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Hullo All
 
For your Info
See kontact details of the .
 
Green Scorpions
National Crimes and Incidents
 
Tip - Off line:0800 205 005
 
It would be great if the media could inform the public,
Regarding the Green Scorpions and the contact details.
 
Kind Regards
Thomas du Toit
082 419 6526
Emfuleni Belasting Betalers Unie.
 
 
See more info 2 nd Paragraph email below
----- Original Message -----
From: Mariette Liefferink <mailto:mariettel@iburst.co.za>
The Federation for a Sustainable Environment: Environmental Damage

Beste Thomas,
 
Ek stuur die responsie van Melissa Fourie (voorheen hoof van die DEAT Inspektoraat – “Green Scorpions”) vir jou aan.  Die kontak besonderhede van die Green Scorpions is ook ingelsuit in haar e-pos.
  
From: Melissa Fourie [mailto:mfourie@fastmail.fm]
Sent: Friday, August 14, 2009 10:14 AM
To: Tok Niemand
Cc: Pieter at ECA; Bob Dehning@mweb. co. za; Bobby Peek; Jcapel; Brown Motsau; JOHN WESSON; Karin Marx; Garth Barnes; cbosman@global.co.za; Tony Ferrar; Judith Taylor; Pelindaba Working Group; Jan Visser; Mercia Komen; Mariette Liefferink; Victor Munnik; Anne Mayher; Andy Gubb; Rachel Adatia; Koos Pretorius
Subject: Re: The Federation for a Sustainable Environment: Environmental Damage

Dear Tok, colleagues,
 
It is really important that we do not expect NGOs and activists like Mariette to investigate and resolve all cases of non-compliance in the country: that was the whole reason for establishing the Environmental Management Inspectorate (the Green Scorpions) under NEMA in 2005.  Although the public may not always be aware of them, and there certainly aren't enough of them yet, there are trained and designated EMIs in DEAT and in every province, with wide powers of inspection, investigation and enforcement. As civil society must insist that they deal with these matters - they are mandated by Parliament and the Minister/MECs to monitor compliance with and enforce national environmental legislation.
 
When you find a contravention like this, your first port of call should always be to report this to the national Environmental Crimes and Incidents Tip-Off Line: 0800 205 005. You can also fax your complaint to 012 320 4431 or email fcraigie@deat.gov.za and smalaza@deat.gov.za - that's the EMI HQ at the Department of Environmental Affairs in Pretoria. From there it will be referred to the correct authority to deal with - most likely provincial Environmental Management Inspectors.
 
Commencing a particular activity that requires an EIA and/or other environmental permits without those permits is always a criminal offence, often with a significant fine, so in principle you should be able to go to the local SAPS Community Centre and open a criminal docket for investigation. Generally speaking I recommend that you do this in collaboration with the EMIs that I've referred to, just because most SAPS officials are not very familiar with environmental legislation - EMIs are trained to deal with this situation.
 
For damage caused, EMIs have powers to issue compliance notices to instruct the responsible party to remedy damage caused. It is also possible to obtain a court order for money to fix the damage once the responsible party has been convicted of the offence/s I mentioned above (though this usually takes a long time).
 
If you report this and nothing is done, there are a few options available, but let's first give EMIs a chance to do their jobs.
 
Yours sincerely
Melissa Fourie
environmental law • policy • strategy • implementation
3 Exeter Court, 49 Exner Road, Vredehoek 8001
072 306 8888
mfourie@fastmail.fm

On 13 Aug 2009, at 9:30 PM, Mariette Liefferink wrote:


Dear Tok,

I am forwarding your concerns to a number of affiliated NGOs and request them, very respectfully,  to assist me in responding to your request for assistance.  

I am currently overwhelmed by requests for assistance.  In the absence, however, of a response of affiliated NGOs, I will assist you in your request.  Please advise me in this regard.

Sincere Regards,
Mariette Liefferink.
CEO: FEDERATION FOR A SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tok Niemand [mailto:altosa@barvallei.co.za]
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 6:31 PM
To: mariettel@iburst.co.za
Subject: The Federation for a Sustainable Environment: Environmental Damage

This is an enquiry e-mail via http://www.fse.org.za/ from:
Tok Niemand <altosa@barvallei.co.za>

On 27th April 2009 we sent off a fax to Me May after atelephonic conversation on 23 April 2009 concerning serious damage to the environment in Alicedale by stone crushers which we believe started business without the proper permits and environmental impact studies.  Could you please look into this subject and inform us of the outcome as this is a serious matter to us in our small municipal area.

Thank you very much