The Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has raised serious concerns regarding the ongoing failures in waste management and the significant gaps in climate monitoring across South Africa, Cape {town} Etc reports.
These issues were brought to light during a briefing by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA), detailing the audit outcomes for the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and its associated entities for the financial year 2025/26.
Members of the committee voiced apprehensions about the implications of lax environmental governance, highlighting the increased risks posed to both communities and the ecosystem.
They were particularly troubled to learn that Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs) in four provinces had yet to receive Ministerial approval. Furthermore, five provinces were unable to provide evidence of any actions taken against municipalities that failed to submit their IWMPs, raising red flags about accountability and environmental protection.
Compounding the issue, the committee’s discussion revealed alarming statistics regarding missed climate-monitoring targets. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) reported a mere 62% availability of greenhouse gas data, falling short of the 85% target.
Similarly, the service achieved 89% availability of climate data against an intended 90% benchmark, further underscoring the deficiencies in the system.
In addition to these failures, there were stark concerns raised about the enforcement of environmental laws. The existing roster of the Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) consists of 3,559 inspectors, yet a startling 68% hold only Grade 5 field ranger qualifications.
This lack of adequately trained personnel is compounded by the absence of national standards for inspector numbers across provinces, with places like Mpumalanga and the Free State lacking any approved environmental compliance inspection plans.
Another layer of complication was revealed in the Free State, where the committee learned of an average two-year delay in the referral of alleged environmental crimes to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
Such delays not only hinder timely justice but suggest a systemic issue within the enforcement process, reflected further in the failure of Free State and Northern Cape officials to monitor the implementation of administrative enforcement notices.
The committee also scrutinised the progress on managing invasive species and rehabilitating wetlands. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) reported only 32% success in conducting risk analyses on alien invasive species against a goal of 35%, while the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority did not treat a single hectare of invasive alien plants when their target was set at 60,000 hectares.
Despite these setbacks, the committee noted that some entities within the DFFE managed to maintain clean audit opinions, including the iSimangaliso and the Marine Living Resources Fund.
However, the South African Weather Service regressed to a qualified audit opinion, and the audit for the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) remains outstanding, expected to be finalised by 30 October 2026.
Committee Chairperson Nqabisa Gantsho commended the clean audits, emphasising the necessity for sound financial management that translates into effective community delivery. Yet, she expressed concern over unresolved IT and cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
The weaknesses have led to instances where systems allowed visitor entries despite failed payment transactions, showcasing the urgent need for reform in the IT infrastructure, as well as in waste management and compliance monitoring at provincial levels.
‘Delays in referring environmental offences to the NPA undermine timely investigations and prosecutions,’ Gantsho remarked, outlining plans to address these significant issues in the upcoming Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report as stipulated under the Money Bills and Related Matters Act.
Proposed recommendations include the enhancement of annual financial statement reviews at DFFE, SANBI, and SAWS, finalising consequence management standard operating procedures, and developing risk-based inspection plans for all provinces.
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Picture: Pawel Czerwinski / Unsplash
