Full report LR.pdf - DLIST Benguela

NACOMA Project – Preparation PhaseReview of Policy and Legislation Pertaining to Coastal Zone ManagementObservation:While the initiation of Regional Development Plans (RDPs) has a legislative basis, theseplans do not appear to enjoy any legal status in that they provide only guidelines whenspecific development applications are being considered. This is in stark contrast to theSouth African Integrated Development Plans (IDPs) which have to be prepared by,regularly updated, and adhered to in terms of the South African Development FacilitationAct, Act 15 of 1994 and Local Government Transition Ac, Act 209 of 1993. It isrecommended that mechanisms be explored whereby the relevant line Ministries andTown and Regional Planning Board referred to below have to have regard to the RDPs inthe respective Regions.It should be noted that the Regional Councils Act (Sect 23(1) (b)) allows RegionalCouncils to spearhead socio-economic planning in the regions. However, this function iscurrently curtailed by limited human, capital and financial resources. The proposedintegration of the biodiversity conservation planning and management function is likelyto exacerbate this predicament – if not addressed in time It is, however, believed that anaccelerated and effective decentralisation process would ensure that this fundamentaldevelopment function is executed appropriately. However with the initiation of thedecentralisation process a number of line Ministries have seconded staff to RegionalCouncils resulting in uncertainty as to who these staff are responsible to.Observation:It appears that there is much scope for increasing the staff complement and developingstaff competencies of Regional Councils; and to concomitantly increase its capacity tocarry out conservation related functions particularly in the light of the decentralisationinitiative referred to below.5.6.2 The decentralisation initiativeOf particular importance is the Namibian decentralisation initiative referred to in 5.6.1above. The Decentralisation Enabling Act, Act 33 of 2000 provides for the regulation anddecentralisation of functions currently vesting in line Ministries to Regional Councils andLocal Authority Councils. The Minister of Regional, Local Government and Housing is25