NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT

NO. 107 OF 1998

[ASSENTED TO 19 NOVEMBER, 1998]
[DATE OF COMMENCEMENT TO BE PROCLAIMED]
(English text signed by the President)
ACT
To provide for cooperative environmental governance by establishing principles for
decisionmaking on matters affecting the environment, institutions that will promote
cooperative governance and procedures for coordinating environmental functions
exercised by organs of state; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Preamble.WHEREAS many inhabitants of South Africa live in an environment that is
harmful to their health and wellbeing;
everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to his or her health or wellbeing;
the State must respect, protect, promote and fulfill the social, economic and environmental
rights of everyone and strive to meet the basic needs of previously disadvantaged
communities;
inequality in the distribution of wealth and resources, and the resultant poverty, are among the
important causes as well as the results of environmentally harmful practices;
sustainable development requires the integration of social, economic and environmental
factors in the planning, implementation and evaluation of decisions to ensure that
development serves present and future generations;
everyone has the right to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future
generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that
prevent pollution and ecological degradation;
promote conservation; and
secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting
justifiable economic and social development;
the environment is a functional area of concurrent national and provincial legislative
competence, and all spheres of government and all organs of state must cooperate with,
consult and support one another;
AND WHEREAS it is desirable
that the law develops a framework for integrating good environmental management into all
development activities;
that the law should promote certainty with regard to decisionmaking by organs of state on
matters affecting the environment;

that the law should establish principles guiding the exercise of functions affecting the
environment;
that the law should ensure that organs of state maintain the principles guiding the exercise of
functions affecting the environment;
that the law should establish procedures and institutions to facilitate and promote cooperative
government and intergovernmental relations;
that the law should establish procedures and institutions to facilitate and promote public
participation in environmental governance;
that the law should be enforced by the State and that the law should facilitate the enforcement
of environmental laws by civil society:
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
1. Definitions
CHAPTER 1
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
2. Principles
CHAPTER 2
INSTITUTIONS
Part 1: National Environmental Advisory Forum
3. Establishment, objects and functions of National Environmental Advisory Forum
4. Composition
5. Conditions of appointment to Forum
6. Functioning of Forum
Part 2: Committee for Environmental Coordination
7. Establishment, objects and functions of Committee
8. Composition of Committee
9. Meetings of Committee, subcommittees and working groups
10. Report of Committee
CHAPTER 3
PROCEDURES FOR COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE
11. Environmental implementation plans and management plans
12. Purpose and objects of environmental implementation plans and environmental
management plans
13. Content of environmental implementation plans
14. Content of environmental management plans
15. Submission, scrutiny and adoption of environmental implementation plans and
environmental management plans

16. Compliance with environmental implementation plans and environmental management

plans
CHAPTER 4
FAIR DECISIONMAKING AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
17. Reference to conciliation
18. Conciliation
19. Arbitration
20. Investigation
21. Appointment of panel and remuneration
22. Relevant considerations, report and designated officer
CHAPTER 5
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
23. General objectives
24. Implementation
CHAPTER 6
INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
25. Incorporation of international environmental instruments
26. Reports
27. Application
CHAPTER 7
COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT
Part 1: Environmental hazards
28. Duty of care and remediation of environmental damage
29. Protection of workers refusing to do environmentally hazardous work
30. Control of emergency incidents
Part 2: Information, enforcement and compliance
31. Access to environmental information and protection of whistleblowers
32. Legal standing to enforce environmental laws
33. Private prosecution
34. Criminal proceedings
CHAPTER 8
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
35. Conclusion of agreements
CHAPTER 9
ADMINISTRATION OF ACT

36. Expropriation
37. Reservation
38. Intervention in litigation
39. Agreements
40. Appointment of employees on contract
41. Assignment of powers
42. Delegation
43. Appeal to Minister
44. Regulations in general
45. Regulations for management cooperation agreements
46. Model environmental management bylaws
47. Procedure for making regulations
CHAPTER 10
GENERAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
48. State bound
49. Limitation of liability
50. Repeal of laws
51. Savings
52. Short title
53. Commencement
Schedule 1
Schedule 2
Schedule 3
1. Definitions.(1) In this Act, unless the context requires otherwise
activities when used in Chapter 5 means policies, programmes, plans and projects;
Agenda 21 means the document by that name adopted at the United Nations Conference of
Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June 1992;
best practicable environmental option means the option that provides the most benefit or
causes the least damage to the environment as a whole, at a cost acceptable to society, in the
long term as well as in the short term;
commercially confidential information means commercial information, the disclosure of
which would prejudice to an unreasonable degree the commercial interests of the holder:
Provided that details of emission levels and waste products must not be considered to be
commercially confidential notwithstanding any provision of this Act or any other law;
Committee means the Committee for Environmental Coordination referred to in section 7;
community means any group of persons or a part of such a group who share common
interests, and who regard themselves as a community;
Constitution means the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996 (Act No. 108 of
1996);
Department means the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism;

Director General means the Director General of Environmental Affairs and Tourism;
ecosystem means a dynamic system of plant, animal and microorganism communities and
their nonliving environment interacting as a functional unit;
environment means the surroundings within which humans exist and that are made up of
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.

the land, water and atmosphere of the earth;

microorganisms, plant and animal life;
any part or combination of (i) and (ii) and the interrelationships among and between
them; and
the physical, chemical, aesthetic and cultural properties and conditions of the
foregoing that influence human health and wellbeing;

environmental implementation plan means an implementation plan referred to in section

11;
environmental management cooperation agreement means an agreement referred to in
section 35 (1);
environmental management plan means a management plan referred to in section 11;
financial year means a period commencing on 1 April of any year and ending on 31 March
of the following year;
Forum means the National Environmental Advisory Forum referred to in section 3;
hazard means a source of or exposure to danger;
international environmental instrument means any international agreement, declaration,
resolution, convention or protocol which relates to the management of the environment;
MEC means the Member of the Executive Council to whom the Premier has assigned the
performance in the province of the functions entrusted to a MEC by or under such a
provision;
Minister means the Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism;
national department means a department of State within the national sphere of
government;
organ of state means organ of state as defined in the Constitution;
person includes a juristic person;
pollution means any change in the environment caused by
i.
ii.
iii.

substances;
radioactive or other waves; or
noise, odours, dust or heat,
emitted from any activity, including the storage or treatment of waste or substances,

construction and the provision of services, whether engaged in by any person or an

organ of state, where that change has an adverse effect on human health or wellbeing
or on the composition, resilience and productivity of natural or managed ecosystems,
or on materials useful to people, or will have such an effect in the future;
prescribe means prescribe by regulation in the Gazette;
provincial head of department means the head of the provincial department responsible for
environmental affairs;
regulation means a regulation made under this Act;
state land means land which vests in the national or a provincial government, and includes
land below the high water mark and the Admiralty Reserve, but excludes land belonging to a
local authority;
sustainable development means the integration of social, economic and environmental
factors into planning, implementation and decisionmaking so as to ensure that development
serves present and future generations;
this Act includes the schedules, and regulations and any notice issued under the Act.
(2) Words derived from the word or terms defined have corresponding meanings, unless the
context indicates otherwise.
(3) A reasonable interpretation of a provision which is consistent with the purpose of this Act
must be preferred over an alternative interpretation which is not consistent with the purpose of
this Act.
(4) Neither
a. a reference to a duty to consult specific persons or authorities, nor
b. the absence of any reference in this Act to a duty to consult or give a hearing,
exempts the official or authority exercising a power or performing a function from the
duty to act fairly.
CHAPTER 1
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PRINCIPLES
2. Principles.(1) The principles set out in this section apply throughout the Republic to
the actions of all organs of state that may significantly affect the environment and
a. shall apply alongside all other appropriate and relevant considerations, including the
States responsibility to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the social and economic
rights in Chapter 2 of the Constitution and in particular the basic needs of categories of
persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination;
b. serve as the general framework within which environmental management and
implementation plans must be formulated;
c. serve as guidelines by reference to which any organ of state must exercise any
function when taking any decision in terms of this Act or any statutory provision
concerning the protection of the environment;

d. serve as principles by reference to which a conciliator appointed under this Act must
make recommendations; and
e. guide the interpretation, administration and implementation of this Act, and any other
law concerned with the protection or management of the environment.
(2) Environmental management must place people and their needs at the forefront of its
concern, and serve their physical, psychological, developmental, cultural and social interests
equitably.
(3) Development must be socially, environmentally and economically sustainable.
(4) (a) Sustainable development requires the consideration of all relevant factors including
the following:
i.
ii.
iii.

iv.
v.
vi.

vii.
viii.

That the disturbance of ecosystems and loss of biological diversity are avoided, or,
where they cannot be altogether avoided, are minimised and remedied;
that pollution and degradation of the environment are avoided, or, where they cannot
be altogether avoided, are minimised and remedied;
that the disturbance of landscapes and sites that constitute the nations cultural
heritage is avoided, or where it cannot be altogether avoided, is minimised and
remedied;
that waste is avoided, or where it cannot be altogether avoided, minimised and reused
or recycled where possible and otherwise disposed of in a responsible manner;
that the use and exploitation of nonrenewable natural resources is responsible and
equitable, and takes into account the consequences of the depletion of the resource;
that the development, use and exploitation of renewable resources and the ecosystems
of which they are part do not exceed the level beyond which their integrity is
jeopardised;
that a riskaverse and cautious approach is applied, which takes into account the limits
of current knowledge about the consequences of decisions and actions; and
that negative impacts on the environment and on peoples environmental rights be
anticipated and prevented, and where they cannot be altogether prevented, are
minimised and remedied.

(b) Environmental management must be integrated, acknowledging that all elements of the
environment are linked and interrelated, and it must take into account the effects of decisions
on all aspects of the environment and all people in the environment by pursuing the selection
of the best practicable environmental option.
(c) Environmental justice must be pursued so that adverse environmental impacts shall not be
distributed in such a manner as to unfairly discriminate against any person, particularly
vulnerable and disadvantaged persons.
(d) Equitable access to environmental resources, benefits and services to meet basic human
needs and ensure human wellbeing must be pursued and special measures may be taken to
ensure access thereto by categories of persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination.
(e) Responsibility for the environmental health and safety consequences of a policy,
programme, project, product, process, service or activity exists throughout its life cycle.

( f ) The participation of all interested and affected parties in environmental governance must
be promoted, and all people must have the opportunity to develop the understanding, skills
and capacity necessary for achieving equitable and effective participation, and participation
by vulnerable and disadvantaged persons must be ensured.
(g) Decisions must take into account the interests, needs and values of all interested and
affected parties, and this includes recognising all forms of knowledge, including traditional
and ordinary knowledge.
(h) Community wellbeing and empowerment must be promoted through environmental
education, the raising of environmental awareness, the sharing of knowledge and experience
and other appropriate means.
(i) The social, economic and environmental impacts of activities, including disadvantages
and benefits, must be considered, assessed and evaluated, and decisions must be appropriate
in the light of such consideration and assessment.
( j) The right of workers to refuse work that is harmful to human health or the environment
and to be informed of dangers must be respected and protected.
(k) Decisions must be taken in an open and transparent manner, and access to information
must be provided in accordance with the law.
(l) There must be intergovernmental coordination and harmonisation of policies, legislation
and actions relating to the environment.
(m) Actual or potential conflicts of interest between organs of state should be resolved
through conflict resolution procedures.
(n) Global and international responsibilities relating to the environment must be discharged in
the national interest.
(o) The environment is held in public trust for the people, the beneficial use of environmental
resources must serve the public interest and the environment must be protected as the peoples
common heritage.
(p) The costs of remedying pollution, environmental degradation and consequent adverse
health effects and of preventing, controlling or minimising further pollution, environmental
damage or adverse health effects must be paid for by those responsible for harming the
environment.
(q) The vital role of women and youth in environmental management and development must
be recognised and their full participation therein must be promoted.
(r) Sensitive, vulnerable, highly dynamic or stressed ecosystems, such as coastal shores,
estuaries, wetlands, and similar systems require specific attention in management and
planning procedures, especially where they are subject to significant human resource usage
and development pressure.
CHAPTER 2
INSTITUTIONS

Part 1: National Environmental Advisory Forum

3. Establishment, objects and functions of National Environmental Advisory Forum.
(1) The National Environmental Advisory Forum is hereby established.
(2) The object of the Forum is to
(a) inform the Minister of the views of stakeholders regarding the application of the
principles set out in section 2; and
(b) advise the Minister on
(i) any matter concerning environmental management and governance and specifically
the setting and achievement of objectives and priorities for environmental governance; and
(ii) appropriate methods of monitoring compliance with the principles set out in section
2.
(3) The Forum may, on its own initiative and after consultation with the DirectorGeneral,
draw the Ministers attention to any matter concerning environmental management requiring
attention, and the Minister may refer matters for consideration by the Forum.
4. Composition.(1) The Forum consists of at least 12 but not more than 15 members
appointed by the Minister.
(2) The Minister appoints persons who represent stakeholders, and persons who have
experience, expertise or skills necessary to enable the Forum to carry out its functions:
Provided that the Minister must take into account the desirability of appointing women, youth
and persons disadvantaged by unfair discrimination and ensuring representation of vulnerable
and disadvantaged persons.
(3) Before persons contemplated in subsection (2) are appointed, the Minister must
(a) invite nominations from organised labour, organised business, nongovernmental
organisations and communitybased organisations in a manner that he or she may consider
appropriate, and invite nominations from others by notice in the Gazette, at least two
nationally distributed newspapers, appropriate local newspapers and on the radio specifying a
period within which nominations must be submitted;
(b) stipulate in such notice, the procedure to be adopted regarding such nominations; and
(c) consult with
(i) the MECs; and
(ii) the Committees of the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces that
scrutinise environmental affairs.
(4) The Minister appoints the chairperson of the Forum.

(5) (a) Each member of the Forum designates, with the concurrence of the Minister and the
organisation or person who nominated him or her, an alternate to take his or her place if he or
she is unable to attend a meeting of the Forum.
(b) The Minister may appoint a replacement for a member who vacates his or her office in
terms of section 5 (3), and the Minister may invite nominations from the sector or
organisation that nominated such member.
(6) The replacement must serve for the balance of the term of the person he or she replaces.
5. Conditions of appointment to Forum.(1) A member of the Forum holds office for a
period of two years.
(2) At the expiry of his or her term of office a member may be appointed for one further term.
(3) A member or replacement member of the Forum must vacate his or her office if
(a) the Minister at any time terminates such term of office for good reason;
(b) he or she can no longer perform his or her duties on the Forum;
(c) he or she is convicted of a criminal offence, involving dishonesty, and is sentenced to
imprisonment without the option of a fine;
(d) he or she is absent from more than two consecutive meetings of the Forum without
the leave of the chairperson; or
(e) he or she resigns by way of written notice to the Minister.
(4) Members of the Forum and members of a committee of the Forum may be paid such
remuneration and allowances for their services as the Minister may determine with the
concurrence of the Minister of Finance.
(5) If any member of the Forum or his or her spouse has a direct or indirect financial interest
in any matter before the Forum, he or she shall disclose such interest and may not take part in
any discussion regarding such matter.
6. Functioning of Forum.(1) The Minister must
(a) lay down rules for the functioning of the Forum, including
(i) by publication in the Gazette, a constitution for the Forum which may contain
provisions relating to
(aa) advice on matters related to Chapter 6;
(bb) participation in meetings relating to international environmental matters;
(cc) subcommittees and working groups of the Forum;
(ii) the manner and timing of reports by the Forum; and

(iii) consultation with the Director General;

(b) with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance make available funds for the
functioning of the Forum for purposes other than the payment of remuneration referred to in
section 5 (4), from
(i) money appropriated by Parliament for this purpose; and
(ii) funds obtained from donations or grants.
(2) The Director General may
(a) designate as many officers and employees as he or she may deem necessary to assist
the Forum in the performance of its work; and
(b) engage persons on contract to assist the Forum in the performance of its work.
(3) The Minister must present an annual report to Parliament on the work of the Forum,
including the following:
(a) the work plan for the next year;
(b) information and recommendations submitted; and
(c) financial report and budget.
(4) The meetings of the Forum must be open to the public and all documents considered or
produced by the Forum must be available for inspection by the public.
Part 2: Committee for Environmental Coordination
7. Establishment, objects and functions of Committee.(1) The Committee for
Environmental Coordination is hereby established.
(2) The object of the Committee is to promote the integration and coordination of
environmental functions by the relevant organs of state, and in particular to promote the
achievement of the purpose and objectives of environmental implementation plans and
environmental management plans as set out in section 12.
(3) The functions of the Committee shall include the following:
(a) scrutinising, reporting and making recommendations on the environmental
implementation plans submitted to it in accordance with section 15;
(b) investigating and making recommendations regarding the assignment and delegation
of functions between organs of state under this Act or any other law affecting the environment
and regarding the practical working arrangements, including memoranda of understanding,
between the organs of state represented by members and other organs of state;
(c) investigating and recommending the establishment of mechanisms in each province,
with the concurrence of the MEC, for providing a single point in the province for the receipt

of applications for authorisations, licences and similar permissions required for activities
under legal provisions concerned with the protection of the environment where such
authorisations, licences or permissions are required from more than one organ of state, and
procedures for the coordinated consideration of such applications by the organs of state
concerned;
(d) making recommendations to coordinate the application of integrated environmental
management as contemplated in Chapter 5, including cooperation in environmental
assessment procedures and requirements and making determinations regarding the prevention
of duplication of efforts as contemplated in section 24 (4);
(e) making recommendations aimed at securing compliance with the principles set out in
section 2 and national norms and standards contemplated in section 146 (2) (b) (i) of the
Constitution;
( f ) making recommendations regarding the harmonisation of the environmental
functions of all relevant national departments and spheres of government;
(g) advising the Minister on providing guidelines for the preparation of environmental
management plans and environmental implementation plans; and
(h) endeavouring to ensure compliance with the principle set out in section 2 (2) by
making appropriate recommendations, requiring reports from its members and advising
government on law reform.
8. Composition of Committee.(1) The Committee comprises:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.

the Director General: Environmental Affairs and Tourism, who acts as chairperson;
the Director General: Water Affairs and Forestry;
the Director General: Minerals and Energy;
the Director General: Land Affairs;
the Director General: Constitutional Development;
the Director General: Housing;
the Director General: Agriculture;
the Director General: Health;
the Director General: Labour;
the Director General: Arts, Culture, Science and Technology;
the provincial heads of department appointed by the Minister with the concurrence of
the MEC;
l. a representative of the national organisation recognised in terms of section 2 of the
Organised Local Government Act, 1997 (Act No. 52 of 1997), appointed by the
Minister with the concurrence of that organisation; and
m. any other Director General appointed by the Minister with the concurrence of the
Minister under whose portfolio that Department falls.
(2) (a) The Committee may coopt persons to assist it in carrying out its functions.
(b) The Committee may invite persons to attend its meetings and to assist it in carrying out its
functions.

(3) In making the appointments as contemplated in subsection (2) (a), the Committee must
give due consideration to representation of the local sphere of government.
(4) Every member of the Committee referred to in subsection (1), must appoint an alternate
member with the necessary authority from his or her department or provincial government.
(5) The alternate member appointed under subsection (4) must act in such members absence
or inability to act as member of the Committee.
9. Meetings of Committee, subcommittees and working groups.(1) The Committee
meets at least four times a year.
(2) The Director General determines
a.
b.
c.
d.

the procedure for convening meetings of the Committee;

the quorum for meetings;
procedures at meetings; and
records the Committee must keep.

(3) The Director General furnishes the Minister with copies of the minutes of all meetings,
within three weeks of such meetings.
(4) The Committee may establish ad hoc and permanent subcommittees to assist the
Committee in the performance of its functions, and such subcommittees may include persons
who need not necessarily be members of the Committee.
(5) The Committee may establish ad hoc working groups to assist a subcommittee in the
performance of its functions, and such working groups may include persons who need not
necessarily be members of the subcommittee.
(6) Every subcommittee established in terms of subsection (4) must report at each meeting of
the Committee on its own activities as well as those of any working groups established in
terms of subsection (5) to assist the subcommittee.
10. Report of Committee.(1) The Committee presents an annual report on its activities
to the Minister on the following:
a. the work of the Committee and the work plan for the next year;
b. comments submitted to the Director General on the environmental implementation and
environmental management plans received;
c. recommendations made in respect of environmental implementation and
environmental management plans received;
d. recommendations made in order to secure compliance with the principles set out in
section 2 and national norms and standards;
e. law reform undertaken and proposed by organs of state represented on the Committee;
f. compliance with environmental implementation and management plans by
municipalities; and
g. any other matter relevant to the coordination of policies, plans and programmes that
may affect the environment.

(2) At the request of members of the public, the Committee must make copies available of
the report contemplated in subsection (1).
(3) The Minister must present an annual report to Parliament on the work of the Committee,
including the matters listed in subsection (1).
CHAPTER 3
PROCEDURES FOR COOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE
11. Environmental implementation plans and management plans.(1) Every national
department listed in Schedule 1 as exercising functions which may affect the environment and
every province must prepare an environmental implementation plan within one year of the
promulgation of this Act and at least every four years thereafter.
(2) Every national department listed in Schedule 2 as exercising functions involving the
management of the environment must prepare an environmental management plan within one
year of the promulgation of this Act and at least every four years thereafter.
(3) Every national department that is listed in both Schedule 1 and Schedule 2 may prepare a
consolidated environmental implementation and management plan.
(4) Every organ of state referred to in subsections (1) and (2) must, in its preparation of an
environmental implementation plan or environmental management plan, and before
submitting such plan take into consideration every other environmental implementation plan
and environmental management plan already adopted with a view to achieving consistency
among such plans.
(5) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette
a. extend the date for the submission of any environmental implementation plans and
environmental management plans for periods not exceeding 12 months;
b. on application by any organ of state, or on his or her own initiative with the agreement
of the relevant Minister where it concerns a national department, and after consultation
with the Committee, amend Schedules 1 and 2.
(6) The Director General must, at the request of a national department or province assist with
the preparation of an environmental implementation plan.
(7) The preparation of environmental implementation plans and environmental management
plans may consist of the assembly of information or plans compiled for other purposes and
may form part of any other process or procedure.
(8) The Minister may issue guidelines to assist provinces and national departments in the
preparation of environmental implementation and environmental management plans.
12. Purpose and objects of environmental implementation plans and environmental
management plans.The purpose of environmental implementation and management plans
is to
a. coordinate and harmonise the environmental policies, plans, programmes and
decisions of the various national departments that exercise functions that may affect

b.
c.
d.

e.

the environment or are entrusted with powers and duties aimed at the achievement,
promotion, and protection of a sustainable environment, and of provincial and local
spheres of government, in order to
i. minimise the duplication of procedures and functions; and
ii. promote consistency in the exercise of functions that may affect the
environment;
give effect to the principle of cooperative government in Chapter 3 of the Constitution;
secure the protection of the environment across the country as a whole;
prevent unreasonable actions by provinces in respect of the environment that are
prejudicial to the economic or health interests of other provinces or the country as a
whole; and
enable the Minister to monitor the achievement, promotion, and protection of a
sustainable environment.

13. Content of environmental implementation plans.(1) Every environmental

implementation plan must contain:
a. a description of policies, plans and programmes that may significantly affect the
environment;
b. a description of the manner in which the relevant national department or province will
ensure that the policies, plans and programmes referred to in paragraph (a) will
comply with the principles set out in section 2 as well as any national norms and
standards as envisaged under section 146 (2) (b) (i) of the Constitution and set out by
the Minister, or by any other Minister, which have as their objective the achievement,
promotion, and protection of the environment;
c. a description of the manner in which the relevant national department or province will
ensure that its functions are exercised so as to ensure compliance with relevant
legislative provisions, including the principles set out in section 2, and any national
norms and standards envisaged under section 146 (2) (b) (i) of the Constitution and set
out by the Minister, or by any other Minister, which have as their objective the
achievement, promotion, and protection of the environment; and
d. recommendations for the promotion of the objectives and plans for the implementation
of the procedures and regulations referred to in Chapter 5.
(2) The Minister may, after consultation with the Committee, make regulations for the
purpose of giving effect to subsections (1) (b) and (c).
14. Content of environmental management plans.Every environmental management
plan must contain
(a) a description of the functions exercised by the relevant department in respect of the
environment;
(b) a description of environmental norms and standards, including norms and standards
contemplated in section 146 (2) (b) (i) of the Constitution, set or applied by the relevant
department;
(c) a description of the policies, plans and programmes of the relevant department that
are designed to ensure compliance with its policies by other organs of state and persons;

(d) a description of priorities regarding compliance with the relevant departments

policies by other organs of state and persons;
(e) a description of the extent of compliance with the relevant departments policies by
other organs of state and persons;
( f ) a description of arrangements for cooperation with other national departments and
spheres of government, including any existing or proposed memoranda of understanding
entered into, or delegation or assignment of powers to other organs of state, with a bearing on
environmental management; and
(g) proposals for the promotion of the objectives and plans for the implementation of the
procedures and regulations referred to in Chapter 5.
15. Submission, scrutiny and adoption of environmental implementation plans and
environmental management plans.(1) Every environmental implementation plan and
every environmental management plan must be submitted to the Committee by a date to be set
by the Minister.
(2) (a) The Committee scrutinises every environmental implementation plan and either
recommends adoption of such plan or reports to the Minister as well as every other Minister
responsible for a department which is represented on the Committee and every Provincial
Premier concerned on the extent to which the environmental implementation plan concerned
fails to comply with
(i) the principles in section 2;
(ii) the purpose and objectives of environmental implementation plans; or
(iii) any relevant environmental management plan,
and specifies changes needed in the environmental implementation plan concerned.
(b) If the Committee recommends adoption of an environmental implementation plan, then
the relevant organ of state must adopt and publish its plan in the relevant Gazette within 90
days of such approval and the plan becomes effective from the date of such publication.
(3) Any difference or disagreement between the Committee and a national department
regarding either a failure to submit or the content of an environmental implementation plan
may, if it cannot be resolved by agreement between the parties concerned, be referred by the
Director General for determination by the Minister in consultation with the Ministers
responsible for the Department of Land Affairs, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry,
Department of Minerals and Energy and Department of Constitutional Development.
(4) Any difference or disagreement between the Committee and a province regarding either a
failure to submit or the content of an environmental implementation plan may, if it cannot be
resolved by agreement between the parties concerned, be referred by the Director General to
conciliation in accordance with Chapter 4 and if such conciliation fails, or where the Director
General does not refer the dispute to conciliation, to the Minister with a request for
intervention in accordance with section 100 of the Constitution: Provided that such disputes
shall be dealt with in accordance with the act contemplated in section 41 (2) of the
Constitution, once promulgated.

(5) A national department which has submitted an environmental management plan must
adopt and publish its plan in the Gazette within 90 days of such submission and the plan
becomes effective from the date of such publication.
(6) The exercise of functions by organs of state may not be delayed or postponed on account
of
(a) the failure of any organ of state to submit an environmental implementation plan;
(b) the scrutiny of any environmental implementation plan by the Committee;
(c) the amendment of any environmental implementation plan following scrutiny of the
plan by the Committee;
(d) any difference or disagreement regarding any environmental implementation plan
and the resolution of that difference or disagreement; or
(e) the failure of any organ of state to adopt and publish its environmental
implementation or management plan.
16. Compliance with environmental implementation plans and environmental
management plans.(1) (a) Every organ of state must exercise every function it may have,
or that has been assigned or delegated to it, by or under any law, and that may significantly
affect the protection of the environment, substantially in accordance with the environmental
implementation plan or the environmental management plan prepared, submitted and adopted
by that organ of state in accordance with this Chapter: Provided that any substantial deviation
from an environmental management plan or environmental implementation plan must be
reported forthwith to the Director General and the Committee.
(b) Every organ of state must report annually within four months of the end of its financial
year on the implementation of its adopted environmental management plan or environmental
implementation plan to the Director General and the Committee.
(c) The Minister may, after consultation with the Committee, recommend to any organ of
state which has not submitted and adopted an environmental implementation plan or
environmental management plan, that it comply with a specified provision of an adopted
environmental implementation plan or submitted environmental management plan.
(2) The Director General monitors compliance with environmental implementation plans and
environmental management plans and may
(a) take any steps or make any inquiries he or she deems fit in order to determine if
environmental implementation plans and environmental management plans are being
complied with by organs of state; and
(b) if, as a result of any steps taken or inquiry made under paragraph (a), he or she is of
the opinion that an environmental implementation plan and an environmental management
plan is not substantially being complied with, serve a written notice on the organ of state
concerned, calling on it to take such specified steps as the Director General considers
necessary to remedy the failure of compliance.

(3) (a) Within 30 days of the receipt of a notice contemplated in subsection (2) (b), an organ
of state must respond to the notice in writing setting out any
(i) objections to the notice;
(ii) steps that will be taken to remedy failures of compliance; or
(iii) other information that the organ of state considers relevant to the notice.
(b) After considering the representations from the organ of state and any other relevant
information, the Director General must within 30 days of receiving a response referred to in
paragraph (a) issue a final notice
(i) confirming, amending or cancelling the notice referred to in subsection (2) (b);
(ii) specify steps and a time period within which steps must be taken to remedy the
failure of compliance.
(c) If, after compliance with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) there still remains a
difference or disagreement between the organs of state and the Director General, the organ of
state may request the Minister to refer any difference or disagreement between itself and the
Director General regarding compliance with an environmental implementation plan, or the
steps necessary to remedy a failure of compliance, to conciliation in accordance with Chapter
4.
(d) Where an organ of state does not submit any difference or disagreement to conciliation in
accordance with paragraph (c), or if conciliation fails to resolve the matter, the Director
General may within 60 days of the final notice referred to in paragraph (b) if the matter has
not been submitted to conciliation, or within 30 days of the date of conciliation, as the case
may be
(i) where the organ of state belongs to the provincial sphere of government, request the
Minister to intervene in accordance with section 100 of the Constitution: Provided that such a
difference or disagreement must be dealt with in accordance with the Act contemplated in
section 41 (2) of the Constitution once promulgated;
(ii) where the organ of state belongs to the local sphere of government, request the MEC
to intervene in accordance with section 139 of the Constitution: Provided that such a
difference or disagreement must be dealt with in accordance with the Act contemplated in
section 41 (2) of the Constitution once promulgated; or
(iii) where the organ of state belongs to the national sphere of government refer the
matter for determination by the Minister in consultation with the Ministers responsible for the
Department of Land Affairs, Department of Water Affairs and Forestry, Department of
Minerals and Energy and Department of Constitutional Development.
(4) Each provincial government must ensure that
(a) the relevant provincial environmental implementation plan is complied with by each
municipality within its province and for this purpose the provisions of subsections (2) and (3)
must apply with the necessary changes; and

(b) municipalities adhere to the relevant environmental implementation and management

plans, and the principles contained in section 2 in the preparation of any policy, programme or
plan, including the establishment of integrated development plans and land development
objectives.
(5) The Director General must keep a record of all environmental implementation plans and
environmental management plans, relevant agreements between organs of state and any
reports submitted under subsection (1) (b); and such plans, reports and agreements must be
available for inspection by the public.
CHAPTER 4
FAIR DECISIONMAKING AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT
17. Reference to conciliation.(1) Any Minister, MEC or Municipal Council
(a) where a difference or disagreement arises concerning the exercise of any of its
functions which may significantly affect the environment, or
(b) before whom an appeal arising from a difference or disagreement regarding the
protection of the environment is brought under any law,
may, before reaching a decision, consider the desirability of first referring the matter to
conciliation and
(i) must if he, she or it considers conciliation appropriate either
(aa) refer the matter to the Director General for conciliation under this Act; or
(bb) appoint a conciliator on the conditions, including timelimits, that he, she or it may
determine; or
(cc) where a conciliation or mediation process is provided for under any other relevant
law administered by such Minister, MEC or Municipal Council, refer the matter for mediation
or conciliation under such other law; or
(ii) if he, she or it considers conciliation inappropriate or if conciliation has failed, make
a decision: Provided that the provisions of section 4 of the Development Facilitation Act,
1995 (Act No. 67 of 1995), shall prevail in respect of decisions in terms of that Act and laws
contemplated in subsection 1 (c) thereof.
(2) Anyone may request the Minister, a MEC or Municipal Council to appoint a facilitator to
call and conduct meetings of interested and affected parties with the purpose of reaching
agreement to refer a difference or disagreement to conciliation in terms of this Act, and the
Minister, MEC or Municipal Council may, subject to section 22, appoint a facilitator and
determine the manner in which the facilitator must carry out his or her tasks, including
timelimits.
(3) A court or tribunal hearing a dispute regarding the protection of the environment may
order the parties to submit the dispute to a conciliator appointed by the Director General in
terms of this Act and suspend the proceedings pending the outcome of the conciliation.

18. Conciliation.(1) Where a matter has been referred to conciliation in terms of this Act,
the Director General may, on the conditions, including timelimits, that he or she may
determine, appoint a conciliator acceptable to the parties to assist in resolving a difference or
disagreement: Provided that if the parties to the difference or disagreement do not reach
agreement on the person to be appointed, the Director General may appoint a person who has
adequate experience in or knowledge of conciliation of environmental disputes.
(2) A conciliator appointed in terms of this Act must attempt to resolve the matter
(a) by obtaining such information whether documentary or oral as is relevant to the
resolution of the difference or disagreement;
(b) by mediating the difference or disagreement;
(c) by making recommendations to the parties to the difference or disagreement; or
(d) in any other manner that he or she considers appropriate.
(3) In carrying out his or her functions, a conciliator appointed in terms of this Act must take
into account the principles contained in section 2.
(4) A conciliator may keep or cause to be kept, whether in writing or by mechanical or
electronic means, a permanent record of all or part of the proceedings relating to the
conciliation of a matter.
(5) Where such record has been kept, any member of the public may obtain a readable copy
of the record upon payment of a fee as approved by Treasury.
(6) Where conciliation does not resolve the matter, a conciliator may enquire of the parties
whether they wish to refer the matter to arbitration and may with their concurrence endeavour
to draft terms of reference for such arbitration.
(7) (a) The conciliator must submit a report to the Director General, the parties and the
person who referred the matter for conciliation, setting out the result of his or her conciliation,
and indicating whether or not an agreement has been reached.
(b) In the event of no agreement having been reached, the report may contain his or her
recommendations and reasons therefor.
(c) Where relevant, the report must contain the conciliators comments on the conduct of the
parties.
(d) The report and any agreement reached as a result of the conciliation must be available for
inspection by the public and any member of the public may obtain a copy thereof upon
payment of a fee as approved by Treasury.
(8) The Director General may from time to time with the concurrence of the Minister of
Finance, appoint persons or organisations with relevant knowledge or expertise to provide
conciliation and mediation services.

19. Arbitration.(1) A difference or disagreement regarding the protection of the

environment may be referred to arbitration in terms of the Arbitration Act, 1965 (Act No. 42
of 1965).
(2) Where a dispute or disagreement referred to in subsection (1) is referred to arbitration the
parties thereto may appoint as arbitrator a person from the panel of arbitrators established in
terms of section 21.
20. Investigation.The Minister may at any time appoint one or more persons to assist
either him or her or, after consultation with a Municipal Council or MEC or another national
Minister, to assist such a Municipal Council or MEC or another national Minister in the
evaluation of a matter relating to the protection of the environment by obtaining such
information, whether documentary or oral, as is relevant to such evaluation and to that end
(a) the Minister may by notice in the Gazette give such person or persons the powers of a
Commission of Inquiry under the Commissions Act, 1947 (Act No. 8 of 1947);
(b) the Minister may make rules by notice in the Gazette for the conduct of the inquiry:
Provided that the decision of the inquiry and the reasons therefor must be reduced to writing;
(c) the Director General must designate, subject to the provisions of the Public Service
Act, 1994 (Proclamation No. 103 of 1994), as many officers and employees of the
Department as may be necessary to assist such person and any work may be performed by a
person other than such officer or employee at the remuneration and allowances which the
Minister with the concurrence of the Minister of Finance may determine.
21. Appointment of panel and remuneration.(1) The Minister may, with the
concurrence of the Minister of Finance, determine remuneration and allowances, either in
general or in any particular case, to be paid from money appropriated by Parliament for that
purpose to any person or persons appointed in terms of this Act to render facilitation,
conciliation, arbitration or investigation services, who are not in the fulltime employment of
the State.
(2) The Minister may create a panel or panels of persons from which appointment of
facilitators and arbitrators in terms of this Act may be made, or contracts entered into in terms
of this Act.
(3) The Minister may, pending the establishment of a panel or panels in terms of subsection
(2), adopt the panel established in terms of section 31 (1) of the Land Reform (Labour
Tenants) Act, 1996 (Act No. 3 of 1996).
22. Relevant considerations, report and designated officer.(1) Decisions under this
Act concerning the reference of a difference or disagreement to conciliation, the appointment
of a conciliator, the appointment of a facilitator, the appointment of persons to conduct
investigations, and the conditions of such appointment, must be made taking into account
a. the desirability of resolving differences and disagreements speedily and cheaply;
b. the desirability of giving indigent persons access to conflict resolution measures in the
interest of the protection of the environment;

c. the desirability of improving the quality of decisionmaking by giving interested and

affected persons the opportunity to bring relevant information to the decisionmaking
process;
d. any representations made by persons interested in the matter; and
e. such other considerations relating to the public interest as may be relevant.
(2) (a) The Director General shall keep a record and prepare an annual report on
environmental conflict management for submission to the Committee and the Forum, for the
purpose of evaluating compliance and conflict management measures in respect of
environmental laws.
(b) The record and report referred to in paragraph (a) may include the following:
(i) Proceedings under this chapter, including reports of conciliators and agreements
reached;
(ii) proceedings under Chapter 7, including complaints, charges and judgments;
(iii) proceedings under other laws listed in Schedule 3;
(iv) proceedings by the Human Rights Commission and the Public Protector.
(c) The DirectorGeneral shall designate an officer to provide information to the public on
appropriate dispute resolution mechanisms for referral of disputes and complaints.
(d) The reports, records and agreements referred to in this subsection must be available for
inspection by the public.
CHAPTER 5
INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
23. General objectives.(1) The purpose of this Chapter is to promote the application of
appropriate environmental management tools in order to ensure the integrated environmental
management of activities.
(2) The general objective of integrated environmental management is to
a. promote the integration of the principles of environmental management set out in
section 2 into the making of all decisions which may have a significant effect on the
environment;
b. identify, predict and evaluate the actual and potential impact on the environment,
socioeconomic conditions and cultural heritage, the risks and consequences and
alternatives and options for mitigation of activities, with a view to minimising
negative impacts, maximising benefits, and promoting compliance with the principles
of environmental management set out in section 2;
c. ensure that the effects of activities on the environment receive adequate consideration
before actions are taken in connection with them;
d. ensure adequate and appropriate opportunity for public participation in decisions that
may affect the environment;
e. ensure the consideration of environmental attributes in management and
decisionmaking which may have a significant effect on the environment; and

f. identify and employ the modes of environmental management best suited to ensuring
that a particular activity is pursued in accordance with the principles of environmental
management set out in section 2.
(3) The Director General must coordinate the activities of organs of state referred to in
section 24 (1) and assist them in giving effect to the objectives of this section and such
assistance may include training, the publication of manuals and guidelines and the
coordination of procedures.
24. Implementation.(1) In order to give effect to the general objectives of integrated
environmental management laid down in this Chapter, the potential impact on
a. the environment;
b. socioeconomic conditions; and
c. the cultural heritage,
of activities that require authorisation or permission by law and which may
significantly affect the environment, must be considered, investigated and assessed
prior to their implementation and reported to the organ of state charged by law with
authorising, permitting, or otherwise allowing the implementation of an activity.
(2) The Minister may with the concurrence of the MEC, and every MEC may with the
concurrence of the Minister, in the prescribed manner
(a) identify activities which may not be commenced without prior authorisation from the
Minister or MEC;
(b) identify geographical areas in which specified activities may not be commenced
without prior authorisation from the Minister or MEC and specify such activities;
(c) make regulations in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) in respect of such
authorisations;
(d) identify existing authorised and permitted activities which must be considered,
assessed, evaluated and reported on; and
(e) prepare compilations of information and maps that specify the attributes of the
environment in particular geographical areas, including the sensitivity, extent,
interrelationship and significance of such attributes which must be taken into account by
every organ of state charged by law with authorising, permitting or otherwise allowing the
implementation of a new activity, or with considering, assessing and evaluating an existing
activity:
Provided that where authorisation for an activity falls under the jurisdiction of another
Minister, a decision in respect of paragraph (a) or (b) must be taken in consultation with such
other Minister.
(3) (a) The investigation, assessment and communication of the potential impact of activities
contemplated in subsection (1) must take place in accordance with procedures complying with
subsection (7).

(b) Every Minister and MEC responsible for an organ of state that is charged by law with
authorising, permitting, or otherwise allowing an activity contemplated in subsection (1) may
prescribe regulations laying down the procedures to be followed and the report to be prepared
for the purpose of compliance with paragraph (a).
(c) Any regulations made in terms of this subsection or any other law that contemplates the
assessment of the potential environmental impact of activities must, notwithstanding any
other law, comply with subsection (7).
(d) This section does not affect the validity of any law contemplated in paragraph (c) that is
in force at the commencement of this Act, including the provisions and regulations referred to
in section 50 (2): Provided that paragraph (a) must nevertheless be complied with.
(4) Before any regulations are prescribed under this section or any other law that
contemplates the assessment of the potential environmental impact of activities, and
notwithstanding such other law
(a) a Minister or MEC must submit a draft of such regulations to the Committee;
(b) the Committee must within 30 days of the receipt of such draft regulations
(i) determine whether the draft regulations would bring about a duplication of effort by
persons initiating activities contemplated in subsection (1) in the investigation and assessment
of the potential impacts of activities that require authorisation or permission from more than
one organ of state; and
(ii) approve the draft regulations unless they would bring about such a duplication of
effort; or
(iii) specify amendments to be made to such draft regulations in order to avoid such a
duplication of effort;
(c) a Minister or MEC must
(i) where such draft regulations have been approved by the Committee, follow the
procedure prescribed in section 47; or
(ii) give effect to the amendments specified by the Committee, and thereafter follow the
procedure prescribed in section 47.
(5) Compliance with the procedure laid down by a Minister or MEC does not remove the
need to obtain authorisation for that activity from any other organ of state charged by law
with authorising, permitting or otherwise allowing the implementation of the activity.
(6) The Minister may make regulations in accordance with subsections (3) and (4) stipulating
the procedure to be followed and the report to be prepared in investigating, assessing and
communicating potential impacts for the purpose of complying with subsection (1) where
(a) the activity will affect the interest of more than one province or traverse international
boundaries;

(b) the activity will affect compliance with obligations resting on the Republic under
customary or conventional international law; or
(c) an activity contemplated in subsection (1) is not dealt with in regulations made under
subsection (3).
(7) Procedures for the investigation, assessment and communication of the potential impact
of activities must, as a minimum, ensure the following:
(a) Investigation of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the proposed
activity and alternatives thereto;
(b) investigation of the potential impact, including cumulative effects, of the activity and
its alternatives on the environment, socioeconomic conditions and cultural heritage, and
assessment of the significance of that potential impact;
(c) investigation of mitigation measures to keep adverse impacts to a minimum, as well
as the option of not implementing the activity;
(d) public information and participation, independent review and conflict resolution in all
phases of the investigation and assessment of impacts;
(e) reporting on gaps in knowledge, the adequacy of predictive methods and underlying
assumptions, and uncertainties encountered in compiling the required information;
( f ) investigation and formulation of arrangements for the monitoring and management
of impacts, and the assessment of the effectiveness of such arrangements after their
implementation;
(g) coordination and cooperation between organs of state in the consideration of
assessments where an activity falls under the jurisdiction of more than one organ of state;
(h) that the findings and recommendations flowing from such investigation, and the
general objectives of integrated environmental management laid down in this Act and the
principles of environmental management set out in section 2 are taken into account in any
decision made by an organ of state in relation to the proposed policy, programme, plan or
project; and
(i) that environmental attributes identified in the compilation of information and maps as
contemplated in subsection (2) (e) are considered.
CHAPTER 6
INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS AND AGREEMENTS
25. Incorporation of international environmental instruments.(1) Where the Republic
is not yet bound by an international environmental instrument, the Minister may make a
recommendation to Cabinet and Parliament regarding accession to and ratification of an
international environmental instrument, which may deal with the following:
a. Available resources to ensure implementation;
b. views of interested and affected parties;

c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.

benefits to the Republic;

disadvantages to the Republic;
the estimated date when the instrument is to come into effect;
the estimated date when the instrument will become binding on the Republic;
the minimum number of states required to sign the instrument in order for it to come
into effect;
the respective responsibilities of all national departments involved;
the potential impact of accession on national parties;
reservations to be made, if any; and
any other matter which in the opinion of the Minister is relevant.

(2) Where the Republic is a party to an international environmental instrument the Minister,
after compliance with the provisions of section 231 (2) and (3) of the Constitution, may
publish the provisions of the international environmental instrument in the Gazette and any
amendment or addition to such instrument.
(3) The Minister may introduce legislation in Parliament or make such regulations as may be
necessary for giving effect to an international environmental instrument to which the Republic
is a party, and such legislation and regulations may deal with inter alia the following
a. the coordination of the implementation of the instrument;
b. the allocation of responsibilities in terms of the instrument, including those of other
organs of state;
c. the gathering of information, including for the purposes of compiling and updating
reports required in terms of the instrument and for submission to Parliament;
d. the dissemination of information related to the instrument and reports from
international meetings;
e. initiatives and steps regarding research, education, training, awareness raising and
capacity building;
f. ensuring public participation;
g. implementation of and compliance with the provisions of the instrument, including the
creation of offences and the prescription of penalties where applicable; and
h. any other matter necessary to give effect to the instrument.
(4) The Minister may prior to a recommendation referred to in subsection (1), publish a
notice in the Gazette, stating his or her intention to make such recommendation and inviting
written comments.
26. Reports.(1) The Minister must report to Parliament once a year regarding
international environmental instruments for which he or she is responsible and such report
may include details on
a. participation in international meetings concerning international environmental
instruments;
b. progress in implementing international environmental instruments to which the
Republic is a party;
c. preparations undertaken in respect of international instruments to which the Republic
is likely to become a party;
d. initiatives and negotiations within the region of Southern Africa;
e. the efficacy of coordination mechanisms; and

f. legislative measures that have been taken and the time frames within which it is
envisaged that their objectives will be achieved.
(2) (a) The Minister must initiate an Annual Performance Report on Sustainable
Development to meet the governments commitment to Agenda 21.
(b) (i) The Annual Performance Report must cover all relevant activities of all national
departments and spheres of government.
(ii) All relevant organs of state must provide information to the Minister by a date to be
determined by the Minister for the purposes of the report referred to in paragraph (a) and this
may consist of an assembly of information compiled for other purposes.
(c) The Minister may appoint persons as he or she considers necessary to act as a Secretariat
to ensure preparation of the report.
(d) The purpose of the report shall be to
(i) provide an audit and a report of the governments performance in respect of Agenda
21;
(ii) review procedures for coordinating policies and budgets to meet the objectives of
Agenda 21; and
(iii) review progress on a public educational programme to support the objectives of
Agenda 21.
27. Application.(1) This Chapter applies to any international environmental instrument
whether the Republic became a party to it before or after the coming into force of this Act.
(2) The provisions of any international environmental instrument published in accordance
with this section are evidence of the contents of the international environmental instrument in
any proceedings or matter in which the provisions of the instrument come into question.
CHAPTER 7
COMPLIANCE, ENFORCEMENT AND PROTECTION
Part 1: Environmental hazards
28. Duty of care and remediation of environmental damage.(1) Every person who causes,
has caused or may cause significant pollution or degradation of the environment must take
reasonable measures to prevent such pollution or degradation from occurring, continuing or
recurring, or, in so far as such harm to the environment is authorised by law or cannot
reasonably be avoided or stopped, to minimise and rectify such pollution or degradation of the
environment.
(2) Without limiting the generality of the duty in subsection (1), the persons on whom
subsection (1) imposes an obligation to take reasonable measures, include an owner of land or
premises, a person in control of land or premises or a person who has a right to use the land or
premises on which or in which

(a) any activity or process is or was performed or undertaken; or

(b) any other situation exists,
which causes, has caused or is likely to cause significant pollution or degradation of the
environment.
(3) The measures required in terms of subsection (1) may include measures to
a. investigate, assess and evaluate the impact on the environment;
b. inform and educate employees about the environmental risks of their work and the
manner in which their tasks must be performed in order to avoid causing significant
pollution or degradation of the environment;
c. cease, modify or control any act, activity or process causing the pollution or
degradation;
d. contain or prevent the movement of pollutants or the causant of degradation;
e. eliminate any source of the pollution or degradation; or
f. remedy the effects of the pollution or degradation.
(4) The Director General or a provincial head of department may, after consultation with any
other organ of state concerned and after having given adequate opportunity to affected
persons to inform him or her of their relevant interests, direct any person who fails to take the
measures required under subsection (1) to
(a) investigate, evaluate and assess the impact of specific activities and report thereon;
(b) commence taking specific reasonable measures before a given date;
(c) diligently continue with those measures; and
(d) complete them before a specified reasonable date:
Provided that the Director General or a provincial head of department may, if urgent action is
necessary for the protection of the environment, issue such directive, and consult and give
such opportunity to inform as soon thereafter as is reasonable.
(5) The Director General or a provincial head of department, when considering any measure
or time period envisaged in subsection (4), must have regard to the following:
(a) the principles set out in section 2;
(b) the provisions of any adopted environmental management plan or environmental
implementation plan;
(c) the severity of any impact on the environment and the costs of the measures being
considered;
(d) any measures proposed by the person on whom measures are to be imposed;
(e) the desirability of the State fulfilling its role as custodian holding the environment in
public trust for the people;

( f ) any other relevant factors.

(6) If a person required under this Act to undertake rehabilitation or other remedial work on
the land of another, reasonably requires access to, use of or a limitation on use of that land in
order to effect rehabilitation or remedial work, but is unable to acquire it on reasonable terms,
the Minister may
(a) expropriate the necessary rights in respect of that land for the benefit of the person
undertaking the rehabilitation or remedial work, who will then be vested with the expropriated
rights; and
(b) recover from the person for whose benefit the expropriation was effected all costs
incurred.
(7) Should a person fail to comply, or inadequately comply, with a directive under subsection
(4), the Director General or provincial head of department may take reasonable measures to
remedy the situation.
(8) Subject to subsection (9), the Director General or provincial head of department may
recover all costs incurred as a result of it acting under subsection (7) from any or all of the
following persons
(a) any person who is or was responsible for, or who directly or indirectly contributed to,
the pollution or degradation or the potential pollution or degradation;
(b) the owner of the land at the time when the pollution or degradation or the potential
for pollution or degradation occurred, or that owners successor in title;
(c) the person in control of the land or any person who has or had a right to use the land
at the time when
(i) the activity or the process is or was performed or undertaken; or
(ii) the situation came about; or
(d) any person who negligently failed to prevent
(i) the activity or the process being performed or undertaken; or
(ii) the situation from coming about:
Provided that such person failed to take the measures required of him or her under subsection
(1).
(9) The Director General or provincial head of department may in respect of the recovery of
costs under subsection (8), claim proportionally from any other person who benefited from
the measures undertaken under subsection (7).
(10) The costs claimed under subsections (6), (8) and (9) must be reasonable and may
include, without being limited to, labour, administrative and overhead costs.

(11) If more than one person is liable under subsection (8), the liability must be apportioned
among the persons concerned according to the degree to which each was responsible for the
harm to the environment resulting from their respective failures to take the measures required
under subsections (1) and (4).
(12) Any person may, after giving the Director General or provincial head of department 30
days notice, apply to a competent court for an order directing the Director General or any
provincial head of department to take any of the steps listed in subsection (4) if the Director
General or provincial head of department fails to inform such person in writing that he or she
has directed a person contemplated in subsection (8) to take one of those steps, and the
provisions of section 32 (2) and (3) shall apply to such proceedings with the necessary
changes.
(13) When considering any application in terms of subsection (12), the court must take into
account the factors set out in subsection (5).
29. Protection of workers refusing to do environmentally hazardous work.
(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no person is civilly or criminally liable
or may be dismissed, disciplined, prejudiced or harassed on account of having refused to
perform any work if the person in good faith and reasonably believed at the time of the refusal
that the performance of the work would result in an imminent and serious threat to the
environment.
(2) An employee who has refused to perform work in terms of subsection (1) must as soon
thereafter as is reasonably practicable notify the employer either personally or through a
representative that he or she has refused to perform work and give the reason for the refusal.
(3) Subsection (1) applies whether or not the person refusing to work has used or exhausted
any other applicable external or internal procedure or otherwise remedied the matter
concerned.
(4) No person may advantage or promise to advantage any person for not exercising his or
her right in terms of subsection (1).
(5) No person may threaten to take any action contemplated by subsection (1) against a
person because that person has exercised or intends to exercise his or her right in terms of
subsection (1).
30. Control of emergency incidents.(1) In this section
(a) incident means an unexpected sudden occurrence, including a major emission, fire
or explosion leading to serious danger to the public or potentially serious pollution of or
detriment to the environment, whether immediate or delayed;
(b) responsible person includes any person who
(i) is responsible for the incident;
(ii) owns any hazardous substance involved in the incident; or

(iii) was in control of any hazardous substance involved in the incident at the time of the
incident;
(c) relevant authority means
(i) a municipality with jurisdiction over the area in which an incident occurs;
(ii) a provincial head of department or any other provincial official designated for that
purpose by the MEC in a province in which an incident occurs;
(iii) the Director General;
(iv) any other Director General of a national department.
(2) Where this section authorises a relevant authority to take any steps, such steps may only
be taken by
(a) the person referred to in subsection (1) (c) (iv) if no steps have been taken by any of
the other persons listed in subsection (1) (c);
(b) the person referred to in subsection (1) (c) (iii) if no steps have been taken by any of
the persons listed in subsection (1) (c) (i) and (c) (ii);
(c) the person referred to in subsection (1) (c) (ii) if no steps have been taken by the
person listed in subsection (1) (c) (i):
Provided that any relevant authority may nevertheless take such steps if it is necessary to do
so in the circumstances and no other person referred to in subsection (1) (c) has yet taken such
steps.
(3) The responsible person or, where the incident occurred in the course of that persons
employment, his or her employer must forthwith after knowledge of the incident, report
through the most effective means reasonably available
(a) the nature of the incident;
(b) any risks posed by the incident to public health, safety and property;
(c) the toxicity of substances or byproducts released by the incident; and
(d) any steps that should be taken in order to avoid or minimise the effects of the incident
on public health and the environment to
(i) the Director General;
(ii) the South African Police Services and the relevant fire prevention service;
(iii) the relevant provincial head of department or municipality; and
(iv) all persons whose health may be affected by the incident.

(4) The responsible person or, where the incident occurred in the course of that persons
employment, his or her employer, must, as soon as reasonably practicable after knowledge of
the incident
(a) take all reasonable measures to contain and minimise the effects of the incident,
including its effects on the environment and any risks posed by the incident to the health,
safety and property of persons;
(b) undertake cleanup procedures;
(c) remedy the effects of the incident;
(d) assess the immediate and longterm effects of the incident on the environment and
public health.
(5) The responsible person or, where the incident occurred in the course of that persons
employment, his or her employer, must, within 14 days of the incident, report to the
DirectorGeneral, provincial head of department and municipality such information as is
available to enable an initial evaluation of the incident, including
(a) the nature of the incident;
(b) the substances involved and an estimation of the quantity released and their possible
acute effect on persons and the environment and data needed to assess these effects;
(c) initial measures taken to minimise impacts;
(d) causes of the incident, whether direct or indirect, including equipment, technology,
system, or management failure; and
(e) measures taken and to be taken to avoid a recurrence of such incident.
(6) A relevant authority may direct the responsible person to undertake specific measures
within a specific time to fulfil his or her obligations under subsections (4) and (5): Provided
that the relevant authority must, when considering any such measure or time period, have
regard to the following:
(a) the principles set out in section 2;
(b) the severity of any impact on the environment as a result of the incident and the costs
of the measures being considered;
(c) any measures already taken or proposed by the person on whom measures are to be
imposed, if applicable;
(d) the desirability of the State fulfilling its role as custodian holding the environment in
public trust for the people;
(e) any other relevant factors.

(7) A verbal directive must be confirmed in writing at the earliest opportunity, which must be
within seven days.
(8) Should
(a) the responsible person fail to comply, or inadequately comply with a directive under
subsection (6);
(b) there be uncertainty as to who the responsible person is; or
(c) there be an immediate risk of serious danger to the public or potentially serious
detriment to the environment,
a relevant authority may take the measures it considers necessary to
(i) contain and minimise the effects of the incident;
(ii) undertake cleanup procedures; and
(iii) remedy the effects of the incident.
(9) A relevant authority may claim reimbursement of all reasonable costs incurred by it in
terms of subsection (8) from every responsible person jointly and severally.
(10) A relevant authority which has taken steps under subsections (6) or (8) must, as soon as
reasonably practicable, prepare comprehensive reports on the incident, which reports must be
made available through the most effective means reasonably available to
(a) the public;
(b) the Director General;
(c) the South African Police Services and the relevant fire prevention service;
(d) the relevant provincial head of department or municipality; and
(e) all persons who may be affected by the incident.
Part 2: Information, enforcement and compliance
31. Access to environmental information and protection of whistleblowers.(1) Access
to information held by the State is governed by the statute contemplated under section 32 (2)
of the Constitution: Provided that pending the promulgation of such statute, the following
provisions shall apply:
a. every person is entitled to have access to information held by the State and organs of
state which relates to the implementation of this Act and any other law affecting the
environment, and to the state of the environment and actual and future threats to the
environment, including any emissions to water, air or soil and the production,
handling, transportation, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous waste and
substances;

b. organs of state are entitled to have access to information relating to the state of the
environment and actual and future threats to the environment, including any emissions
to water, air or soil and the production, handling, transportation, treatment, storage and
disposal of hazardous waste held by any person where that information is necessary to
enable such organs of state to carry out their duties in terms of the provisions of this
Act or any other law concerned with the protection of the environment or the use of
natural resources;
c. a request for information contemplated in paragraph (a) can be refused only:
i. if the request is manifestly unreasonable or formulated in too general a
manner;
ii. if the public order or national security would be negatively affected by the
supply of the information; or
iii. for the reasonable protection of commercially confidential information;
iv.
if the granting of information endangers or further endangers the protection of
the environment; and
v.
for the reasonable protection of personal privacy.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Minister may make regulations regarding access by
members of the public to privately held information relating to the implementation of this Act
and any other law concerned with the protection of the environment and may to this end
prescribe the manner in which such information must be kept: Provided that such regulations
are reasonable and justifiable in an open and democratic society based on human dignity,
equality and freedom.
(3) The Minister must take into account
a.
b.
c.
d.

the principles set out in section 2;

the provisions of subsection (1) (c);
the provisions of international law and foreign law; and
any other relevant considerations.

(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no person is civilly or criminally liable
or may be dismissed, disciplined, prejudiced or harassed on account of having disclosed any
information, if the person in good faith reasonably believed at the time of the disclosure that
he or she was disclosing evidence of an environmental risk and the disclosure was made in
accordance with subsection (5).
(5) Subsection (4) applies only if the person concerned
a. disclosed the information concerned to
i. a committee of Parliament or of a provincial legislature;
ii. an organ of state responsible for protecting any aspect of the environment or
emergency services;
iii. the Public Protector;
iv.
the Human Rights Commission;
v.
any attorney general or his or her successor;
vi.
more than one of the bodies or persons referred to in subparagraphs (i) to (v);
b. disclosed the information concerned to one or more news media and on clear and
convincing grounds believed at the time of the disclosure
i. that the disclosure was necessary to avert an imminent and serious threat to the
environment, to ensure that the threat to the environment was properly and

timeously investigated or to protect himself or herself against serious or

irreparable harm from reprisals; or
ii. giving due weight to the importance of open, accountable and participatory
administration, that the public interest in disclosure of the information clearly
outweighed any need for nondisclosure;
c. disclosed the information concerned substantially in accordance with any applicable
external or internal procedure, other than the procedure contemplated in paragraph (a)
or (b), for reporting or otherwise remedying the matter concerned; or
d. disclosed information which, before the time of the disclosure of the information, had
become available to the public, whether in the Republic or elsewhere.
(6) Subsection (4) applies whether or not the person disclosing the information concerned has
used or exhausted any other applicable external or internal procedure to report or otherwise
remedy the matter concerned.
(7) No person may advantage or promise to advantage any person for not exercising his or
her right in terms of subsection (4).
(8) No person may threaten to take any action contemplated by subsection (4) against a
person because that person has exercised or intends to exercise his or her right in terms of
subsection (4).
32. Legal standing to enforce environmental laws.(1) Any person or group of persons
may seek appropriate relief in respect of any breach or threatened breach of any provision of
this Act, including a principle contained in Chapter 1, or any other statutory provision
concerned with the protection of the environment or the use of natural resources
a. in that persons or group of persons own interest;
b. in the interest of, or on behalf of, a person who is, for practical reasons, unable to
institute such proceedings;
c. in the interest of or on behalf of a group or class of persons whose interests are
affected;
d. in the public interest; and
e. in the interest of protecting the environment.
(2) A court may decide not to award costs against a person who, or group of persons which,
fails to secure the relief sought in respect of any breach or threatened breach of any provision
including a principle of this Act or any other statutory provision concerned with the protection
of the environment or the use of natural resources if the court is of the opinion that the person
or group of persons acted reasonably out of a concern for the public interest or in the interest
of protecting the environment and had made due efforts to use other means reasonably
available for obtaining the relief sought.
(3) Where a person or group of persons secures the relief sought in respect of any breach or
threatened breach of any provision of this Act or any other statutory provision concerned with
the protection of the environment, a court may on application
a. award costs on an appropriate scale to any person or persons entitled to practice as
advocate or attorney in the Republic who provided free legal assistance or
representation to such person or group in the preparation for or conduct of the
proceedings; and

b. order that the party against whom the relief is granted pay to the person or group
concerned any reasonable costs incurred by such person or group in the investigation
of the matter and its preparation for the proceedings.
33. Private prosecution.(1) Any person may
a. in the public interest; or
b. in the interest of the protection of the environment,
institute and conduct a prosecution in respect of any breach or threatened breach of
any duty, other than a public duty resting on an organ of state, in any national or
provincial legislation or municipal bylaw, or any regulation, licence, permission or
authorisation issued in terms of such legislation, where that duty is concerned with the
protection of the environment and the breach of that duty is an offence.
(2) The provisions of sections 9 to 17 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977 (Act No. 51 of
1977) applicable to a prosecution instituted and conducted under section 8 of that Act must
apply to a prosecution instituted and conducted under subsection (1): Provided that if
a. the person prosecuting privately does so through a person entitled to practice as an
advocate or an attorney in the Republic;
b. the person prosecuting privately has given written notice to the appropriate public
prosecutor that he or she intends to do so; and
c. the public prosecutor has not, within 28 days of receipt of such notice, stated in
writing that he or she intends to prosecute the alleged offence,
i. the person prosecuting privately shall not be required to produce a certificate
issued by the Attorney General stating that he or she has refused to prosecute
the accused; and
ii. the person prosecuting privately shall not be required to provide security for
such action.
(3) The court may order a person convicted upon a private prosecution brought under
subsection (1) to pay the costs and expenses of the prosecution, including the costs of any
appeal against such conviction or any sentence.
(4) The accused may be granted an order for costs against the person prosecuting privately, if
the charge against the accused is dismissed or the accused is acquitted or a decision in favour
of the accused is given on appeal and the court finds either:
a. that the person instituting and conducting the private prosecution did not act out of a
concern for the public interest or the protection of the environment; or
b. that such prosecution was unfounded, trivial or vexatious.
(5) When a private prosecution is instituted in accordance with the provisions of this Act, the
Attorney General is barred from prosecuting except with the leave of the court concerned.
34. Criminal proceedings.(1) Whenever any person is convicted of an offence under any
provision listed in Schedule 3 and it appears that such person has by that offence caused loss
or damage to any organ of state or other person, including the cost incurred or likely to be
incurred by an organ of state in rehabilitating the environment or preventing damage to the
environment, the court may in the same proceedings at the written request of the Minister or

other organ of state or other person concerned, and in the presence of the convicted person,
inquire summarily and without pleadings into the amount of the loss or damage so caused.
(2) Upon proof of such amount, the court may give judgment therefor in favour of the organ
of state or other person concerned against the convicted person, and such judgment shall be of
the same force and effect and be executable in the same manner as if it had been given in a
civil action duly instituted before a competent court.
(3) Whenever any person is convicted of an offence under any provision listed in Schedule 3
the court convicting such person may summarily enquire into and assess the monetary value
of any advantage gained or likely to be gained by such person in consequence of that offence,
and, in addition to any other punishment imposed in respect of that offence, the court may
order the award of damages or compensation or a fine equal to the amount so assessed.
(4) Whenever any person is convicted of an offence under any provision listed in Schedule 3
the court convicting such person may, upon application by the public prosecutor or another
organ of state, order such person to pay the reasonable costs incurred by the public prosecutor
and the organ of state concerned in the investigation and prosecution of the offence.
(5) Whenever any manager, agent or employee does or omits to do an act which it had been
his or her task to do or to refrain from doing on behalf of the employer and which would be an
offence under any provision listed in Schedule 3 for the employer to do or omit to do, and the
act or omission of the manager, agent or employee occurred because the employer failed to
take all reasonable steps to prevent the act or omission in question, then the employer shall be
guilty of the said offence and, save that no penalty other than a fine may be imposed if a
conviction is based on this subsection, liable on conviction to the penalty specified in the
relevant law, including an order under subsections (2), (3) and (4), and proof of such act or
omission by a manager, agent or employee shall constitute prima facie evidence that the
employer is guilty under this subsection.
(6) Whenever any manager, agent or employee does or omits to do an act which it had been
his or her task to do or to refrain from doing on behalf of the employer and which would be an
offence under any provision listed in Schedule 3 for the employer to do or omit to do, he or
she shall be liable to be convicted and sentenced in respect thereof as if he or she were the
employer.
(7) Any person who is or was a director of a firm at the time of the commission by that firm
of an offence under any provision listed in Schedule 3 shall himself or herself be guilty of the
said offence and liable on conviction to the penalty specified in the relevant law, including an
order under subsection (2), (3) and (4), if the offence in question resulted from the failure of
the director to take all reasonable steps that were necessary under the circumstances to
prevent the commission of the offence: Provided that proof of the said offence by the firm
shall constitute prima facie evidence that the director is guilty under this subsection.
(8) Any such manager, agent, employee or director may be so convicted and sentenced in
addition to the employer or firm.
(9) In subsection (7) and (8)
(a) firm shall mean a body incorporated by or in terms of any law as well as a
partnership; and

(b) director shall mean a member of the board, executive committee, or other
managing body of a corporate body and, in the case of a close corporation, a member of that
close corporation or in the case of a partnership, a member of that partnership.
(10) (a) The Minister may amend Part (a) of Schedule 3 by regulation.
(b) An MEC may amend Part (b) of Schedule 3 in respect of the province of his or her
jurisdiction by regulation.
CHAPTER 8
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT COOPERATION AGREEMENTS
35. Conclusion of agreements.(1) The Minister and every MEC and municipality, may
enter into environmental management cooperation agreements with any person or community
for the purpose of promoting compliance with the principles laid down in this Act.
(2) Environmental management cooperation agreements must
a. only be entered into with the agreement of
i. every organ of state which has jurisdiction over any activity to which such
environmental management cooperation agreement relates;
ii. the Minister and the MEC concerned;
b. only be entered into after compliance with such procedures for public participation as
may be prescribed by the Minister; and
c. comply with such regulations as may be prescribed under section 45.
(3) Environmental management cooperation agreements may contain
a. an undertaking by the person or community concerned to improve on the standards
laid down by law for the protection of the environment which are applicable to the
subject matter of the agreement;
b. a set of measurable targets for fulfilling the undertaking in (a), including dates for the
achievement of such targets; and
c. provision for
i. periodic monitoring and reporting of performance against targets;
ii. independent verification of reports;
iii. regular independent monitoring and inspections;
iv.
verifiable indicators of compliance with any targets, norms and standards laid
down in the agreement as well as any obligations laid down by law;
d. the measures to be taken in the event of noncompliance with commitments in the
agreement, including where appropriate penalties for noncompliance and the provision
of incentives to the person or community.
CHAPTER 9
ADMINISTRATION OF ACT
36. Expropriation.(1) The Minister may purchase or, subject to compensation,
expropriate any property for environmental or any other purpose under this Act, if that
purpose is a public purpose or is in the public interest: Provided that the Minister must consult
the Minister of Minerals and Energy before any mineral rights are expropriated.

(2) The Expropriation Act, 1975 (Act No. 63 of 1975) applies to all expropriations under this
Act and any reference to the Minister of Public Works in that Act must be read as a reference
to the Minister for purposes of such expropriation.
(3) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (2), the amount of compensation and the
time and manner of payment must be determined in accordance with section 25 (3) of the
Constitution, and the owner of the property in question must be given a hearing before any
property is expropriated.
37. Reservation.The Minister may reserve State land with the consent of the Minister
authorised to dispose of the land, and after consultation with any other Minister concerned,
for environmental or other purposes in terms of this Act, if that purpose is a public purpose or
is in the public interest.
38. Intervention in litigation.The Minister may intervene in litigation before a court in
any matter under this Act.
39. Agreements.The Director General may enter into agreements with organs of state in
order to fulfil his or her responsibilities.
40. Appointment of employees on contract.(1) The DirectorGeneral may appoint
employees on contract outside the provisions of the Public Service Act, 1994 (Proclamation
No. 103 of 1994), when this is necessary to carry out the functions of the Department.
(2) The DirectorGeneral must, from time to time, and after consultation with the Department
of Public Service and Administration, determine the conditions of employment of such
employees.
(3) Such employees must be remunerated from money appropriated for that purpose by
Parliament.
41. Assignment of powers.(1) In this section assignment means an assignment as
contemplated in section 99 of the Constitution.
(2) The Minister must record all assignments referred to in subsection (1) in a Schedule to
this Act and may amend that Schedule.
42. Delegation.(1) The Minister may delegate a power, function or duty vested in him or
her to
a. a named officer of the Department; or
b. the holder of an office in the Department or, after consultation with the relevant
Minister or MEC, the holder of an office of any other national department, provincial
administration or municipality.
(2) A delegation referred to in subsection (1)
a. must be in writing;
b. may be made subject to conditions;
c. does not prevent the exercise of the power, function or duty by the Minister himself or
herself; and

d. may be withdrawn by the Minister.

(3) The DirectorGeneral may delegate a power, function or duty vested in him or her by or
under this Act to
a. a named officer of the Department;
b. the holder of an office in the Department; or
c. after consultation with a provincial head of department, an officer in a provincial
administration or municipality.
(4) The DirectorGeneral may permit a person to whom a power, function or duty has been
delegated by the DirectorGeneral to delegate further that power, function or duty.
(5) A delegation referred to in subsection (3) and the permission referred to in subsection
(4)
a. must be in writing;
b. may be made subject to conditions;
c. does not prevent the exercise of the power, function or duty by the DirectorGeneral
himself or herself; and
d. may be withdrawn by the DirectorGeneral.
43. Appeal to Minister.(1) Any affected person may appeal to the Minister against a
decision taken by any person acting under a power delegated by the Minister under this Act.
(2) An appeal under subsection (1) must be noted and must be dealt with in the manner
prescribed.
44. Regulations in general.(1) The Minister may make regulations
(a) dealing with any matter which under this Act must be dealt with by regulation; and
(b) generally, to carry out the purposes and the provisions of this Act.
(2) The Minister may make different regulations under this Act in respect of different
activities, provinces, geographical areas and owners or classes of owners of land.
(3) The Minister may by regulation provide that infringements of certain regulations
constitute criminal offences and prescribe penalties for such offences.
45. Regulations for management cooperation agreements.(1) The Minister may make
regulations concerning
a. procedures for the conclusion of environmental management cooperation agreements,
which must include procedures for public participation;
b. the duration of agreements;
c. requirements relating to the furnishing of information;
d. general conditions and prohibitions;
e. reporting procedures;
f. monitoring and inspection.

(2) An MEC or municipal council may substitute his or her or its own regulations or bylaws,
as the case may be, for the regulations issued by the Minister under subsection (1) above:
Provided that such provincial regulations or municipal bylaws must cover the matters
enumerated in subsection (1), and comply with the principles laid down in this Act.
46. Model environmental management bylaws.(1) The Minister may make model
bylaws aimed at establishing measures for the management of environmental impacts of any
development within the jurisdiction of a municipality, which may be adopted by a
municipality as municipal bylaws.
(2) Any municipality may request the DirectorGeneral to assist it with the preparation of
bylaws on matters affecting the environment and the DirectorGeneral may not unreasonably
refuse such a request.
(3) The DirectorGeneral may institute programmes to assist municipalities with the
preparation of bylaws for the purposes of implementing this Act.
(4) The purpose of the model bylaws referred to in subsection (1) must be to
(a) mitigate adverse environmental impacts;
(b) facilitate the implementation of decisions taken, and conditions imposed as a result of
the authorisation of new activities and developments, or through the setting of norms and
standards in respect of existing activities and developments; and
(c) ensure effective environmental management and conservation of resources and
impacts within the jurisdiction of a municipality in cooperation with other organs of state.
(5) The model bylaws referred to in subsection (1) must include measures for environmental
management, which may include
(a) auditing, monitoring and ensuring compliance; and
(b) reporting requirements and the furnishing of information.
47. Procedure for making regulations.(1) Before making any regulations under this
Act, a Minister or MEC must
(a) publish a notice in the relevant Gazette
(i) setting out the draft regulations; and
(ii) inviting written comments to be submitted on the proposed regulations within a
specified period mentioned in the notice; and
(b) consider all comments received in accordance with paragraph (a) (ii).
(2) The Minister must, within 30 days after promulgating and publishing any regulations
under this Act, table the regulations in the National Assembly and the National Council of
Provinces, and an MEC must so table the regulations in the relevant provincial legislature or,

if Parliament or the provincial legislature is then not in session, within 30 days after the
beginning of the next ensuing session of Parliament or the provincial legislature.
(3) In considering regulations
(a) tabled in the National Assembly, a committee of the National Assembly must
consider and report to the National Assembly;
(b) tabled in the National Council of Provinces, a committee of the National Council of
Provinces must consider and report to the National Council of Provinces; and
(c) tabled in a provincial legislature, a committee of that provincial legislature must
consider and report to the provincial legislature,
whether the regulations
(i) are consistent with the purposes of this Act;
(ii) are within the powers conferred by this Act;
(iii) are consistent with the Constitution; and
(iv) create offences and prescribe penalties for such offences that are appropriate and
acceptable.
(4) The National Council of Provinces may by resolution reject the regulations within 30
days after they have been tabled in the National Council of Provinces, and such rejection must
be referred to the National Assembly for consideration.
(5) (a) The National Assembly, after considering any rejection of a regulation by the
National Council of Provinces; and
(b) the relevant provincial legislature,
may by resolution within 60 days after they have been tabled disapprove of the regulations,
and may suspend its disapproval for any period and on any conditions to allow the Minister or
MEC to correct a defect.
(6) If the National Assembly or provincial legislature disapproves of any regulation, the
regulation lapses, but without affecting
(a) the validity of anything done in terms of the regulation before it lapsed; or
(b) a right or privilege acquired or an obligation or liability incurred before it lapsed.
CHAPTER 10
GENERAL AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS
48. State bound.This Act is binding on the State except in so far as any criminal liability
is concerned.
49. Limitation of liability.Neither the State nor any other person is liable for any damage
or loss caused by

(a) the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty under this Act; or
(b) the failure to exercise any power, or perform any function or duty under this Act,
unless the exercise of or failure to exercise the power, or performance or failure to perform
the duty was unlawful, negligent or in bad faith.
50. Repeal of laws.(1) Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14A, 14B, 14C,
15, 27A and 38 of the Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of 1989), are hereby
repealed.
(2) Sections 21, 22 and 26 of the Environment Conservation Act, 1989 (Act No. 73 of 1989)
and the notices and regulations issued pursuant to sections 21 and 22 and in force on the
commencement date of this Act are repealed with effect from a date to be published by the
Minister in the Gazette, which date may not be earlier than the date on which regulations or
notices made or issued under section 24 of this Act are promulgated and the Minister is
satisfied that the regulations and notices under sections 21 and 22 have become redundant.
51. Savings.Anything done or deemed to have been done under a provision repealed by
this Act
(a) remains valid to the extent that it is consistent with this Act until anything done under
this Act overrides it; and
(b) subject to paragraph (a) is considered to be an action under the corresponding
provision of this Act.
52. Short title.This Act is called the National Environmental Management Act, 1998.
53. Commencement.This Act comes into operation on a date fixed by the President in the
Gazette.
Schedule 1
Section 11 (1)
National departments exercising functions which may affect the environment

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

Department of Land Affairs
Department of Agriculture
Department of Housing
Department of Trade and Industry
Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Department of Transport
Department of Defence
Schedule 2
Section 11 (2)

National departments exercising functions that involve the management of the

environment

Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism

Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Department of Minerals and Energy
Department of Land Affairs
Department of Health
Department of Labour
Schedule 3
(Section 34)
Part (a): National Legislation

No. and year of law

Short title

Relevant provisions

Act No. 36 of 1947

Fertilizers, Farm Feeds,

Agricultural Remedies and
Stock Remedies

Section 18 (1) (l) in so far as it

relates to contraventions of
sections 7 and 7bis

Act No. 71 of 1962

Animal Protection

Sections 2 (1) and 2A

Act No. 45 of 1965

Atmospheric Pollution
Prevention

Section 9

Act No. 15 of 1973

Hazardous Substances

Section 19 (1) (a) and (b) in so

far as it relates to
contraventions of sections 3
and 3A

Act No. 57 of 1976

National Parks

Section 24 (1) (b)

Act No. 63 of 1976

Mountain Catchment Areas

Section 14 in so far as it
relates to contraventions of
section 3

Act No. 63 of 1977

Health

Section 27

Act No. 73 of 1980

Dumping at Sea Control

Sections 2 (1) (a) and 2 (1) (b)

Act No. 6 of 1981

Marine Pollution (Control

and Civil Liability)

Section 2 (1)

Act No. 43 of 1983

Conservation of Agricultural
Resources

Sections 6 and 7

Act No. 2 of 1986

Marine Pollution (Prevention Section 3A

of Pollution from Ships)

Act No. 73 of 1989

Environment Conservation

Section 29 (2) (a) and (4)

Act No. 18 of 1998

Marine Living Resources

Section 58 (1) in so far as it

relates to contraventions of
sections 43 (2), 45, and 47,
and section 58 (2) in so far as
it relates to contraventions of
international conservation and
management measures

Act No. 36 of 1998

National Water

Section 151 (i) and ( j)

Part (b): Provincial Legislation

No. and year of law

Short title

Relevant provisions

Ordinance No. 8 of 1969

Orange Free State

Conservation

Section 40 (1) (a) in so far as it

relates to contraventions of
sections 2 (3), 14 (2), 15 (a),
16 (a) and 33

Ordinance No. 9 of 1969

Orange Free State Townships Section 40 (1) (a) (ii)

Ordinance No. 15 of 1974

Natal Nature Conservation

Section 55 in so far as it
relates to section 37 (1), to
section 49 in respect of
specially protected game and
to section 51 in respect of
specially protected game,
section 109 in so far as it
relates to section 101, to
section 102 and to section 104,
section 154 in so far as it
relates to section 152; section
185 in so far as it relates to
section 183, and section 208 in
so far as it relates to section
194 and to section 200

Ordinance No. 19 of 1974

Cape Nature and

Environmental Conservation

Section 86 (1) in so far as it

relates to contraventions of
sections 26, 41 (1) (b) (ii) and
(c)(e), 52 (a), 57 (a), 58 (h)
and 62 (1)

Ordinance No. 12 of 1983

Transvaal Nature
Conservation

Sections 16A, 42, 84, 96 and

98

Ordinance No. 15 of 1985

Cape Land Use Planning

Section 46 (1) in so far as it

relates to sections 23 (1) and
39 (2)

Ordinance No. 15 of 1986

Transvaal Town Planning and Sections 42, 93 and 115

Townships

Act No. 5 of 1998

KwaZulu Natal Planning and Section 48

Development

Act No. 29 of 1992

KwaZulu Nature
Conservation

Section 67 in so far as it
relates to sections 59 (1),
59 (2), 60 (1) and 62 (1);
section 86 in so far as it relates
to sections 76, 77 and 82; and
section 110 in so far as it
relates to section 109