CHAPTER 9
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ENVIRONEMTS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY
LIVING
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
People abuse the environment – pollution, dumping chemicals and rubbish into water systems and oceans
In many parts of the environment has become unsafe and unhealthy for people, animals, and plants
The constitution says that everyone has the right to a safe and healthy environment - it is the responsibility of every
person and community to look after the environment and use its resources responsibly
LAWS, REGULATIONS AND RULES
• The parliament makes laws for the whole country – provincial governments make laws for their own
provinces and municipalities make laws for their municipal areas
• Acts give ministers the power to make regulations or add details to laws – regulations cant conflict with the
main act or state something completely different
• Rules are similar to regulations
• Local government and municipal councils can make by-laws that apply in a particular area or town
- Emergency services (fire prevention and fireworks)
- Public health (sanitary services and sewage)
- Public open spaces (parks and dog walking)
LAWS THAT PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING (ACTS)
NATIONAL WATER ACT, 1998 – regulates management of water resources
NATIONAL HEALTH ACT, 2003 – deliver quality health care services
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1998 – protects the environment and promotes conservation
MEAT SAFTEY ACT, 2000 – promotes safety of meat and animal products
NATIONAL VELD AND FOREST FIRE ACT, 1998 – its purpose is to prevent and stop veld fires
ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT, 1989 – monitors and protects the environment against pollution
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2008 – makes people responsible for the products that people sell
RESPONSIBILITITES OF GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES – Facilitates and supports health related programmes
such as vaccine and HIV and AIDs and access to health services
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS – make sure that South Africans gain access to clean water and safe sanitation
DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR – inspects workplaces to make sure that they are safe and healthy
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – co-ordinates and monitors all health services in the province’s and municipalities
COMMUNITY SERVICES
• Local government and municipal council deliver services such as electricity, refuse collection, water, traffic
control, clinics, and fire services
• Different levels of government are expected to co-operate to deliver community services such as electricity
and health care
- Build libraries
- Provide water tanks to residents
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
COMMUNITY RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ENVIRONEMTS AND SERVICES THAT PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY
LIVING
RESPONSIBILITIES OF VARIOUS LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT
People abuse the environment – pollution, dumping chemicals and rubbish into water systems and oceans
In many parts of the environment has become unsafe and unhealthy for people, animals, and plants
The constitution says that everyone has the right to a safe and healthy environment - it is the responsibility of every
person and community to look after the environment and use its resources responsibly
LAWS, REGULATIONS AND RULES
• The parliament makes laws for the whole country – provincial governments make laws for their own
provinces and municipalities make laws for their municipal areas
• Acts give ministers the power to make regulations or add details to laws – regulations cant conflict with the
main act or state something completely different
• Rules are similar to regulations
• Local government and municipal councils can make by-laws that apply in a particular area or town
- Emergency services (fire prevention and fireworks)
- Public health (sanitary services and sewage)
- Public open spaces (parks and dog walking)
LAWS THAT PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY LIVING (ACTS)
NATIONAL WATER ACT, 1998 – regulates management of water resources
NATIONAL HEALTH ACT, 2003 – deliver quality health care services
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT ACT, 1998 – protects the environment and promotes conservation
MEAT SAFTEY ACT, 2000 – promotes safety of meat and animal products
NATIONAL VELD AND FOREST FIRE ACT, 1998 – its purpose is to prevent and stop veld fires
ENVIRONMENT CONSERVATION ACT, 1989 – monitors and protects the environment against pollution
THE CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT, 2008 – makes people responsible for the products that people sell
RESPONSIBILITITES OF GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENTS
DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES – Facilitates and supports health related programmes
such as vaccine and HIV and AIDs and access to health services
DEPARTMENT OF WATER AFFAIRS – make sure that South Africans gain access to clean water and safe sanitation
DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR – inspects workplaces to make sure that they are safe and healthy
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – co-ordinates and monitors all health services in the province’s and municipalities
COMMUNITY SERVICES
• Local government and municipal council deliver services such as electricity, refuse collection, water, traffic
control, clinics, and fire services
• Different levels of government are expected to co-operate to deliver community services such as electricity
and health care
- Build libraries
- Provide water tanks to residents
