July 10, 2007
By Lesego Madumo
THE Green Scorpions, Gauteng's environmental management inspectors, have developers in their sights in a three-day project to check on housing estates that allegedly have been erected without proper liaison with the provincial government or appropriate compliance with environmental laws.
While developments in Joburg are still to be inspected, the project began on a chilly Monday, 9 July, at Clearwater in neighbouring Benoni, in Ekurhuleni. The posh, recently built development runs along a water pan.
The pan was described by one of the inspectors, Samantha Braid, as an "irreplaceable site". It is home to several species of bird, bullfrogs and indigenous plants, which Braid said needed to be preserved.
A wooden gazebo was built inside the pan, with a raised walkway cutting across the sensitive area to allow residents a closer view of the wetlands. Although some residents liked the gazebo, Braid said some had argued that it was a hazard to the environment and had lodged a complaint with the provincial department of agriculture, conservation and environment.
This triggered the investigation; the Green Scorpions found that the developer had not complied with the department's stipulations and that a lawsuit had to be filed. "[Construction here] could result in the [wetlands] being polluted by waste and noise caused by people, [and] could affect the pan's animal life," Braid explained.
A view from the gazebo about to be demolished, at the Clearwater estate
The department is suing the developer for R5-million, and he faces a 10-year jail term if found guilty of contravening environmental laws. In addition, the gazebo will have to be demolished and re-built 200 metres from the pan.
Green Scorpions are custodians of the environment, ensuring that environmental laws are adhered to and acting against people who abuse the environment.
The project was designed to enforce compliance with environmental laws and to raise awareness of environmental issues. Thabo Ndlovu, the chief director in the department, said that culprits who perpetrated misdeeds against the environment, if found, would have to deal with the wrath of the law.
"We have to protect the environmental rights of our society."
He said the pilot project grew out of the Gauteng provincial government's "quest to build safe, secure, and sustainable communities".
"The Gauteng Green Scorpions are well motivated to conduct effective and efficient road blocks to deter environmental crimes and to lead to the prosecution of suspects," he said, while asserting that the inspectors were also able to issue notices and conduct routine inspections of any illicit environmental activities.
Ndlovu added that the project was linked to the topical issue of climate change. "Our citizens across the globe are extremely vulnerable to environmental degradation."
Climate change was a result of environmental mismanagement. "Because of this … our country [is] now increasingly failing to produce sufficient crops to feed people". This was because of "unsustainable development".
Ndlovu explained that the aim of the Green Scorpions was to protect the environment against "unscrupulous people and organisations".
Developers need to acquire environmental authorisation and approval from the council, among other major requisites, for construction to go ahead.
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