Page 4 - Environmental Affairs

From the Editor-in-Chief’s Desk

Our department has been allocated a Another positive highlight during the past
budget of R8 716.8 billion for the 2021/22 few months was the handover of the
financial year; and R26.5 billion over the Lekgalameetse Nature Reserve to the
Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) communities falling under the Greater
period. Tzaneen Municipality by the Deputy Minister,
Ms Makhotso Sotyu.
It is an allocation that will chiefly drive
our equitable transition to a low-carbon Deputy Minister Sotyu also led a webinar
to celebrate International Day of Forests
economy and a climate-resilient society. (IDF) on 25 March 2021 under the theme
South Africa has been hard at work to ensure Forest Restoration: A path to recovery and
we create an enabling environment for our well-being. It is in the same webinar that
nation’s transition to a circular economy, the Deputy Minister revealed that industry
and the allocation has sought to prioritise has committed to invest R24.9 billion in the
programmes aimed at achieving that. forestry sector, while government will facilitate
and coordinate the recapitalisation of 68
The fisheries sector, which is worth around 820 hectares of state-owned plantations.
R8 billion a year, was also prioritised with the
mandate of job creation and meeting basic 22 May 2021 annually marks the
needs in the small-scale and recreational International Biodiversity Day with this year’s
sectors, set as priority. Our efforts to protect theme being “We’re part of the solution”.
our environment must also be twinned with The theme was chosen as a continuation of
Dear Valued Stakeholder the creation of job opportunities through the momentum generated last year under
public employment programmes. the over-arching theme “Our solutions are
in nature”, which served as a reminder that
A hearty welcome to our now bi-monthly biodiversity remains the answer to several
Environment Quarterly. Allow us to revisit that A proactive and responsive administration sustainable development challenges.
name to make it more attuned to the new is the one that descends into communities
focus of our new Department. whenever a challenge visits them. In this We will be celebrating Environment Month in
edition, we followed Minister Barbara June and will commemorate Environment
You can be guaranteed that we are Creecy when she visited Table Mountain Day on 5 June with the aim of galvanising
building a brand that should take our stories National Park to assess the damage positive environmental action. We are
to various sectors of our society. You can following the blaze in the national park looking forward to bringing you all the
safely pin your hopes and trust in us to come that destroyed acres of vegetation and activities that will take place during the
back with a bountiful and apt name for your damaged a number of structures, including Environment Month in the next issue.
favourite environment publication. In our last the recent devastating fire on the side of
editorial I alerted you of our intent to come Table Mountain. Minister’s visit was aimed Lastly, let me congratulate Mr. Shonisani
out bi-monthly, instead of the old quarterly at assessing the impact the fire had on Munzhedzi on his appointment as CEO of the
release. It’s all work in progress and I am the biodiversity and communities around South African National Biodiversity Institute.
loving the evolution of the new product. the national park, as well as engaging Mr Munzhedzi, brings with him a wealth of
experience, having most recently served
authorities and firefighters, to map a way as the Deputy Director General: Biodiversity
On the subject of progress, Minister Creecy forward.
and Deputy Minister Sotyu recently laid out and Conservation in the Department of
our game plan for the environment sector The first week of May also saw a significant Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. All
the best Shoni. I know you will continue to
during the budget vote presentations before milestone for the Department when the do us proud.
lawmakers. It was all done virtually with the Minister released the report of the High-Level
leadership of the department articulating Panel that was appointed to review policies, Until next time – take care of our
our programme of action as we claw regulatory measures, practices and policy environment!!
our way out of the suffocating Covid-19 positions that are related to hunting, trade,
restrictions. Of course, we are not out of the
woods yet. We should all play our part to captive keeping, management and Albi Modise
keep our communities safe. handling of elephant, lion, leopard and Head of Communications & Advocacy
rhinoceros.

Meet our team

Head of Communications Design & Layout Ntombovuyo Madlokazi Lydia Makamedi
and Advocacy Brian Chapole Romy Antrobus-Wuth Mfanafuthi Gambu
Albi Modise Sibusisiwe Nxumalo Siyabulela Malo Mirriam Motsepe
Editor-in-Chief Titus Tlowana Nwabisa Timeni
Portia Chipane Photography OceanX
Cover Image Ashraf Hendricks
Editor Reuters
Erica Mathye Gaopalelwe Moroane Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Rodger Bosch
Gaopalelwe Moroane
Editorial Team Contributors Siyabulela Malo
Salome Tsoka Gaopalelwe Moroane Hanna Roland Titus Tlowana
Tshegofatso Ndhlovu Katie Tavenner
Veronica Mahlaba Lydia Makamedi Wolf-Achim
Zibuse Ndlovu Marcini Govender Kaya Responsible Travel Wynand Uys
Find more information on: www.environment.gov.za or call 086 111 2468

2 Environment Quarterly: April – May 2021