Pretoria: Cabinet has approved the publication of the National Environmental Management Laws Amendment (NEMLA) and the Electronic Deeds Registration and Recordal Systems Amendment Bills for public comment.
According to South African Government News Agency, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced during a media briefing in Pretoria that the NEMLA Bill aims to amend the National Environmental Management Act of 1998. This bill intends to fortify environmental compliance and enforcement by authorizing environmental inspectors to issue compliance notices and allowing municipalities to issue directives for environmental violations.
The NEMLA Bill also proposes the introduction of an administrative penalty system to South Africa's national environmental legislation. This system will provide an alternative to criminal prosecution for less serious environmental infractions, thereby facilitating more efficient enforcement and reducing the delays and reputational risks linked with criminal proceedings.
In addition, during its meeting on Wednesday, Cabinet approved the submission of the Electronic Deeds Registration and Recordal Systems Amendment Bill to Parliament. This bill seeks to amend the Electronic Deeds Registration Act of 2019, the Deeds Registration Act of 1937, and the Sectional Titles Act of 1986. The amendments aim to modernize the legislative framework governing deeds registration and recordal systems.
Minister Ntshavheni highlighted that the bill promotes the objectives of an inclusive economy and enhanced security of land tenure. The proposed amendments are primarily technical and are designed to strengthen the security of title and improve the administration of land and property rights for the benefit of landowners and rights holders.