Yesterday, in KwaZulu-Zululand Natal’s District Municipality, the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries held public hearings on the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill.
The vast majority of attendees favored the Bill.
They informed the committee that neither their municipalities nor the required apparatus had fire brigades.
When flames start, people and cattle perish, but the local governments lack the tools to put them out.
Participants in the hearings argued that the government must teach young people how to battle fires and that every community needs local firefighters.
Firefighters require helicopters in these situations because the terrain is rugged and there are dense bushes.
Additionally, there should be a distinction drawn between veld fires, fires that occur in rural regions, and fires that occur in developed areas.
The bill has Inkosi Buthelezi’s support, he informed the committee.
It has, however, arrived far too late, when things are already out of hand.
When someone starts a fire, he argued, they should be arrested.
Additionally, there should be a distinction drawn between veld fires, fires that occur in rural regions, and fires that occur in densely populated areas.
Rural residents are ill-prepared to handle fires, thus satellite stations ought to be installed there.
Inkosi Buthelezi also praised the Bill’s inclusion of traditional authorities.
He added that it is important to inform young people in rural regions that a career in firefighting is possible and that funding is required for it.
In order to ensure that rural residents are not ignored, he suggested that a clear program be implemented.
The community requested that Ms. Faith Muthambi, the chairperson of the portfolio committee for environment, forestry, and fisheries, advise the minister of agriculture, land reform, and rural development that the problem of land ownership has not yet been handled.
They requested that the Minister go see them so that he could update the neighborhood on the situation.
In their place, the Chairperson agreed to carry out this action.
She added that committee members would ponder on today’s ideas and insights when they returned to their respective parties.
“We will inform our leaders that our people have shown a desire for their land.”
The meeting’s chairperson informed the attendees that the committee will update them via the municipality or local radio station Abaqulusi FM once the bill was signed into law.
“We seek for your feedback on many of the legislation that are passed by Parliament, but we never let you know when they have done so.
We must follow your advice and provide you with feedback.
The National Assembly will adopt the revisions and send them on to the President for his approval after the committee consults with all nine of the provinces over the Bill.
The Chairperson thanked the traditional leaders and the people who came to the public hearings from the five nearby municipalities. When there is public participation, Ms. Muthambi remarked, “this is what you call democracy in action.
“Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.