Download logoThe Portfolio Committee on Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on Wednesday expressed concern about waste-management failures and gaps in climate monitoring. The committee warned that weak environmental governance increases risks to communities and the environment.
The concerns were raised after a briefing today by the Office of the Auditor-General of South Africa (AGSA) on the audit outcomes of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and its entities for the 2025/26 financial year.
On waste management, the committee heard that Integrated Waste Management Plans (IWMPs) in four provinces were not approved by the Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. It also heard that five provinces could not provide evidence that they acted against municipalities that had not submitted IWMPs. Five provinces also did not prepare implementation reports. Members were concerned about the implications of this for environmental protection and public health.
Climate-monitoring targets were also missed. Members heard that the South African Weather Service (SAWS) achieved 62% availability of greenhouse gas data against a target of 85%. It also achieved 89% availability of climate data against a target of 90%.
Another concern was about weaknesses in environmental law enforcement. The national Environmental Management Inspectorate (EMI) register comprises 3 559 inspectors, but 68% are Grade 5 field rangers. There are no national norms for EMI numbers per province. Provinces such as Mpumalanga and the Free State had no approved environmental compliance inspection plans. Members also heard that there is an average delay of 24 months in the Free State’s referral of criminal cases to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). Furthermore, the Free State and Northern Cape did not track implementation of administrative enforcement notices.
Other missed targets included managing invasive species and wetland rehabilitation. The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) achieved 32% against a target of 35% for risk analyses on alien invasive species. The committee also heard that the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority treated not a single hectare against a target of 60 000 hectares for invasive alien plants. It also made no progress against its wetland rehabilitation target. The department, in turn, reported that it finalised 99% of environmental impact assessment applications within 107 days against a target of 100%.
The committee noted the portfolio's overall audit outcomes, including iSimangaliso and the Marine Living Resources Fund (MLRF), which maintained clean audit opinions - unqualified with no findings. The department, South African National Parks (SANParks) and SANBI all received unqualified audit opinions with findings. The SAWS regressed to a qualified audit opinion with findings, and the audit of the South African Forestry Company (SAFCOL) remained outstanding. The committee heard that it is expected to be signed off on 30 October 2026. SAFCOL, which was first under the then Department of Public Enterprises, now falls under DFFE’s oversight.
The Chairperson of the committee, Ms Nqabisa Gantsho, commended the two clean audits and stressed the need for sound financial management that translates into effective delivery to communities. It was, however, concerned that previously identified information technology and cybersecurity weaknesses have not been addressed. Findings included weak vulnerability remediation, issues with access control, disaster recovery and backup governance. Members heard that a system at SANParks, for example, allowed visitor entry despite bank card payments that were declined. “The IT environment, waste management and compliance monitoring failures at provincial level require urgent intervention,” the Chairperson said.
Ms Gantsho said delays in referring alleged environmental offences to the NPA undermine timely investigation and prosecution. She said the committee would address these concerns in its Budgetary Review and Recommendation Report under section 5 of the Money Bills and Related Matters Act. Proposed recommendations would include stronger annual financial statement review controls at DFFE, SANBI and SAWS; finalising consequence management standard operating procedures; quarterly reporting on irregular expenditure and investigations; risk-based inspection plans for all provinces and urgent finalisation of the SAFCOL audit.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
