Landbou slaan ’n slag teen skaliegas | Agriculture scores a hit against fracking
English to follow:
Agri SA is verheug oor die beslissing deur die Appèlhof in die guns van Agri Oos-Kaap en ander belanghebbendes, dat geen skaliegasontwikkeling vir tyd en wyl mag plaasvind nie.
Die Appèlhof het beslis dat die huidige regulasies rakende skaliegasontwikkeling en -eksplorasie ter syde gestel moet word, omdat die Minister van Minerale Hulpbronne nie by magte is om hierdie regulasies te skep nie. Net die Minister van Omgewingsake is verantwoordelik vir die regulasies en gepaardgaande prosedures.
“Hierdie uitspraak het ’n onmiddellik impak op skaliegasontwikkeling dwarsoor Suid-Afrika en is ’n reuse oorwinning vir landbou,” sê Janse Rabie, Agri SA Beleidshoof: Natuurlike Hulpbronne. “Die vraagstuk oor die bevoegdheid van die Minister van Minerale Hulpbronne om regulasies te maak rakende skaliegas, het onsekerheid geskep oor die bestuur van waterbeskikbaarheid en -besoedeling. Dié onsekerheid was van meet af die oorweging vir Agri SA om die regering se aptyt vir skaliegasontwikkeling teen te staan.”
Die Minister van Minerale Hulpbronne het geappèlleer teen ’n vroeëre beslissing in die Oos-Kaapse Hooggeregshof waarin Agri Oos-Kaap President Doug Stern geslaag het daarin dat die hof die bestaande regulasies ter syde stel.
“Roekelose skaliegasontwikkeling bedreig landbou, voedselsekerheid en die omgewing direk,” sê Stern. “Ons glo hierdie oorwinning is ’n oorwinning vir elke Suid-Afrikaner.”
“Die oorwinning wys dat geen regulasie of beleid ’n uitgemaakte saak is nie,” sê Omri van Zyl, Agri SA Uitvoerende Direkteur. “Ons lid, Agri Oos-Kaap se pro-aktiewe optrede het landbou se belange dwarsoor Suid-Afrika beskerm.”
In Agri SA se Sentrum van Uitnemendheid: Natuurlike Hulpbronne werk ons onverpoos om die belang van landbou te beskerm. Ons sal voorts met die Minister van Omgewingsake, Bosbou en Visserye skakel om te verseker dat die regulasies die uiterste belang van water vir landbou en voedselsekerheid in ag neem.
Navrae:
Janse Rabie
Agri SA Beleidshoof: Natuurlike Hulpbronne
(S) 076 451 9601
Doug Stern
Agri Oos-Kaap President
(S) 072 178 9811
Omri van Zyl
Agri SA Uitvoerende Direkteur
(S) 082 417 5724
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Agri SA is ecstatic about the decision by the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) in favour of Agri Eastern Cape and other stakeholders, that no fracking shall be allowed for the time being.
The SCA found that the current regulations regarding shale gas development and exploration should be set aside, because the Minister of Mineral Resources had no power to draft these regulations. Only the Minister of Environmental Affairs is responsible for these regulations and associated procedures.
“This ruling will have an immediate impact on shale gas development across South Africa and is a huge victory for agriculture,” says Janse Rabie, Agri SA Policy Head: Natural Resources. “The question over the competency of the Minister of Mineral Resources to make regulations on shale gas, created uncertainty regarding the management of water availability and pollution. This uncertainty has been the motivation for Agri SA to oppose the government’s appetite for shale gas development.”
The Minister of Mineral Resources appealed against an earlier decision in the Eastern Cape High Court where Agri Eastern Cape President, Doug Stern successfully litigated that the existing regulations be set aside.
“Reckless fracking directly threatens agriculture, food security and the environment,” says Stern. “We believe this victory is a victory for every South African.”
“The victory shows that no regulation or policy is set in stone,” says Omri van Zyl, Agri SA Executive Director. “Our member, Agri Eastern Cape’s pro-active action protected the interests of agriculture across South Africa.”
In Agri SA’s Centre of Excellence: Natural Resources we are working non-stop to protect the interests of agriculture. We will engage with the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Forestry and Fisheries to ensure that the regulations will take into account the critical importance of water for agriculture and food security.
Enquiries:
Janse Rabie
Agri SA Policy Head: Natural Resources
(C) 076 451 9601
Doug Stern
Agri Eastern Cape President
(C) 072 178 9811
Omri van Zyl
Agri SA Executive Director
(C) 082 417 5724
