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SPEECH BY MEC NANDI MAYATHULA-KHOZA AT THE COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT WEEK, LIME DISTRIBUTORS, VEREENIGING

MONDAY 11 MARCH 2013

Management and Officials of Lime Distributors Present,

GDARD officials Present,

Members of the Media Present,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dumelang, Molweni, Sanibonani, Gooie More, Good Morning,

I am truly delighted to be here with Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (GDARD) staff members, namely those from the Compliance and Enforcement Branch, Managers and officials of Lime Distributors and members of the Media.

Our Constitution states “Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations,”

As a constitutional democracy, our Government is dedicated to upholding the prescripts of our Constitution as stated above, to ensuring a healthy environment for our people. And it is through the hard work of public servants like those in the Compliance and Enforcement Branch, among others, that our commitment is realized.

Today we assemble here at Lime Distributors for the launch of Compliance and Enforcement Week. A week long campaign, resumed by Gauteng Provincial Government in 2007, with the aim of creating environmental awareness within our Province.

As we would recall, the Enforcement Week is an integral part of the Gauteng Compliance and Enforcement Strategy, which focuses on the pillar of compliance promotion. In the execution of this work, our Department works with environmental inspectors, municipalities, national departments and enforcement agencies to highlight environmental challenges and provide solutions within the province.

And with that, I would like to remind members of the media present here today, why we meet at Lime Distributors. As some members may recall, in March 2012, Environmental Management Inspectors (EMIs) from GDARD, conducted an environmental compliance inspection at Lime Distributors here in Vereegining. Unfortunately that inspection revealed a series of non-compliance with environmental laws.

These included, but not limited to:

  • Air pollution which includes inappropriate stockpiling and excessive dust generated on site,
  • Water and soil pollution; blocked water drainage and poor storm water management,
  • Industrial waste was inappropriate disposed of.

And based on the above, a Directive in terms of Section 28(4) of the National Environmental Management Act (107 of 1998) (“NEMA”) was issued to Lime Distributors.

A year later, as MEC and officials of GDARD, we have come back to see if Lime Distributors have complied with the Directive. And for the sake of the environmental health of those working and living around these premises and for the sake of future generations whom we have borrowed this earth from, I hope Lime Distributors have indeed complied. So let us go and see!

Thank you

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