Deputy Minister Narend Singh to deliver keynote address at the 10th Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Lekgotla and NECER Report Launch

13 November 2024

The Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Mr. Narend Singh, will deliver the keynote address at the 10th Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Lekgotla, in Drakensburg, KwaZulu-Natal on 18 November 2024.

This year’s Lekgotla, held under the theme “Strengthening Compliance for a Resilient Environment” will focus on promoting environmental accountability and enhancing the Department’s mandate of protecting natural resources. The gathering aims to bring stakeholders together to explore innovative ways to reinforce environmental compliance and support effective enforcement across sectors.

Deputy Minister Singh will also launch the 2023/24 National Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Report (NECER). The report will outline the achievements, challenges, and key findings in environmental compliance, showcasing areas where improvements have led to a decrease in enforcement actions due to increased compliance the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) commonly known as the Green Scorpions.

Members of the media are invited to attend:  
Date: 18 November 2024  
Time: 08:00 for 08:30  
Venue: Champagne Sports Resort, Central Drakensberg, KwaZulu-Natal

To RSVP, please contact:

Dimakatso Tsutsubi  
Mobile: 066 420 0088  
E-mail: dtsutsubi@dffe.gov.za

For media enquiries, contact:

Peter Mbelengwa  
Mobile: 082 611 8197  
E-mail: pmbelengwa@dffe.gov.za

Editors note: About the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI):

The Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) or the Green Scorpions, as they are known to the public, are government officials from national, provincial and local government, including the parks authorities, who are responsible for compliance and enforcement activities related to environmental legislation. They have a broad legal mandate that covers the green (biodiversity/protected areas), brown (pollution, waste, impact assessment) and blue (integrated coastal management) sub-sectors. Each of these subsectors in turn, is regulated by different pieces of national legislation, the provisions of which are monitored and enforced by the Green Scorpions. 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 (SEMAs). In addition, officials from provinces and local authorities are also designated to carry out compliance and enforcement functions with national legislation.