Gauteng Environmental Management Inspectorate

The inspectorate seeks to minimize environmental crime through enforcing environmental legislation, thereby creating a culture of environmental compliance in South Africa.

The Gauteng EMI has since been leading the way as the only provincial EMI whose inspectorates are solely dedicated to EMI work and has structured their department in a systematic manner focusing on three core areas.

• The Environmental Compliance Monitoring Unit keeps an eye on whether or not the various environmental legislation are being adhered to. This unit oversees various inspections, monitors industrial, residential and infrastructural developers.
• The Enforcement Unit monitors airports, deals with special investigations, performs other inspections, criminal prosecutions and handles complaints from the public.
• Strategic Compliance and Enforcement Unit provide support to the other two units through research and development, policy drafting, guideline development, expert support and strategy creation for targeted raids or sector-specific compliance.

The Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment (GDACE) funds the project 95%, and the National Department of Environment and Tourism (DEAT) contributes 5% of its budget. The strategic partnerships with international agencies like the Environmental Agency of England and Wales and the Environmental Protection Agency of the USA helped with developing the EMI training programme for government officials. Various other government divisions support the project through facilitating NEMA in their specific sectors like the Department of Agriculture dealing with issues relating to farming and veterinary inspections, the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry dealing with water related issues, the SAPS dealing with arrests, and investigations, and the National Prosecuting Authority taking matters to court. The Gauteng EMI works closely with local and district municipalities and civil society organisations like the Gauteng Wetland Forum, Sand Mining Forum and Peat Forum.

Innovation

This is a criminal justice programme dedicated solely to environmental protection. They combine crime prevention strategies with a profound knowledge and understanding of conservation, environmental sustainability, and protection. Their inspectors are solely dedicated to EMI work which includes the monitoring of airports for the smuggling of contraband environmental goods in and out of South Africa.   

Effectiveness

During 2006/2007 a total of 14 035 complaints was handled. There are ongoing investigations into the selling of rhino horns, elephant tusks, importation and selling of crocodile products and the smuggling of invertebrates, reptiles and birds. A total of 531 inspections at the Oliver Tambo International Airport was carried out of live wild animals that were scheduled for import or export.

Poverty Impact

Initially 15 officials were trained and designated as EMIs. Currently 13 municipal officials are in training in order to achieve their goal of 100 inspectors by 2009/2010. ''Green Scorpions ensure that the livelihoods of the poor who depend on natural resources are not destroyed, that illegal dumping of toxic wastes are not disposed of in poor communities, and that environments that sustain rural communities are protected.

Sustainability

The Gauteng EMI is supported by governement to the tune of R16 million annually. It is financially sustainable because of its 80% share of all the fines recouped for the Gauteng Treasury.

Replication

EMI started as a national initiative, based in Gauteng, with inspectorates operating in all other provinces.

Partnerships

• Gauteng Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Environment
• Department of Environment and Tourism
• Environmental Agency of England and Wales
• Environmental Protection Agency of the USA