5.7 Capacity-building

It is important that the compliance and monitoring capacity that will be required by EMIs with respect to their regulatory functions assigned by the Waste Act be properly assessed. In addition, an assessment is needed of whether their current training equips them to fulfil the functions ascribed in the Waste Act. Capacity building initiatives for members South African Police Services (SAPS), who play a crucial role in enforcing environmental legislation, also need to be considered. To facilitate prosecution of environmental crimes, capacity building initiatives for the NPA also need to be developed.

In terms of the WMOs, guidance is required with respect to their training requirements and to what extent the existing training for EMIs addresses some of their skills requirements.

With respect to municipal support, both national and provincial government are obliged to support and strengthen the municipalities’ ability to perform its functions in relation to waste management. A comprehensive programme of support needs to be developed and rolled out at local government level over the next five years. The NWMS will need to provide guidance regarding the main elements of such a programme.

At a national level, the NWMS should also address DEA’s capacity requirements as it takes on the overall responsibility to ensure the incremental implementation of the provisions of the Act.