Kgatleng district council kgatleng district development committee ministry of local government

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4.2Environmental Priority Issues

The following are the environmental priority issues of the district:

Poor Land Management
Natural resource utilization
Inefficient, shortage, quality and distribution of Water
Pollution and waste Management
Increasing veldt fires

These issues have been recognised as contributing to the deterioration of the environment in some way. Consequently, they need to be addressed in pursuit of the Vision 2016 which emphasises the need to preserve and conserve the environment in development processes so as to endure sustainability. Addressing these issues would help us in the effort to meet the main challenge in resource development, which is to reduce waste and thus raise productivity of natural resources.

4.3Environmental Policies and Legislations

There are various policies and legislation drafted to address issues of environmental concern. These will be dealt with individually below:-

4.3.1National Conservation Strategy 1990

This Strategy is concerned with all environmental issues in the country. The focus is on pasture degradation; depletion of wood resources; underground water pollution and over-use of veldt products. Most settlements have an on-site sewage disposal in Kgatleng district. Consequently problems of sewage spillage from septic tanks do occur, there are also pit latrines that in most cases are not lined resulting in underground pollution. This poses a threat to the district water resources and sources as most of the settlements draw water from boreholes. There is need to look into these issues during the plan period.
Pasture degradation is not a major issue in the district either because the livestock population is small or that the district lies in the eastern region where rainfalls are good, and land is mainly devoted to arable farming.
Fuel wood remains the district’s main source of energy with most of the households relying on it entirely. It is imperative therefore for the district to put in place measures to control this state of affairs and possibly come up with alternative energy sources.

4.3.2Waste Management Act 1998

The act spells out procedures for the creation of landfill sites, waste disposal sites and the general sanitation in villages. It has already been stated that the threat to underground pollution exists in the district. The district has to have a clear waste management plan to be able to address the issues of waste generation, storage and collection. Already there is a landfill constructed in the district at Pilane and the other one will be constructed at Dikwididi during DDP6.

4.3.3Environmental Impact Assessment Act (Draft)

This act makes it mandatory for environmental impact assessment to be carried out for environmentally hazardous and large-scale projects. It also embraces archaeological issues. It is pleasing to note that all major developments are currently being preceded by environmental impact assessment in the district, e.g. Pilane landfill.

4.3.4Community Based Natural Resource Management

There is not much related to the management of natural resources by communities in the district. The community has started a community game farm project at Ramotlabaki, which is still at its infancy stage. Rasesa community has also started a project at “Matsieng historic site” for their benefit. These projects have the potential to generate revenues that can benefit the communities directly. It is hoped that more projects of this nature would be started during DDP 6.

4.3.5Wetlands Policy 2000

This emphasizes the need to protect and manage all wetlands properly. It is important to ensure that streams and river channels as well as bodies of water whether permanent or temporary are protected from extinction. It is our hope that this will come to full realization during this plan period.

4.4DDP 6 Environmental Goals and Objectives

The environmental goals for the district entails the following:-

Table 4.14 Environmental Goals and Objectives

Goals	Objectives
To reduce the effects of soil erosion in the district by proper land use management.	Initiate the preparation of the district’s integrated land use plan Encourage lining of drainage channels
To improve waste management efforts through public education and the involvement of private sector.	Conduct workshops and seminars Enable private sector participation through reasonable rates. Promote recycling of products
To reduce underground water pollution by the use of appropriate technology and regulations.	Enforce the lining of pit latrines in the district.
To reduce dependence on fuel wood by promoting other forms of energy and afforestation.	Public education Avail seedlings of indigenous trees to people.
To reduce the incidence of veldt fires in the district through proper safety measures and legislation.	Conduct public education Create fire control committees.

4.5Framework for Strategic Environmental Assessment

Table 4.15 Evaluation of Sector Policies and Legislations

Goal	Objectives	Policies / Legislation	Relevance / Implications
To reduce the effects of soil erosion in the district by proper land use management	Initiate the preparation of the district’s integrated land use plan Encourage lining of drainage channels	Vision 2016 National Conservation Policy	These have a bearing on land degradation as well as sustainability.
To improve waste management efforts through public education and the involvement of private sector.	Conduct workshops and seminars Enable private sector participation through reasonable rates. Promote recycling of products	Waste Management Act National Conservation Policy	The policies spell out how waste problems can be handled
To reduce underground water pollution by the use of appropriate technology and regulations.	Enforce the lining of pit latrines in the district.	Waste Management Act Environmental Impact Assessment	Pollution issues are addressed and mitigation measures put into place.
To reduce dependence on fuel wood by promoting other forms of energy and afforestation	Public education Avail seedlings of indigenous trees to people.	National Conservation Strategy National Forest Policy	Sustainable utilization of this resource is emphasized.
To reduce the incidence of veldt fires in the district through proper safety measures and legislation.	Conduct public education Create fire control committees.	National Forest Policy Agricultural Resource Act	The preservation of natural resources is promoted and sustainability.

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