GCIS Parliamentary Media Briefing
Ministry of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
20 September 2001
Documents handed out:
Minister's Media Briefing September 20, 2001 (See Appendix)
Questions from the media and replies from Minister Vallie Moosa.
(Q) What do you feel the impact of the recent acts of terrorism in the United States of America will have on tourism in South Africa and what do you intend doing in this regard?
No person will be able to assess the impact the recent terrorism attacks will have on tourism in South Africa. However, if one looks at the World Conference against Racism, it was a major success. Not one window was broken nor anyone killed. I feel the participants went home with the impression that South Africa was a very safe destination to visit.
(Q) Tourism is believed by many to be a creator of employment. What steps are you taking to facilitate job creation within the sector?
Job creation is a core focus and the Business Trust is assisting us in this regard through the provision of necessary funding.
(Q) With regard to the alleged dispute in the fishing industry, the Auditor General claimed that there were various financial irregularities within the industry. What is the story behind this?
This is a two-year old story. There was large-scale corruption within and outside of the Department with regard to the fishing industry and the Auditor General claimed that he was going to investigate these irregularities.
(Q) There is presently a low peak in tourism. What are your comments in this regard?
South Africa still attracts the small fraction of foreigners wishing to visit Africa, as they feel that it is the safest destination in Africa to visit. There are however a large number of South Africans touring our country who spend a lot of money on tourism.
(Q) Are the statistics relating to the number of tourists entering our country and the number of South Africans touring abroad, based on the passport control records?
Yes, the passports are helping a lot in determining these statistics.
Appendix:
PARLIAMENTARY MEDIA BRIEFING:September 20 2001: MINISTER OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND TOURISM, MR MV MOOSA
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: "WE MUST ACT WHILE WE CAN"
During our budget review speech on 29 May, in Cape Town, we made specific announcements as to how we will proceed in the creation of a better life for all South Africans through responsible management and sustainable use of our natural resources.
Our budget review speech had been preceded by the President's February State of the National Address, committing our government in speeding up change.
Since the announcements we made in February and during subsequent briefings, we can proudly say that tremendous progress is being made in sticking to our commitments.
The issues that have emerged strongly in the last 8 months are being given utmost attention by our department and our statutory bodies.
Both the logistical and substance preparations for the World Summit on Sustainable Development are getting into full swing and the Johannesburg Earth Summit Company has spared no effort in ensuring that a solid organisation is put in place to roll out the implementation towards a successful World Summit.
Our consolidation of regional integration in environmental management has proceeded smoothly with the signing of two memoranda of understanding with our neighbours in Lesotho and Namibia. At the beginning of October, we shall begin the process of translocation of elephants from the Kruger side to the Gaza side of the GKG in Mozambique.
We announced earlier that we will host the National Waste Summit this year; the date is now set for the 26-28 September at Petersburg in the Northern Province. It is at this very summit that we will launch major local government mobilisation campaign on waste management though the Clean City Competition.
This year is a stepping-stone towards a radical transformation of the fishing industry. We have put in place a rights allocation process that is not only difficult to abuse but that will bring in equity and fair distribution and access to our marine resources.
The South African Weather Service is now a fully-fledged statutory body, ready to deliver world-class meteorological service of all sectors of our society, and very soon, I will announce the names of the Board members of the Meteorological Services Board.
Despite exaggerated media reports about an imminent crisis in the tourism industry, the recent domestic survey and the foreign arrivals statistics actually show that South Africa is continuing to grow as one of the sought after tourist destinations.
We have also, as part of this years' Tourism Month, focused on urging South Africans to be tourists in their own country, and we are confident that with the hard work from our provinces a boom in domestic tourism is inevitable.
WSSD
Both the logistical and substance preparations for the WSSD are unfolding as we expected and we have already developed guidelines for the development of National Policy Positions central to this guidelines are:
* Not to reinvent the wheel, rather to align policies with Sustainable Development, with regard to:
1. Crosscutting issues e.g. poverty eradication, access to services, status of women, international governance of sustainable development, globalisation
2. Promote development means of implementation, eg capacity building, technology transfer, etc
3. Identify linkages with other relevant themes, best practice and environmentally friendly technologies, etc
TOURISM
Tourism Month:
The Tourism Month, September, is now in full swing with participation from the provinces, DEAT and SA Tourism. Unlike any other year, the tourism industry has given Tourism Month 2001 its full support by sponsoring holiday prizes for the competition that is currently running on 25 radio stations countrywide. This year's strategy aims to ensure public participation in Tourism Month and the main message is: "Discover your country - discover yourself" with the theme "To travel is to see," which has been translated into vernacular according to the language used in the various provinces.
Share SA Challenge (Competition):
25 radio stations nationally are currently running the competition where South Africans are asked daily to call and complete the sentence "I love this country because..."
Entry forms are currently being published in the Sowetan and Sunday World weekly, where South Africans are again being called to finish the sentence: "I love this country because..." through artwork, photography or written format.
Launch of Adopt-a-Community Pilot Project:
On 27 September, World Tourism Day, there will be a media breakfast that is to take place at Likhaya in King Williams Town, Eastern Cape, from 08h00-09h30. The Minister will challenge DEAT senior management to each adopt a community within DEAT poverty relief projects. The aim is to identify gaps and ensure sustainability of projects through training and marketing opportunities. Officials will be required to provide quarterly reports, which will be fed to the media. If successful, the project will be extended to the provincial officials in September 2002.
Tourism Month Umcimbi, 27 September 2001 from 10h00-15h00, Eastern Cape:
A traditional event at King Maxhobayakhawuleza Sandile's Kraal, with traditional décor, food, dress and entertainment. The Minister will be the guest speaker and the Eastern Cape Premier will deliver a message. The aim is to celebrate tourism achievements and give awards to identified categories, namely: schools and SMMEs.
Tourism Statistics:
We have just released the SA Tourism and Travel findings and the statistics show a very interesting facts about the development of domestic tourism. The survey was aimed at understanding the trends, dynamics and economic impact of the South African domestic tourism market in order to inform future product development initiatives and domestic marketing strategies
THE SOUTH AFRICAN WEATHER SERVICE
On 17 September 2001, we launched the new South African Weather Service complete with a transformed organisation, geared to service the public and private sector, the new organ is set to benefit all South Africans and provide a more efficient service.
This process started in June 2000, when the then South African Weather Bureau embarked on a process of agentisation, commercialisation and transformation. These three processes were managed by the Bureau management and a group of consultants specialising in human resource, finance, marketing and project management.
The South African Weather Service will deliver Public Good Services mainly for the protection of life and property as well as commercial services to the private sector as stipulated in the Weather Service Act 8 of 2001; this provides for two distinct services, namely the Public Good Services which will be funded by government, and Commercial Services for which the user-pay principle will apply.
The Public Good Services, inter alia, include weather and climate forecasting, a weather disaster warning system for the public good, services to subsistence farmers and fishers, the provision of information and advice to government, meeting regional and international treaty and agreement obligations, maintaining a national meteorological library, technical and scientific training in meteorology and, finally undertaking research to improve services.
Commercial Services, on the other hand include the provision of specialised weather forecasting and climate information services, the provision of services to the maritime and aviation industry that are not included in international obligations, the provision of meteorological services, weather and climate related publications, meteorological consultations including advice to the legal and insurance industries, contracted weather and climate related research, research to improve commercial services, the dissemination of weather and climate information, the manufacturing and selling of meteorological equipment to State departments and users from the private sector, the provision of specialised services to the media, and finally, commercial services provided on an ad hoc basis to the State departments.
The 31st of August 2001 was the closing date for nominations of both the Weather Service's Board and Weather Service's Regulatory Committee. The response has been encouraging and an announcement of the teams that will comprise these committees will soon be made.
NATIONAL WASTE SUMMIT
The Waste Summit is one of the implementation processes of the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS) for sustainable development in terms of the White Paper Policy on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management for South Africa. The strategy presents a long-term plan for addressing key issues, needs and problems experienced with waste management in South Africa.
The Summit will provide a platform for showcasing government's (all ties) best practices in waste management as part of a broader awareness and capacity building initiative. Furthermore, the strategy translates into action government's policy on waste as set out in the White Paper on Integrated Pollution and Waste Management for South Africa. The Waste Summit will focus on issues affecting the environment as well as to seek ways and means to achieve better solutions to waste and environmental problems.
The National Waste Summit will be held in the Northern Province on 26, 27 and 28 September 2001.
In preparing for this summit a Waste Summit discussion document has been prepared, discussed and agreed upon with all the provinces.
A tender to manage, market and deliver the Waste Summit has been published with the closing date of 25 May 2002.
We made a call for public papers to be presented on the Summit and are pleased by the good response we received though various papers submitted to the department.
A workshop that further discussed and finalised the draft Waste Summit document with all other relevant stakeholders such as Local Government, Business Sector, NGOs, CBOs, Learning Institutions, Dept of Water Affairs and representatives from Waste Management Funded poverty relief projects, took place on 6 July 2001.
We can therefore say that the process towards the waste summit has been an open and consultative and we expect fruitful discussions in Pietersburg next week.
CLEANEST CITY COMPETITION
In June 2001, we announced that we will award an amount of R1 million to the cleanest city. We are now prepared to engage in the process of selecting that cleanest city.
What is the cleanest city competition?
In its efforts to transform the ideals of SA, policies and legislation into visible and participatory integrated waste management programmes, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) is in the process of implementing the National Waste Management Strategy (NWMS).
The competition aims to change attitudes through awareness raising and education on waste management and related issues. One of the initiatives to raise awareness and to educate SA residents on waste related issues is therefore the "Cleanest City" competition.
Why is the competition important?
Cleaning up SA is not the responsibility of government alone; residents, industries, civil organisations and the youth have to be involved in this massive task. This competition has been developed to work towards a sustainable future, a healthy environment, a strong economy and a high quality of life for all citizens. It will contribute towards building clean living spaces through:
* Increased public awareness and education on waste management and issues related to waste and pollution management including environmental impacts of waste.
* Encouragement of communities to clean up their residential and working spaces.
* Public recognition of those cities which are exceptionally clean. Assistance in the promotion of tourism. Increased awareness on the desirability of a clean environment.
* Education of communities (officials and citizens) in concepts of waste management.
* Assistance in the promotion of tourism. Encouragement of continual improvement.
* Highlighting examples of clean environment.
The Deputy Minister will outline the criteria for eligibility in the Clean City Competition when she addresses the opening ceremony of the National Waste Summit on the 26 September 2001.
TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREAS
In the last six months we have signed two Memoranda of Understanding; one with Lesotho establishing the Maloti-Greensburg TFCA; and establishing the Ai-Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Conservation Park.
This follows just a few months since the establishment of the Gaza-Kruger-Gonarezhou Transfrontier Park between Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa and the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park with Botswana.
We are now beginning with the implementation of some of our agreements as it relates to the GKG through real action.
On 4 October, we shall be handing over the first of the 40 elephants to our Mozambique counterparts. This hand-over process shall ultimately see at least 1000 elephants being translocated to the Mozambiquean part of the GKG Park in the next two to three years.
We are also proud to announce that the Board of the World Bank has approved a grant totalling $16 million, for the development of the Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier Park.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE FISHING INDUSTRY
A groundbreaking process to ensure that the allocation of fishing rights across 22 commercial fishing sectors is credible and equitable, started unfolding on the 27 August 2001.
Through the new process we intend to allocate medium-term fishing rights worth an estimated R10 billion over four years. The allocation process has set new standards for government and is a realistic process of introducing stability and black economic empowerment in the South African fishing industry.
An independent verification process is equally in place and will ensure the factual correctness of submitted applications to effectively do away with front companies, corruption and nepotism.
The verification process is key to it being highly sophisticated. The computer software is independently managed by Deloitte and Touche in consortium with Sithole AB & T Chartered Accountants who were appointed through an open tender process.
The first phase of the application closed on the 13 September and we will soon be releasing a full statistical profile of the applications and announcing on the successful applicants.