OWN CORRESPONDENT, Johannesburg | Tuesday 7.00pm.
THE Chamber of Mines on Tuesday condemned the draft National Environmental Management Bill, saying it is seriously flawed and unworkable.
Chamber environmental adviser John Kilani said the draft Bill not only contravenes the Constitution while conflicting with other laws, but does not include sustainable development measures. He said it ignores aspects of the White Paper on Environmental Management Policy, to which all stakeholders have committed themselves.
The omitted aspects include the environment department’s obligation to report on the state of the environment, prepare national environmental strategy and promote environmental education.
Chamber of Mines chief executive officer Mzolisi Diliza said the Bill ignores international trends towards sustainable development, especially in North America: “There is no reason why South Africa should repeat the same mistakes.”
He objects to the principle that the costs of state prosecutions should be recoverable from offenders.
“It has become globally recognised that for any environmental legislation to work effectively it must be built on a three-pronged foundation of a balanced approach in equal proportions to the economic, social and environmental factors,” Diliza said, saying the Bill disregards this model.
The chamber hopes for an urgent meeting to discuss the legislation with Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Pallo Jordan.