk waste).
Awareness raising:
- Conduct presentations with primary and secondary schools;
- Conduct presentations with tertiary institutions;
- Conduct presentations with Municipality, Civil Society, Key Stakeholders and Interest Groups; and
- Conduct presentations with SAPS, NPA and other Law Enforcement Agencies
CONTACT PERSON
Dale Wakefield (Region 1 – Cape Town/West Coast)
Email: Dale.Wakefield@westerncape.gov.za
Tel. 021 483 8360
Nithzaam Albertyn (Region 2 –Cape Winelands/Overberg)
Email: Nithzaam.Albertyn@westerncape.gov.za
Tel. 021 483 0779
Johan Oelofse (Region 3 – Eden/Karoo)
Email: Johan.Oelofse@westerncape.gov.za
Tel. 044 805 8601
Alternatively, any complaints / environmental crimes / incidents may be reported to: Law.enforcement@westerncape.gov.za or reported on the 24 hour toll-free Incidents Hotline at 0800 205 005.
Planning and Policy Coordination
ABOUT US
The purpose of the Planning and Policy Coordination Directorate is to:
1. Co-ordinate integrated environmental and land management planning, which includes:
- Assisting the Department in policy related research on emerging risks and other strategic concerns, where Departmental intervention/response is required. For example, the establishment and management of the Western Cape Intra-Governmental Shale Gas Forum.
- Developing best practice thinking in the implementation of environmental management instruments/strategic assessment tools in order to contribute to the development of an appropriate regulatory context and to diversify the suite of possible tools. For example, the compilation and implementation of the Sandveld Environmental Management Framework and the Sandveld Environmental Management Framework Standards.
2. Facilitate the development and maintenance of a comprehensive, cohesive and integrated suite of environmental and land management laws and policies, which includes:
- Contributing to the development of an appropriate suite of legislation and policy, through the coordination of Departmental inputs on external policy and law reform initiatives.
- Facilitating appropriate Departmental responses (interpretation and operationalisation) to law and policy reform.
3. Coordinate stakeholder engagements, which includes:
- Assisting with the coordination of the Department’s international stakeholder interactions.
- Coordinating the Department’s involvement and representation in the various structures established in terms of the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act, 2005, i.e. MinTech, MinMec and its technical working groups.
Environmental Governance
ABOUT US
Provide co-operative environmental governance in terms of environmental legislation.
The sub-directorate Rectification is responsible for the administration of application for the rectification of the unlawfully commenced activities which refers to activities that have commenced without prior environmental authorisation. Such actions are in contravention of section 24 of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (“NEMA”).
The Sub-directorate: Environmental Appeals Management serves the Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in processing appeals lodged against Environmental Decisions issued in terms of National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) [“NEMA”] and the Special Environmental Management Acts (“SEMA’s”]; appeals lodged against Directives and Objections lodged against compliance notices issued in terms of the NEMA.
SERVICES
- Process applications in terms of Section 24G of the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (NEMA) submitted to the Department.
- Providing environmental advice and comments on queries relating to Section 24G of NEMA
- Environmental Appeals and Objections
- Amendments to Appeal Environmental Authorisations
- Ensure provision of environmental and planning legal support services to Department and Provincial Minister
- Manage litigation on behalf of Department and Provincial Minister
CONTACT
Head of Rectification: Ms Zaidah Toefy
E-Mail: zaidah.toefy@westerncape.gov.za
Administrative Officer: Nabeelah Khan
E-mail: Nabeelah.Khan@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 5827/ 021 483 2701
Fax: 021 483 4033
Head of Environmental Appeals Management: Ms Jaqueta Keet
E-Mail: Jaqueta.Keet@westerncape.gov.za
Environmental and Planning Appeals Coordinator: Mr Marius Venter
E-mail: DEADP.Appeals@westerncape.gov.za
Tel: 021 483 3721
Fax: 021 483 4174