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The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is closing in on businesses and individuals who transgress bylaws and regulations that govern the environment.
Yesterday, October 19, the municipality hosted a one-day workshop to capacitate NMBM Environmental Health Management officials, National Prosecuting Authority officials and South African Police Services members.
The workshop focused on strengthening the law enforcement value chain related to environmental matters, developing a standard operating process that will be SAPS-compliant, Forensic laboratories and the National Prosecuting Authority guidelines for environmental practitioners.
Speaking at the workshop, NMBM Environmental Health Director, Dr. Patrick Nodwele, said that the workshop came at a critical time. "As a city, we identified a number of gaps that were hindering our work as environmental health practitioners. Law enforcement has been the weakest link in our work chain. Lack of capacity of the whole value chain of law enforcement in relation to environmental issues was also identified as an area needing special focus. That is why we have invited South African Police Services, Forensic laboratories and the National Prosecuting Authority to be part of this workshop," he said.
The workshop was also used as an information sharing platform for all the entities present on the latest developments in the regulations governing environmental issues and enforcement. Nodwele stated that the workshop addressed a number of uncertainties and inconsistencies in the application of the laws governing environmental matters. "The inconsistencies in the application and presentation of cases to SAPS and subsequently the NPA have led to a number of transgressors getting away. This workshop seeks to close those gaps," he added.
This workshop was convened against the backdrop of the crisis around manganese storage and transportation in the city, which has affected residents, businesses and road infrastructure.
