Views
3 years ago

Mpumalanga Business 2020-21 edition

  • Text
  • Invest
  • Business
  • Investment
  • Economy
  • Africa
  • Africa
  • Exxaro
  • Sasol
  • Sappi
  • Economic
  • Programme
  • Manufacturing
  • Province
  • Provincial
  • Sector
  • African
  • Tourism
  • Municipality
  • Mpumalanga
The 2020/21 edition of Mpumalanga Business is the 11th issue of this essential publication that since its launch in 2008 has established itself as the premier business and investment guide for the province. Updated overviews of each of the key economic sectors of the province are included, with references to the latest investments by companies across multiple sectors. These include Sappi, Sasol and Sonae Arauco, which is expanding its White River factory. Afrimat is considering investment in the mining sector, while Exxaro Resources, South32 and Pan African Resources are among the mining companies spending on extending the life of existing mines. A useful article on what incentives are available to investors from various departments and agencies is provided. Mpumalanga has several investment and business opportunities in a wide range of sectors.

FOCUS Ensuring water for

FOCUS Ensuring water for all in Inkomati-Usuthu The Green Scorpions protect the environment. The Inkomati-Usuthu Catchment Management Agency is responsible for several functions related to water resources in the Mpumalanga Province. These include: • Water resource planning and operations. • Real-time river operations. • Adaptive operational water resource management framework. • Water resource protection. • Water resource utilisation. DR Thomas Gyedu- • Public participation. Ababio, CEO The Green Scorpions explained The Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI), commonly known to the public as the Green Scorpions, are government officials (from national, provincial and local government, including the parks authorities and relevant government entities) who are responsible for compliance and enforcement activities with environmental legislation. Simply put, the Green Scorpions represent the environmental compliance and enforcement capacity in respect of the National Environment Management Act (NEMA) and the Specific Environmental Management Acts. According to the Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, the EMI must see to it that environmental legislation is followed and enforced. The EMIs have the powers to: Investigate: question witnesses, inspect and remove articles, take photographs and audiovisual recordings, take samples and remove waste. Inspect: enter premises to ascertain whether legislation is being followed and seize evidence of criminal activity. Enforce: search premises, containers, vessels, vehicles, aircraft and pack animals; seize evidence and contraband; establish roadblocks and make arrests. Administer: issue compliance notices and admission of guilt fines. The EMIs are not empowered to prosecute cases in court. All cases continue to be handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution. The EMIs therefore work closely with prosecutors country-wide to ensure the successful prosecution of offenders. The South African Police Service The South African Police Service continues to play a crucial role in enforcing environmental legislation and EMIs work closely with the SAPS in the investigation of environmental crimes. In terms of the National Environment Management Act, all police officers have the powers of an EMI. MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21 24

Companies and the EMI The biggest exposure most companies have is from technical non-compliances with conditions imposed in an Environmental Authorisation (often called RoDs) issued in terms of NEMA or similar permit conditions, such as the conditions contained in a Waste Management Licence issued in terms of the National Environmental Management, Waste Act, 2008 and others. For this reason, it is important to carefully design an environmental management programme to ensure awareness and ongoing compliance with each of the conditions in any authorisation which the company has. A further exposure is undertaking a listed activity without an environmental authorisation. There have been a number of changes to the activities which are listed over the years and it is important for companies to keep up to date with these changes and re-examine their operations from time to time, especially when undertaking any sort of expansion of an existing activity. Issue of a Directive The DEA also has empowered EMIs to issue directives. Unlike a compliance notice, the authorities may only issue a directive if they believe that actions by the company are causing pollution or other damage or degradation to the environment. The obligation in the statutes is to take reasonable measures to avoid such pollution or damage. ■ Issue of a Compliance Notice Where a company is failing to comply with a permit condition or with some other provisions of an environmental statute, a non-compliance notice may be issued by the DEA. When issuing a non-compliance notice, the DEA does not have to believe there is any actual harm to the environment from the transgression but simply that there is non-compliance with a technical, legally-binding requirement. Contact details Postal address: PO Box X11214, Nelspruit 1200 Physical address: MAXSA Building, 13 Streak Street, Nelspruit. Tel: +27 13 753 9000 Email: information@iucma.co.za Website: www.iucma.co.za 25 MPUMALANGA BUSINESS 2020/21

Other recent publications by Global Africa Network: