The Democratic Alliance has supported the National Forest Amendment Bill in the KwaZulu-Natal Legislature – a Bill which not only seeks to clarify existing legislation but removes the ambiguity on laws specifically designed to protect our natural heritage. Our laws and Acts are founded on the Constitution of this beautiful country.
It’s a Constitution which the ANC fought a liberation war for. So it is indeed sad when we see the same ANC trampling upon the rights of our citizens by continually failing to uphold laws to protect our forests, beaches, rivers and wetlands.
In fact, the ANC has only had one agenda – which it has vigorously pursued. That is to bleed this country dry through corruption, ineptitude and a ‘do not care’ attitude when it comes to environmental affairs. The evidence is found in our polluted waters, mined rivers and a blind eye that is turned to pristine forests being systematically destroyed. The Dukuduku Forest is just one example of failed service delivery leading to environmental destruction.
It is for this reason that the DA has supported this Amendment Bill, thereby conferring a mandate to the National Council of Provinces (NCOP). We sincerely hope that this will not be an exercise in futility but rather a living document that is the sharp end of prosecutions and accountability for those who would dare to desecrate our forests.
Heinz de Boer, MPL DA KZN Spokesperson on Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs (EDTEA)
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