Parliament’s environmental affairs portfolio committee has approved the Southern African Development Committee (SADC) Protocol on Wildlife Conservation and Law Enforcement, despite uncertainty over the measure’s financial implications and some of its enforcement provisions.
The approval clears the way for the National Assembly to now ratify the document, which was signed into existence by SADC heads of state in 1999. To date, only six SADC countries — Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi. Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia — have ratified the protocol.
Among the aims of the regional agreement are to promote the sustainable use of wildlife; the enforcement of wildlife laws within SADC’s 14 member countries; and the establishment of trans-frontier conservation areas.
However, briefing committee members on Tuesday, environmental affairs Deputy Director Dr Pieter Botha said he had ”no idea” what the financial implications of ratifying the agreement would be for South Africa.
Replying to a question by the Democratic Alliance’s Wilhelm le Roux, he said: ”All I know is there will be different levels of contribution.”
Responding to a follow-up question on the same issue, he said the financial formula involved a ”scaled contribution”, but he had no further details.
On the agreement’s reference to a ”tribunal”, apparently created to resolve disputes between members, Botha said he did not know what this was.
”What this is, is unknown to me.”
On exactly what sanctions could be imposed on members who did not comply with provisions of the protocol, Botha said he also did not know. There being no objections, the committee approved the agreement.
Acting committee chairperson Jonathan Arendse told members the protocol had been signed by heads of state, and ”we can’t change the contents of the document”. – Sapa