ITEM ISSUES IMPLICATIONS
/DISCUSSION
WEAKNESSES STRENGTHS
Global/Nati onal Charact eristics
Environmental Legislation
South Africa has
various pieces of legislation geared at
Lack of clear understanding/inte rpretation of relevant
environmental legislation and
Local government is obliged to conduct its administration
in such a
responsive and responsible
ensuring that human activities do not compromi se the integrity of the natural environme nt. They are mainly focused at ensuring sustainabl e
developme nt
initiatives which will benefit present and future generation s
Local
governme nt
specifically has certain obligations with regards implement ation of such legislation to give effect to mainly the South African Constitutio n (objects of Local Governme nt)
capacity to implement such legislation as applicable
(institutional arrangements)
manner as its resources allow, namely it can develop bylaws, policies & SOP geared at ensuring compliance with environmental legislation
THREATS OPPORTUNITIES
Sustained & unchecked land degradation, hampering
prospects of future development &
economic growth Litigation & non-
compliance
resulting in heavy fines/imprisonmen t
Poor image resulting from
environmental disasters
ELM is not a built up environment, i.e.
congested with heavy industry and has vast pristine environments which can be conserved.
Environmental Management Plans can be developed to ensure guided use of the natural space
Existence of good recruitment
policies (to attract environmental specialists)
International Treaties
South Africa is a signatory to many internation al
environme ntal accords relating to Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction targets, sustainabl e
developme nt, and renewable energy targets etc. It is a Country regarded as the 13th largest GHG emitter/po lluter in the World and no.1 in Africa Kyoto
protocol, WSSD, IPCC etc.
are but a few signed treaties
WEAKNESSES STRENGTHS
Lack of knowledge of international targets and National
framework
/capacity to assist local government towards giving effect to the targets
Un used land parcels
The largely forest dominated areas
and non-
industrialization offer opportunities
for carbon
footprint reduction
Research is easily available on these targets (functional ITC system)
THREATS OPPORTUNITIES
Poor image (violation of international treaties)
Global warming resulting in severe droughts, floods, adverse public health effects etc.
Unsustainable environments
Twinning
arrangements/ben chmarking with compliant
municipalities/enti ties
Availability of undeveloped and (un-spoilt) land for Investment
attraction i.e.
(industry/manufac turing)
Job creation through green initiatives (renewable energy alternatives, EPWP projects
Underdevelop ment
(degraded environments)
Former TBVC areas are characteriz ed largely by
degraded
WEAKNESSES STRENGTHS
There is no EMP to protect sensitive environment &
map out already degraded and how
Undeveloped land parcels which can be rehabilitated and used to advance the local
and uncared for environme nts due to underdeve lopment i.e. eroded land, poor waste manageme nt
practices, illegal mining etc.
Most of these areas have land previously used for agricultura l purposes which has been allowed to degrade (dongas etc.) Alien invaded
land parcels
they should be rehabilitated
Poor landfill
operations/monito ring of permit conditions
Lack of environmental awareness to the
public in
programmes relating to wetlands, littering etc.
economy
Municipalities have
powers and
authority to legislate on local matters to protect
its own
environments There is a dedicated
department to champion
environmental issues
Municipalities have powers over land use practices
THREATS OPPORTUNITIES
Loss of
useable/productiv e land for various economic benefit to locals
Irreversible land degradation/high rehabilitation costs Destruction of wetlands (loss of ecological
life/biodiversity)
Poverty alleviation projects for rehabilitation of degraded
environments/era dication of alien plants
Landscaping &
beautification initiatives
Conservation of indigenous plant and animal species
Legislation Enforcement
Passed legislation (environm ental) is enforceabl e through Environme ntal Managem ent Inspectors (EMIs) Some
legislation
WEAKNESSES STRENGTHS
There is generally no capacity (proper institutional arrangements) at local government levels to ensure
speedy and
effective
resolution of environmental transgression let alone awareness on these types of
The correct legal framework is in most cases in existence, i.e.
policies, bylaws etc.
Appointment of suitable law enforcement officials is made possible by existing
recruitment
is enforced through various sector departmen ts e.g.
complianc e with Landfill permits by Departme
nt of
Environme ntal Affairs and others.
Although such arrangeme nts are in place they however are seldom visible, with the result that many environme ntal transgressi ons by ordinary individuals ,
governme nt
departmen ts,
municipalit ies as well as
business go without notice and or
punishmen t.
transgressions
At worst
environmental issue do not enjoy deserving
prominence in municipality owing to lack of environmental champions
procedures
Threats Opportunities
Breakdown of law and order
To be a leading municipality in the region in terms of environmental legislation enforcement
Orderly and
sustainable
opportunities able to support long term local
economic objectives
NB: The correct basis is to agree that we may probably have failed to deliver on the previous key strategic issue relating to the environment, i.e. ‘Elundini Goes Green’ or “Cleanest Towns & Cities”. The
reason for this failure can be attributable to the fact that no clear mechanisms and or support systems were thought out as necessary vehicles to achieve the “cleanest towns & cities” concepts. The latter just became a slogan without any clear commitments.
The above identified “issues” warrant that the municipality considers.
Embarking on recycling initiatives [ELM creating suitable infrastructure for recycling, recycling drive education and public awareness, creation of recycling SMMEs as well as household recycling incentives]
• Office paper recycling
• Poverty alleviation environmentally related projects [EPWP style]
• Introduction of a shift system to ensure the ideal of clean cities is realized
All together these initiatives can make a huge contribution in reducing our carbon footprint as a municipality to mitigate the otherwise environmentally destructive unintended consequences resulting from community and municipal processes.
Successful implementation of the above listed initiatives has with it a possibility of yielding that which the municipality set out to achieve but failed in the previous strategic session, namely enjoying leaving in cleaner towns and cities.