This category should include:

• international agreements signed by South Africa
• national laws
• management strategies required by law (such as EIAs, EMPRs)
• recommendations for sustainable policies and strategies
• levels of compliance and enforcement
• the effectiveness of current management strategies and policies

• A Jukskei River Catchment Water Quality Management was started in September 1993 and a Klip River Catchment Water Quality Management Forum was started in April 1997, chaired by the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) to involve all stakeholders. The Forum’s functions are to assess and produce a management plan to improve and sustain water quality in both river systems. Already results have shown that within Alexandra water quality has improved due to sewage contaminated storm water being diverted to the sewage system instead of entering the Jukskei River.
• The Klipspruit and Klip River have slightly recovered from their very high E.coli levels recorded in the rivers inside the township. This has been attributed to the purifying effects of the extensive wetland area in the river system and the diluting effects of the treated effluent from the wastewater treatment works. This approach however, is reactive and is not seen as a solution to the problem. The long-term solution is to prevent water pollution in the first place- adopting a proactive approach.
• The DWAF has an enforcement function and is responsible for setting standards and responsibilities to ensure the adequate supply of water, demand management and the minimization of pollution.
• The GJMC is responsible for wastewater treatment. Management plans are in place throughout the GJMC to attend to blocked and leaking sewers as soon as they are reported.
• The long-term management of GJMC water resources is one of the key environmental challenges.
• The new National Water Act (No. 36 of 1998) delineates the process which must be followed for, amongst other things, the formation of the Catchment Management Agencies (CMA). This framework will guide management of water resources at a regional or Catchment level and will be binding on all authorities and institutions exercising powers and duties under this Act.
• A water quality-monitoring programme for the Jukskei River CMA, now part of the Crocodile River Catchment has the overall objective to put in place management plans that will lead to the upgrading and protection of the Jukskei River. This will ensure the maintenance and fitness for use of the river on a sustained basis for all users.
• Sampling of the Jukskei occurs at a number of strategic points throughout the Catchment, 15 of which falls within the EMLC. Samples for chemical and physical measurements are taken fortnightly, while samples for micro-biological analyses are collected weekly.
• Extensive monitoring of rivers (storm water and industrial effluents) in the GJMC area is undertaken. This brings about an improved understanding of the requirements of water pollution control and the need to take mitigation measures at an early stage to prevent the complete deterioration of a specific area. In addition, water technology is also researched and sometimes implemented to improve water quality (Proposed Bio-augmentation of Bruma Lake).
• Analyses are performed at the Johannesburg Metropolitan Council Cydna Laboratories, which is accredited (ISO 0259). Internationally approved methods and laboratory practice are used. Reports of analyses are sent to local councils (where requested) and to the DWAF (to meet with permit requirements).
• The South African Water Quality Guidelines have proved to be useful tools in decision-making as far as water quality management is concerned. A water quality index, based on Water Quality Guidelines reduces the water quality parameters into a single figure, which is represented in colour form on a map or table. The WQI is a useful summary of water quality status for reporting purposes, decision-making and management strategies.
• Under the guidance of the DWAF, there is movement countrywide towards Catchment management plans and the adoption of national minimum standards for water quality.

• Monitoring of noise pollution is done at the Local level- only on request or complaints from individuals.
• Current noise prevention challenges include the review and integration of existing legislation to ensure a uniform approach across the EMSS and liaison with planning departments to take into consideration noise occurrences when planning built forms.

• The responsibility for controlling the impact of mining operations on the environment is vested with the Government Engineering of the Department of Minerals and Energy, which includes dust pollution (Atmospheric Pollution Act).
• The Department of water Affairs and Forestry controls standards for mine-dump leaches that may enter rivers and streams or underground aquifers.
• The Council for Nuclear Safety sets standards and issues licenses or clearance permits for mining land, relating to all ionizing issues, such as nuclear contamination of land or materials, and radon releases from mining land with artificially enhanced levels due to the mining operation.
• The WMSS has considered taking on the responsibility for dealing with the min dust pollution problem by suggesting the following attempts:
• Involving all the interested and affected mining companies responsible for the dumps and to find and implement solutions related to mine problems in the area.
• Enter into discussions and actions with the Department of Minerals and Energy Affairs, on how the State together with the mining companies should accept responsibility.
• All current mining companies are required to prepare and implement Environmental Management Programmes (EMP’s which must be legally binding) and which should also set out specific plans for managing the environmental impacts of their operations and possible rehabilitation thereof. In cases where mining companies fail to comply with EMP standards, the Department of Minerals and Energy Affairs should take enforcement measures.
• The Greater Johannesburg Transitional Metropolitan Council specifies applicable standards or guidelines on ionizing radiation (mining) for Nuclear Safety.
• The CNS is mandated in terms of legislation to control all nuclear issues in the country. Local authorities need to play a consultative role as interested and affected parties, especially from a planning perspective when issuing nuclear licenses in terms of the regulations on "The Location of Dangerous Substances".
• At the SMSS level, the Cleansing Department will be consulted on the disposal of hazardous substances and Disaster Management will be involved in dealing with emergency situations.

• Both officials and the Councilors must address the culture of non-payment among residents with an education campaign at all levels.
• A regular street sweeping and litter-picking programme will have to be introduced. No financial provision for this initiative exist, thus communities should also take responsibility in keeping their environments clean.

• Aids education has become very important (e.g. the involvement in world AIDS day) and the government aims to address the need for appropriate social assistance for AIDS victims and their dependents as well as their medical care.
• The government’s role in the control of infectious diseases consists of education (health education can be effective only when the general population is aware of the need for health services, for example AIDS prevention), immunization, and environmental interventions.
• There are, according to the medical officer of health’s report 1989/1990, 10 clinics for the diagnosis and treatment of TB in the Johannesburg municipal area.
• The monitoring of environmental pollution (land, air and water) is currently underway, but only in strategic areas in Greater Johannesburg due to personnel and skilled staff constraints.
• The Greater Johannesburg’s response to increased life expectancy is in the form of AIDS education and environmental monitoring in various departments (CYDNA Laboratories measures and monitors water quality).
• Health services have been restructured to enable universal access to primary care for the poor and health education and immunization programmes are being undertaken:

• Education child-care includes:

1. nutrition
2. reproductive health and
3. personal hygiene and sanitation.

• Several laws have been created to ensure the safe keeping and proper use of the environment, including the Environmental Conservation Act 73 of 1989.
• Various regulations also came from the EIA process and the National Environmental Management Act of 1998, which was created to elevate the importance of environmental management through government.
• The formulation of several organisations, like Green Peace, the SPCA and Keep South Africa Beautiful promote and educate about conservation, so that it reaches all sectors of society.
• More education is needed on basic conservation, and people need to adopt an attitude for environmental concern and well-being.
• The GJMC has created a water conservation policy, to comply with existing legislation. Water conservation has been defined as the planned control of all water usage and its effective management to optimise the benefits of its use to society and to satisfy the basic needs of all. The policy has six general objectives that it intends to fulfill:
  • to promote the efficient and cost effective utilisation of a scarce natural resource;
  • to support national water conservation policies and initiatives;
  • to ensure the optimum utilisation of existing infrastructure and defer capital expenditure the upgrading and augmentation of infrastructure;
  • to ensure that all persons in the metropolitan area have access to at least the minimum requirements for water at affordable prices;
  • to educate and inform the water-using public regarding the need for water conservation and regarding appropriate water conservation practices; and
  • to create the necessary legal framework at Local Authority level to promote and enforce water conservation.

It intends to attain those objectives from a set of four components that it has set out for itself, including:

• the control of water loss;
• all water has to be accounted for;
• control over demand for this resource; and
• water resources in the catchment to be conserved and augmented.

Specific methods will be used for each component to ensure that the process is effectively completed from policy to implementation.

• The EMLC has developed a proposal for conservation in its area of jurisdiction. The provision of a nature conservation service in its area, involves a wide variety of initiatives from planning, development and maintenance of nature reserves. Bird sanctuaries, river trails, to law enforcement, environmental education, stormwater management, erosion control, introduction of indigenous plant and animal life, projects involving the improvement of biodiversity and ecological sustainability and research projects are all aspects that will be looked at with concern and priority. The key elements of their service delivery are:

• environmental conservation
• environmental education
• environmental research
• law enforcement and
• technical support service.

• In the WMSS a formal plan is needed to protect the natural areas such as rivers, streams and ridges, as well as the wetland system running north to south in the western part of the area (WMLC: LDO, 1997).
• In the WMSS no ridges above a 1:4 slope may be developed, but ideally no ridges should be developed. The picking and gathering of indigenous plant is prohibited by the Transvaal Nature Conservation Ordinance, 1983, while river courses may not be changed according to the Water Act (WMLC: LDO, 1997).
• In the NMSS conservation of all hills, ridges and other environmentally valuable features need to be a priority.
• Other than the Environmental Conservation Act, other acts and policies that contribute to the conservation of the natural environment are:

• Soil Conservation Act 76 of 1969
• Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act 43 of 1983
• Water Act 36 of 1998
• White paper on an Environmental Management Policy for SA Government Notice 1096 of 1997
• White Paper on the Conservation and sustainable use of SA’s Biological Diversity Government Notice 1095 of 1997
• Forest Act 122 of 1984
• Mountain Catchment Areas Act 63 of 1970
• Natal Nature Conservation Ordinance 15 of 1974
• Lake areas development Act 39 of 1975
• Minerals Act 50 of 1991(Fuggle & Rabie, 1992).
• Conventions and protocols in terms of conservation include:

• Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar)
• Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES)
• Montreal Protocol for protecting the ozone layer
• International Whaling Convention
• Convention on Biological Diversity
• World Heritage Convention
• Convention on Desertification
• Convention on Climate Change (Hugo et.al., 1997).

• Lastly the rehabilitation of all areas transformed by man, should be done to resemble the original natural status as closely as possible.
• The greatest challenge lies in the area of reconciliation between conservation and development.

PARKS AND OPEN SPACE

PARKS

• Environmental Act 73 of 1989
• Council policies to maintain parks
• Studies to link areas through green spaces
• The development of parks, green areas, conservation areas and other open spaces should be a priority especially in the northwestern parts of Soweto.
• There is a lack in the planning and development of parks with environmental sensitivity. Responses and upgrading of these parks need to be done.

OPEN SPACE

• There is great environmental potential in terms of the ridges that run in an east-west band across Greater Johannesburg, which also forms the watershed. Other responces include:

• Environmental Conservation Act 73 of 1989
• Development proposals
• Better management of open spaces
• The Gauteng Nature Conservation (Grobler, 1996) compiled some guidelines for open space planning for the province and Greater Johannesburg:

• bigger open spaces are better than smaller open spaces, as bigger areas will maintain a higher species diversity. Such areas will for longer periods of time withstand disturbances, as natural processes will function more effectively;
• urban nature reserves or open space core areas should be as circular as possible to minimise border interaction distances of species with negative outside influences;
• the principle of concentric zoning should be applied where a core open space exists with minimal people activity (passive recreation), surrounded by a buffer area where more human activities are allowed (active recreation). It is therefor not advisable that high density development takes place on land directly neighboring a core nature area;
• channel improvements of rivers should not be allowed, as it passes problems downstream. Alternative solutions for flood water control should be found;
• no development should take place in the 1 in 50 year floodline, plus an additional 40 meters outside this line, which will accommodate higher floods due to densification in the Catchment. The 40m will also keep indigenous vegetation in tact and allow for rehabilitation of the area;
• all waste land and disturbed land should be investigated to evaluate if such an area could form part of an open space system;
• when developing and managing open spaces, the safety aspect should be recognised and addressed;
• consolidated open spaces are better than fragmented areas;
• open spaces in proximity to other open spaces, are better than spaces far from other open spaces;
• connected areas are better than disconnected ones;
• where land needs to be conserved as open space, but it belongs to a private person, the necessary restrictions concerning development should be applied on that area;
• any new vegetation planted should be indigenous;
• disturbed open spaces should be rehabilitated and managed with emphasis on removing aggressive invasive plants and replacing them with indigenous species;
• open spaces should not only have a recreational function but should simultaneously have a conservation function;
• an ecological approach should be addopted when assessing the amount of open space to be provided;
• policy on areas where red data species occur, should be formulated.

• The EMLC developed a proposal for the provision of parks, involving a variety of initiatives, ranging from arboriculture, nursery management, landscape construction, parks, open spaces and playground development and maintenance (Nel, 1996). Their mission is to ensure a customer focused, community driven provision of a Parks service that strives towards the attainment of best practice.