Large-scale projects for the roll-out of gas, electricity, water, solar and other infrastructure projects will be given exemption from the need for environmental authorisation in terms of notices gazetted by the government on 31 July 2020.
“This is certain to excite strong opposition from environmental lobby groups which have laboured for years to enforce compliance with the laws and regulations already in place,” said Rob Hutchinson, MD of Dear South Africa, a non-profit organisation.
According to the NPO, one of the possible motivations for the proposed exemptions is the need to fast-track infrastructure development. “After nearly five months of lockdown, and an estimated three million jobs lost, authorities are under pressure to fast-track massive infrastructure developments to get the economy moving again.”
However, the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries (DEFF)* has issued a statement denying that this is the case. Furthermore, the DEFF has called for an accurate representation of the facts to be presented to the public.
According to Dear South Africa, the National Environmental Management Act allows the minister to exclude certain activities and projects from the need to obtain environmental authorisation provided an “environmental management instrument” is developed that avoids, manages and mitigates environmental risks associated with the projects. Read more…
