Economic Development and Environmental Services
Business Unit: Economic Planning and Development
Definition
“LED is an adaptive and responsive process by which public, business and non-governmental sector partners work collectively to create better conditions for innovation-driven inclusive economic development that is characterized by skills development and knowledge transfer; employment generation; capacity building ; investment attraction and retention; image enhancement and revenue generation in a defined area (the district) in order to improve its economic futures and the quality of life for all.” National LED Framework 2018-2028)
Vision
“ LED will seek to create competitive, sustainable, diverse, innovative-driven inclusive local economies that are vibrant places in which to live, invest, and work, which maximise local opportunities, address local needs, and which contribute to South Africa’s National Development objectives including sustainable ways of utilizing local resources and expand learning capabilities.” (National LED Framework 2018-2028)
South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise
Prescriptive, Policy and Plan Context
The business unit of Economic Planning and Development exists and performs its functions within a prescriptive, policy and hierarchy of plan framework.
Prescriptive Framework:
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1996) Section 152, Section 153 and Section 156. The objectives of local government includes social and economic development, and the developmental duties of local government includes promoting social and economic development.
Local Government Systems Act (Act 32 of 1996) Various Sections.
Local Government Municipal Finance Management Act (Act 56 of 2003) Various Sections
Plans Framework:
There are numerous plans, however the key plans are:
Hierarchy of Policies and Plans
International
-
- Sustainable Development Goals - Envision 2030
Continental
-
- Africa Union Agenda 2063 - 7 Aspirations
National
-
- National Development Plan - Vision 2030
- National Infrastructure Plan - Vision 2050
- Medium Term Expenditure Framework - Vision 2025
Provincial
-
- Eastern Seaboard Masterplan
- Eastern Seaboard Regional Spatial Development
- Provincial Growth Development Strategy - Vision 2035
Local
-
- District Development Model - Vision 2040 (One District / One Plan)
- Ugu District Economic Development Framework 2022 - 2032; Strategy and Plan
- District SDF - Vision 2040
- District IDP
Business Unit Role In Economic Development
The district economic development function is performed within a context of defined roles and responsibilities between the provincial department, district, local municipal LED and the Special Purpose Vehicle of Economic Development (South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise). Essentially the district:
Enables, Facilitates and Coordinates District-Wide Programme Planning and Implementation.
Leverages strategic assets of Council to stimulate social and economic development. The Ugu Sports and Leisure is one such asset.
Supports the District Special Purpose Vehicle for Economic Development: which is responsible for investment promotion, attraction, and facilitation across all sectors of the economy.
Ugu District Economic Framework 2022-2032: Strategy and Plan
The strategic goals and objectives of the unit, which are further disaggregated into programmes and projects are indicated below:
Structure:
The unit has a manager, administrative assistant support and three Economic Development Practitioners:
one responsible for sectoral support coordination and facilitation,
one for economic government and infrastructure support and coordination and
one for catalytic projects planning and implementation support and coordination.
In addition the Ugu Sports and Leisure Centre has its own staffing with a coordinator, administrative support, groundsman and general worker.
Economic Development Members
Ms Deidre Rankin
General Manager
- Economic Development and
Environmental Services
039 688 5807
Deidre.Rankin@ugu.gov.za
Mr Sihle Mbatha
Manager: Economic Development
039 688 5896
Sihle.Mbatha@ugu.gov.za
Ms Vasie Manawer
Manager: Environmental Health
039 688 5798
Vasie.Manawer@ugu.gov.za
Mr Bright Khumalo
Manager: Environmental
Management Services
039 688 3529
Bright.Khumalo@ugu.gov.za
Environmental Health Services
Manager: Ms Vasie Manawer
Email: Vasie.Manawer@ugu.gov.za
Tel: 039 688 5798
Environmental health is a branch of public health that focuses on the relationships between people and their environment. It involves understanding the impact of environmental factors on human health and implementing measures to control and prevent health hazards. The goal of Environmental Health is to promote well-being and prevent disease through effective management of environmental factors.
The Ugu District Municipality (UGU DM) employs the Ugu Public Health By-laws, adopted by the Council on 25 May 2017 under section 13(a) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act No. 32 of 2000), to carry out Environmental Health Services. These by-laws empower the municipality to address a wide array of environmental factors, ensuring that living environments are safe, healthy, and conducive to well-being. The work of the Environmental Health Practitioners within the municipality is crucial in maintaining public health through effective regulation and management.
Environmental Health Services
The Environmental Health Services team comprises of highly qualified and skilled environmental health practitioners (EHPs). These professionals are dedicated to protecting public health by managing and mitigating environmental risks. They provide and facilitate comprehensive, proactive, and needs-based services to ensure a safe, healthy, and clean environment, thereby preventing and eliminating disease.
The role of Environmental health practitioners encompasses a wide range of activities, each crucial for maintaining public health and ensuring a safe and healthy environment. Here are the primary roles of environmental health practitioners:
Water Quality Management
Sampling and Testing: Regularly collecting and analysing water samples to ensure safety standards are met.
Enforcing Regulations: Implementing water quality rules and addressing any violations.
Pollution Control: Monitoring and managing efforts to control water pollution and ensure safe wastewater disposal
Food Safety and Control
Regulation Enforcement: Implementing food safety regulations under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act of 1972.
Issuing of Certificate of Acceptability for all food handling premises as well as permits for casual events.
Routine Inspections: Conducting regular checks at food handling establishments to ensure compliance with laws.
Outbreak Investigation: Investigating foodborne disease outbreaks and taking preventive actions.
Recall and Disposal: Recalling and disposing of unfit or unsafe food products.
Law Enforcement: Using notices and summonses to enforce compliance.
Export Certification: Providing health certification for exported food consignments.
Waste Management
Handling and Disposal: Ensuring proper storage, collection, transportation, and disposal of waste, including medical and hazardous waste.
Sanitation Advocacy: Promoting proper sanitation practices to reduce health risks associated with waste.
Health Surveillance of Premises
Assessing overcrowded, dirty or other unsatisfactory health conditions on any occupied premises.
Assessment of Living Conditions: Evaluating aspects like ventilation, lighting, moisture-proofing, thermal quality, and structural safety to ensure healthy living environments.
Surveillance and Prevention of Communicable Diseases
Disease Reporting: Ensuring mandatory reporting of diseases to prevent outbreaks.
Health Education: Promoting hygiene and health practices to prevent diseases caused by environmental factors.
Vector Control
Managing Disease Carriers: Enforcing legislation to control vectors such as insects and rodents that can spread diseases.
Environmental Management: Preventing conditions that support the growth and spread of vectors.
Environmental Pollution Control
Monitoring Pollutants: Identifying sources of water, air, and soil pollution and monitoring their impact.
Risk Assessment: Conducting assessments to identify environmental health hazards and enforce mitigation strategies.
Disposal of the Dead
Enforce Regulation R 363 (Regulations relating to the management of Human remains): To prevent nuisances at mortuary premises, control and restriction of undertakers, embalmers, mortuaries, and storage facilities for dead bodies.
Monitoring practices at cemeteries, crematoria, and disposal facilities.
Management and control of exhumations, reburials, and disposal of remains.
Issuing competency certificates to compliant funeral undertakers' premises.
Environmental Management
Manager: Mr Bright Khumalo
Email: Bright.Khumalo@ugu.gov.za
Tel: 039 688 3529
Legislative mandate
Section 24 of the Republic of South Africa states that Everyone has the right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing; and to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that prevent pollution and ecological degradation, promote conservation and secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable economic and social development.
This provision of the Constitution is supported, emphasised and implemented through several environmental management legislative prescripts, e.g National Environmental Management Act, Coastal Management Act, Air Quality Act etc.
Implementation mechanism
In implementing the above legislative provisions, Environmental management unit essentially advocates for the use of natural resources to serve the social, economic, and other needs of the present and future generations. It promotes an improved relationship between human beings and environment through observation and control of anthropogenic activities, conservation, environmental protection, enforcement of regulations and regeneration of nature.
As a water and sanitation service provider and authority, Ugu District municipality relies on water resources, and such must be protected and treasured to ensure sustainable water and sanitation service delivery.
To ensure sustainable and effective service delivery Ugu Environmental Management has developed various environmental management instruments, as per legislative requirements of the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) and other legislations. These tools are:
Ugu District Municipality: Environmental Management Framework
Environmental Management Programme for Water and Sanitation Activities
Ugu District Municipality Coastal Management Programme
Ugu District Municipality: Integrated Waste Management Plan
Ugu District Municipality: Climate Change Response Strategy
Ugu District Municipality: Air Quality Management Plan
Ugu District Municipality: Air Quality Management By-Law
Ugu District Municipality: Integrated Waste Management Plan
The Climate Change Adaptation Plan and its accompanying Risk Profile report have been specifically drafted for the Ugu District Municipality, with the aim of strengthening its strategic response to climate change. These documents derive their insights from the GreenBook (www.greenbook.co.za), a freely accessible online planning support system.
Environmental functions
In an effort to comprehensively achieve the objectives of the above regulatory requirements and sector plans Ugu Environmental Management unit performs the functions that are summarised in the table below:
Pollution Control
- ambient air quality monitoring to monitor ambient meteorological conditions, PM1010 and PM2.5 emissions
- inspections for the purposes of ascertaining compliance with- conditions of an authorization issued in terms of such legislation
- collaboration with Water Services to ensure that their work is compliant, and their environmental awareness is being enhanced
- manage environmental pollution in the district through the application of the developed Standard Operating Procedures
Bio-Diversity
- control of plant invasion that alter ecosystems, as well as important natural processes such as fire frequency, nutrient cycling, erosion, hydrologic cycles and sediment deposition, which, and in turn, result in significant negative environmental, and therefore socio-economic impacts
Alien Invasive Control Plan
- prepared an invasive species monitoring, control and eradication plan for land under Ugu DM control which presents clear priorities and sets out guidelines to be followed, to achieve successful IAS control at the Ugu properties.
Environmental Education and Awareness
- undertake several environmental education initiatives in schools, communities and within the municipality under the banner of the Environmental Education and Awareness forum and through the municipality with particular attention to waste management, biodiversity management, climate change, air quality and many more.
Climate Change
- adopted its Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Response Strategy.
- Climate Change Adaptation Plan and its accompanying Risk Profile report have been specifically drafted.
Coastal Protection
- multi-stakeholder approach to the general coastal management is the most effective mechanism, especially regarding resource efficiency.
Conclusion
Our commitment is to uplift and improve the quality of life of Ugu’s residents, especially the poor, vulnerable and marginalised through facilitating sustainable economic growth within the region through investment in the development and maintenance of infrastructure and to ensure that Ugu District Municipality continues to be the envy of South Africa in terms of Environmental conditions.
