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Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002)

Notices

Directions relating to the Forestry Sector during Alert Level 3

Annexures

Annexure 1 : Services to be provided by issuing authorities in terms of the National Forests Act

 

ANNEXURE 1

 

Services to be provided by issuing authorities in terms of the National Forests Act

 

General provisions:

 

1. The provision of services Indicated in the table below, in addition to the specific restrictions indicated in the table, is subject to all the applicable health and safety and other restrictions, directions and requirements determined in terms of section 27(2) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002) .

 

2. If there is any uncertainty about whether a service is restricted, the relevant official of the particular authority should be approached for guidance and/or confirmation.

 

3. For purposes of clarity, a licence required in terms of the National Forests Act is hereafter referred to as a licence.

 

4. The following email addresses per province must be utilised for the submission of online applications:

 

4.1 Eastern Cape:        [email protected]
4.2 Free State:        [email protected]
4.3 Gauteng:        [email protected]
4.4 KwaZulu-Natal:        [email protected]
4.5 Limpopo:        [email protected]
4.6 Mpumalanga:        [email protected]
4.7 Northern Cape:        [email protected]
4.8 North West:        [email protected]
4.9 Western Cape:        [email protected]

 

Authority

Service to be provided

Mechanism for provision of the service

Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries

1. Eastern Cape;
2. Free State;
3. Gauteng;
4. KwaZulu-Natal;
5. Limpopo;
6. Mpumalanga;
7. Northern Cape;
8. North West; and
9. Western Cape.

Receipt of applications for licences in terms of sections 7 and 15 of the National Forests Act
• Licence applications may be submitted physically or electronically for:
o All development activities that may result in cutting, destruction, and disturbance in natural forests; and
o All development activities that may result in possession, collection, removal, transportation, purchase, and export of forest products for which a licence is required.

Evaluation of licence applications
• Evaluation of licence applications may be conducted through site visits by dedicated officials.
• In respect of applications for removal of protected trees that pose a threat to life and property:
o Electronic applications must be accompanied by a digital picture of the tree; and
o Licence applications that require further evaluation by other competent authorities such as municipalities or provincial offices will be processed when these authorities are operational.

Inspections
• Site inspections will be conducted as far as practically possible.
• Where inspections are required, but cannot be conducted, licences may be issued provisionally, subject to a condition that an inspection will be conducted at a later date to be determined by the issuing authority.
• No site-visits/inspections will be conducted for applications requiring recommendations from other authorities when these authorities are operational

Issuing of permits

Licences will be issued manually.

Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries

1. Eastern Cape;
2. Free State;
3. Gauteng;
4. KwaZulu-Natal;
5. Limpopo;
6. Mpumalanga;
7. Northern Cape;
8. North West; and
9. Western Cape.

Applications for licences in terms of section 23 of the National Forests Act, in relation to the following activities:

• Felling of trees and removal of timber;
• Establishment and management of plantation;
• Use and construction of roads;
• Use of structures, land and buildings for commercial agriculture, industrial, transportation, residential and communication purposes;
• Moving of water, electricity, gas, fuel and any other thing across the state forest land; and
• Herding of animals and cultivation of state land.

Licence applications may be submitted physically or electronically.

Evaluation of licence

applications

Evaluation of licence applications may be conducted through site visits by dedicated officials.

Inspections

Site inspections may be conducted, and where there are protected trees posing a threat to life and property, electronic applications must be accompanied by a digital picture of the tree.

Issuing of licences
• Approved licences will be issued manually.
• The following offices will be open:
o Demar Centre Knysna office
o Belville office
o Bisho Office
o Kokstad office
o Mtata office
o Polokwane office
o Makhado office
o Nelspruit office
o Upington office
o North West office
o Bloemfontein office
o Port Elizabeth office