IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) and the UDMEMF (Umkhanyakude District Municipality Environmental Management Framework)

The many Projects that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) are busy with within the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) are very exciting and will lead to better enjoyment of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park by many. We appreciate these projects as they supply a constant employment stream for many of the Elephant Coast businesses and residents.

Problem is that these many projects are not integrated into the 5 local municipalities IDP's (Integrated Development Plans) and thus not properly reflected in the UDM IDP (Umkhanyakude District Municipality Integrated Development Plan) or EMF Environmental Management Framework)

Who to blame for this is a tough question, but it needs to be answered, and the responsible person needs to be taken to task and face a public disciplinary hearing. The person responsible for this terrible state of affairs that has caused many thousands within the Elephant Coast tourism region to loose their jobs, and many developers to have their developments torn down causing further economic losses needs to be removed from office.

The IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) manage the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) on behalf of the world population, and are responsible to ensure that the world  public has access to relevant information about the IWP (iSimangaliso Wetland Park) and how the IWP is being managed.

The UDM (Umkhanyakude district Municipality) is currently busy with an EMF (Environmental Management Framework) planning exercise, but this EMF (Environmental Management Framework) somehow excludes the IWPA's  (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority's) projects. Unfortunately the IWPWHS (iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage Site) falls entirely within the UDM (Umkhanyakude district Municipalty) and the 5 local municipalities of

1. Umhlabuyalingana
2. Big 5 False Bay
3. Jozini
4. Hlabisa
5. Mtubatuba     linked info courtesy of www.mtuba4u.co.za   

Now the fact that the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has not played their part in the 5 local municipalities IDP PRF (Integrated Development Plan Public Representatives Forum)  and failed to have their (IWPA - iSimangaliso  Wetland Park Authority) zoning maps and development projects included makes it very difficult for developers to know where they may develop, and what type of developments are suitable for which areas. this has lead to many developers losing their entire investments and a case in point is this one.

Once again who is responsible and who should be fired?

I am personally of the opinion that there are two (2) candidates 1) is the CEO of the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) and 2) The minister of Environmental Affairs  who was mandated to Appoint the CEO of the IWPA by the WHCA (World Heritage Convention Act) 

The UDM EMF (Umkhanyakude District Municipality Environmental Management Framework) will give us the tools to high light these issues and push for some action to be taken.

The EIA for the Sodwana bay Redevelopment project will give us another tool to tackle this issue, and if we are successful in bringing both actions to the attention of the public at the same time we may achieve a little more success.

iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority side step ICMA

The IWPA iSimangaliso wetland Park Authority are busy doing many things within the Elephant Coast Tourism region, some good, some not so good, and some blatantly bad for the local residents, many without following the proper procedures as defined in the acts, laws and regulations that govern their mandate as custodians of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park World Heritage site.

The MSA (Municipal Systems Act) mandates all government departments and all   state appointed parties to participate in the local municipalities Integrated Development Plans where ever they are. The ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)  mandates all parties involved in coastal management to have ICMP (Integrated Coastal Management Plans) which are supposed to be Integrated with the Local Municipalities IDP (Integrated Development Plan)

The 4x4 BAN ( 4x4 BAN) also mandates the IWPA (iSimangaliso wetland park Authority to create and implement an EMP (Environmental Management Plan) with zones and zoning for various uses. These zones are supposed to be reflected in the local municipalities zoning maps as per directives in the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act) 

The whole  chapter 5 of the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)  is problematic as far as  the management issues relating to beach driving and lost tourism associated with the absence of recreational beach users is concerned, and the fact that no (ZERO) public participation meetings relating to the tourism impact of this legislation have been held, and the relating economic studies have not been undertaken, or if they have they are extremely flawed or falsified as the collapse of the domestic tourism market has never been discussed at any of the Mtubatuba IDP (Integrated Development Plan) meetings , because the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has not produced or discussed any of these issues at any of the Mtubatuba Integrated Development Plan Public Representative forum meetings, which can be verified by reading the minutes of the meetings held over the last 8 years. I know this because I tried to raise these issues at the Mtubatuba IDP PRF (Integrated Development Plan Public Representative Forum) meetings, and the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) never produced requested documents and tried their utmost to disrupt the free-flow of information.

Chapter 6 part 4 of the ICMA (Integrated Coastal management Act) is of concern to us as the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) is clearly sidestepping clauses 51 and 52 of the ICMA (Integrated Coastal Management Act)
 
Chapter 6 part 5 clause 53 of the ICMA is of prime interest to us as the IWPA (iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority) has failed miserably to implement this in any shape manner or form, and some disciplinary action needs to be taken against them at parliamentary level

Register as a concerned citizen or an interested and affected party at the September 30  Public participation process meeting to be held in St. Lucia where these items will be raised.