Eco Minute 13:30

BULLETIN 23 September 1:30 pm

Good afternoon, here is your Eco Minute:

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says nature knows no political barriers and South Africa is committed to preserving nature for present and future generations. He took part in the Africa Keystone protected area partnership Heads of State Dessert and Champagne reception on Monday, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York. Ramaphosa says the 162 existing protected areas in Africa have the potential to collectively make a disproportionately large contribution to biodiversity conservation:

# Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dion George, has emphasised that South Africa’s waste and renewable energy reforms are turning environmental policy into a source of jobs and investment. In 2024/2025, the department processed 324 of 326 environmental impact assessments within the legal timeframe, achieving 99-percent efficiency. The department’s spokesperson, Thobile Zulu-Molobi, says energy projects, prioritised to respond to the national crisis, were finalised within 57 days on average:

# And, the DA in the North West is calling for urgent action, saying directives regarding elephant management at Madikwe Game Reserve have been blatantly defied by provincial authorities. This comes after the North West Parks and Tourism Board and the provincial government have reportedly ignored six non-negotiable directives from Parliament’s portfolio committee on Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. The DA’s Andrew de Blocq says National Assembly speaker, Thandi Modise, must intervene:

Stay tuned for more news………….