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LEGAL MANDATE AND CORE BUSINESS

The legal mandate and core business of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) are to manage, protect and conserve South Africa’s environment and natural resources. The mandate is informed by section 24 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 which affords everyone the right to (a) an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and (b) to have the environment protected for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT LEGISLATIVE/REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

To give effect to this constitutional environmental right and the need for sound environmental management and sustainable development, the DFFE has over a period of time developed a comprehensive environmental management legislative/regulatory framework. This regulatory framework comprises acts of parliament (environmental laws), regulations, policies, norms and standards, and other regulatory tools that are aimed at promoting sound environmental management practices in order to protect and conserve the environment for the benefit of current and future generations.

CRITICAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT INTERVENTIONS

Critical environmental management interventions by the DFFE include raising awareness on key environment issues and promoting a culture of environmental activism among ordinary citizens, building capacity within the sector, and establishing and strengthening national, regional and global partnerships to address common environmental challenges.

VISION

A prosperous and equitable society living in harmony with our natural resources.

MISSION

Providing leadership in environmental management, conservation and protection towards sustainability for the benefit of South Africans and the global community.

VALUES

We are driven by our Passion as custodians and ambassadors of the environment, we have to be Proactive and foster innovative thinking and solutions to environmental management premised on a People-centric approach that recognises the centrality of Batho Pele, for it is when we put our people first that we will serve with Integrity, an important ingredient in a high Performance-driven organisation such as ours.

CALL FOR G20 SPONSORSHIP ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT

South Africa will assume the Presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) on 1 December 2024.

The G20 is the premier forum for the global economic cooperation and comprises 19 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Kingdom, and United States), the European Union and the African Union.

The G20 South Africa Sponsorship Committee invites potential sponsors to partner with the government in sponsoring South Africa’s G20.

The sponsorship should be in line with the sponsorship criteria to be outlined in the G20 Sponsorship Guidelines develop by the National Treasury, to be issued in November 2024.

The call for sponsorship opens on 1 November 2024 and closes 31 March 2025.

Interested parties are invited to forward their expression of interest by email to: g20sponsorship@dirco.gov.za

STATEMENT ON THE INDUSTRY WASTE TYRE MANAGEMENT PLAN (IWTMP)

The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (Redisa) has approached the Pretoria High Court to review and set aside government's Industry Waste Tyre Management Plan (IWTMP).

RESPONSE:

The department has received court papers in relation to the court application brought by Redisa. The department is currently studying the court papers and considering the merits of the application, the department can therefore not comment.