PASTICHE OR POSTICHE? ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN SOUTH AFRICA

Abstract

ABSTRACT South African environmental impact assessment (EIA), dating back to the mid-1970's. has latterly been the major element of the widely used but non-mandatory integrated environmental management (IEM) procedure. EIA finally became a regulatory requirement in 1997 with enabling legislation for the remainder of the IEM procedure being enacted in 1998. Some believed the EIA provisions to be little more than a pastiche of the uniquely South African IEM procedure; others that seemingly insurmountable staffing deficiencies rendered them close to being a postiche. This paper reviews the South African EIA system against a set of evaluation criteria. These relate to: its legal basis; coverage; consideration of alternatives; screening; scoping: EIA report preparation; EIA report review; decision making; impact monitoring: mitigation; consultation and participation; system monitoring; costs and benefits; and strategic environmental assessment. It is concluded that since South African EIA meets 7 of 14 evaluation criteria, it is not a pastiche, but that political will, further change and institution strengthening will be needed if EIA is to avoid the charge of being a postiche.