1. Hon. MEC, my focus is the environment Programme 7 budget of R877,1 million. The concern remains the underspending against the Invasive Alien Programme, because these sap our ground-water, making drought more pervasive. Hon.Speaker, its time the department employs more research scientists who use these scarce funds to ensure that we detect endangered animal and plant species which are vital to our biodiversity and tourism revenue stream whilst eradicating alien species.
2. Based on our study tour, The Mauritian environment department had a programme for learners to remove alien species as a field programme. We can do the same and issue green certificates.
3. The business sector should be encouraged to maximise cleaner production and energy efficiency projects by investing in skills development through learner ship programmes.
4. Hon.MEC, KZN’s bio fuel production plans have changed as Premier’s change from maize to sugar cane, in a bid to diversify electricity production. What is the way forward?
5. Outsourcing such iniatives to consultants eats significant research investments, rather invest in mitigation activities by filling critical “green specialist” vacancies; in a quest to accelerate KZN’s transition to a clean, safe and sustainable hydrogen economy.
6. KZN’s coast Hon.Members is most influenced by climate change, which impacts on residents existing health conditions e.g. Malaria transmission, hence adaption plans and planners are essential.
7. Rising temperatures requires forestry, agriculture and eco-system adaption, to respond to carbon emissions and sequtration, where grasslands and savannah biomes are the most important carbon sinks. Therefore, HON. MEC, we cannot manage blistering heat waves in the summers to come, hence land use and spatial land integration policies must be topmost in our minds. As a caution to land-grabbers, notwithstanding that the National Panel stated that land expropriation without compensation will be limited for land reform purposes only, government policy must be very clear on areas which are protected.
8. Hon.Members, the subject of pollution and waste management are wide areas not covered adequately but are areas of converting challenges to economic opportunities.
9. Hence, the MF supports this budget in its current form which impacts on all aspects of economic development and tourism, seeking further debate on a positive baseline budget shift for programme 7 from the main appropriation, to assist Ezemvelo until the commercialisation framework is developed and implemented.
10. Thank you.

HON.S. Thakur-Rajbansi