Page 655 - Demo

Department: Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Goods and Services increased from R7.442 million in 2021/22 to a revised estimate of R12.453 million in 2024/25 due to internal reprioritisation for environmental awareness and education of non-profit institutions. In 2025/26, the budget increases marginally by 11.0 per cent to R13.8 million due to fiscal consideration due to provision made for Climate change projects and awareness for environmental education. Transfers and Subsidies decreased from R273.731 million in 2021/22 to R255.905 million revised estimate in 2024/25 due to fiscal consolidation. In 2025/26 there is a decrease by 7.7 per cent to R236.180 million mainly due to once off allocation for N2 biodiversity Offset programme through ECPTA in 2024/25. Payment for Capital assets recorded an expenditure of R167 thousand in 2021/22 to no allocations in 2024/25 and over 2024 MTEF due to the once off allocation for the Waste bins in 2023/24. Service Delivery Measures Table 20: Selected service delivery measures for the programme: Estimatedperformance Medium-term estimatesProgramme performance measures 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027/28Number of climate change response interventions implemented 1 1 1 1 % of complete Atmospheric Emission Licenses issued within legislated timeframes 100% 100% 100% 100%Number of compliance inspections conducted 90 106 106 106 Number of administrative enforcement notices issued for non-compliance with environmental management legislation 74 79 74 74 Number of completed criminal investigations handed to the NPA for prosecution 67 52 67 67 % of complete EIA applications finalized within legislated timeframes 100% 100% 100% 100%% of complete Waste License applications finalised within legislated time-frames 100% 100% 100% 100%Number of legislated tools developed 1 1 1 1 Number of inter-governmental sector programmes implemented 1 1 1 1 Number of environmental research projects completed 1 1 1 1 Number of functional environmental information management systems maintained 1 1 1 1 Percentage of complete biodiversity management permits issued within legislated timeframes. 80% 80% 80% 80%Number of work opportunities created through environmental public employment programmes 500 500 500 500 Number of environmental awareness activities conducted 24 24 24 24 Number of environmental capacity building activities conducted 24 24 24 24 Number of annual protected area management plans implemented assessed for stewardship sites. 6 4 6 6 Number of hectares added to the protected area estate 15000ha 15000ha 15000ha 15000ha The programme plays critical role to establish legislation, policies, programmes, procedures and systems that will effectively empower and support the environmental and biodiversity. It further aims to strive towards a safe and healthy environment through effective environmental impact assessment, air quality management, waste and pollution management for the people of the Eastern Cape. The department will conserve the diversity of landscapes, ecosystems, habitats, biological communities, populations, spices & genes and promote conservation and sustainable use of natural resources through Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency in the Eastern Cape. To empower and capacitate the external stakeholders of the Department to meaningfully participate in and contribute to effective environmental management. 634