INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: DRAFT SANDVELD ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK STANDARD, 2024

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1998 (ACT 107 OF 1998)

INVITATION FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: DRAFT SANDVELD ENVIRONMENTAL

MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK STANDARD, 2024

The Provincial Minister of Local Government, Environmental Affairs and Development Planning in the Western Cape (the

Provincial Minister), in terms of section 24(10)(a)(i), read together with section 24(10)(c)(i) and (d)(i) of the National

Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act 107 of 1998)(the Act)—

(a) has started the process of developing the Draft Sandveld Environmental Management Framework Standard (the Draft Standard) and invites members of the public to comment on this Draft Standard; and

(b) gives notice of the intention to adopt the Draft Standard once developed and invites members of the public to

comment on the intention to adopt this Draft Standard.

The Sandveld Environmental Management Framework (the Framework) was adopted by the Provincial Minister in Provincial

Gazette 8105 dated 7 June 2019 as a shared vision of sustainable agriculture within the geographical area of the Sandveld

Environmental Management Framework (the geographical area). The Framework introduces the concept of farm-level planning, which is intended to be implemented through the Sandveld Environmental Management Framework Standard.

The Draft Standard identifies measures for the management and mitigation of environmental impacts associated with the

cultivation of land in the geographical area, and it establishes the processes and procedures for listed activities which pertain to the clearance of indigenous vegetation to be excluded from the requirement to obtain environmental authorisation. The Draft Standard furthermore provides for procedures and criteria to be used by the competent authority for the monitoring of excluded activities.

Compliance with the approved Sandveld Environmental Management Framework Standard will exclude, in terms of

section 24(2)(d) of the Act, the following activities from the requirement to obtain an environmental authorisation from the

competent authority prior to the start of any such activity in the geographical area:

(a) Activity 27 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 1 of 2014 published under

Government Notice R983 in Government Gazette 38282 dated 4 December 2014;

(b) Activity 15 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 2 of 2014 published under Government Notice R984 in Government Gazette 38282 dated 4 December 2014; and

(c) Activity 12(i) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations Listing Notice 3 of 2014 published under Government Notice R985 in Government Gazette 38282 dated 4 December 2014.

The Draft Standard supports the environmental rights of people in the geographical area to an environment that is not harmful to their health and well-being, and to have the environment protected. The Draft Standard contains measures that will prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation, and secure the sustainable development and use of natural resources in the geographical area while promoting justifiable economic and social development.

The Draft Standard is available at the following links:

https://www.environment.gov.za/projectprogrammes/environmental_managemen...

https://www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp/.

The Framework is available at the following link: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/eadp/, or below this section.

Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the Draft Standard and the intention to adopt this Draft Standard in

writing within 30 days from the date of publication of the Notice in the Provincial Gazette by—

(a) posting the comments to:

Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

(Attention: Liza Petersen or Vuyani Zuma)

Private Bag X9186

Cape Town 8000;

(b) delivering the comments to:

Liza Petersen or Vuyani Zuma

Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning

2nd Floor

Leeusig Building

1 Dorp Street

Cape Town 8001; or

(c) e-mailing the comments to:

Liza.Petersen@westerncape.gov.za or Vuyani.Zuma@westerncape.gov.za.

Any enquiries can be directed to—

Liza Petersen at Liza.Petersen@westerncape.gov.za or (021) 483 4247; or

Vuyani Zuma at Vuyani.Zuma@westerncape.gov.za or (021) 483 2786.

Comments received after the closing date may not be considered.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning complies with the Protection of Personal Information

Act, 2013 (Act 4 of 2013). If a commenting party has any objection to his or her name, or the name of the represented company/organisation, being made publicly available in a comments and responses report, such objection should be indicated as part of the comments submitted.