As South Africa’s minister of forestry, fisheries and the environment, I am acutely aware of the treasures that define our nation: the vibrant beaches of eThekwini, the pristine shores of the Garden Route, and the life-giving rivers that sustain our communities. Yet, these natural assets are under threat from a relentless tide of plastic pollution.
This is why I have proposed a bold step: a nationwide ban on some single-use plastics and comprehensive waste management reforms to reclaim our environment. The alternative – maintaining unrestricted problematic plastic use – endangers our ecosystems, chokes wildlife and burdens our landfills. This is a low-cost, high-visibility opportunity to clean up our beaches and rivers for tourism and health, rallying support from environmental and coastal communities increasingly alarmed by microplastics in our fisheries.
The choice is clear: a sustainable future or a legacy of convenience that suffocates our planet.
The crisis is undeniable. Our iconic coastlines, from Cape Town to Sodwana Bay, are marred by single-use bottles, bags and straws – items that persist for centuries, fragmenting into microplastics. These particles infiltrate fish stocks, posing health risks through toxin bio-accumulation, with studies linking them to inflammation and hormonal disruption. Our rivers, including the Umgeni and Vaal, carry plastic debris that kills aquatic life and disrupts ecosystems. Landfills in Gauteng and the Western Cape are overwhelmed, with non-biodegradable waste leaching chemicals into soil and groundwater. This threatens tourism, which generates R120-billion annually and employs more than 700,000 South Africans, as well as fisheries that sustain coastal livelihoods.
My department is committed to decisive action. Rethinking single-use plastics – carrier bags, straws, polystyrene food containers and cutlery – paired with robust waste management reforms, offers a proven path forward. South Africa’s 2003 plastic bag levy reduced consumption by up to 80% in some sectors. Consultations with stakeholders are progressing on the availability and affordability of alternatives to these single-use plastics. Waste management reforms are critical: strengthening extended producer responsibility (EPR) schemes will ensure companies fund recycling of their packaging, incentivising sustainable materials. Deposit-return systems for bottles could boost our recycling rate. Investments in advanced sorting facilities and public awareness campaigns, tailored to urban and rural contexts, will drive compliance and foster a culture of environmental stewardship.
This initiative is about cleaning up our beaches and rivers for tourism and health. Tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, supporting jobs in hospitality and small businesses. Clean shores draw visitors to Plettenberg Bay and Jeffreys Bay; polluted ones deter them. Health concerns are equally pressing: microplastics in seafood threaten consumers, particularly in coastal communities reliant on fishing. Environmental organisations and the plastics industry are ready to collaborate with my department to restore habitats for seabirds, turtles and marine life.
We cannot overlook the great costs of inaction: declining tourism, compromised fisheries and healthcare burdens from microplastic exposure. Global evidence shows that bans create jobs in recycling and green technology innovation. South Africa’s EPR regulations, introduced in 2021, demonstrate that industry can adapt when clear policies are enforced.
This is a defining moment for South Africa’s environmental legacy. By introducing a nationwide ban on some single-use plastics and reforming waste management, my department will protect our environment, boost tourism and safeguard public health. The status quo – unrestricted problematic plastic use – condemns us to beaches strewn with debris, rivers choked with waste and a future where convenience undermines our planet. I call on all South Africans to join us in making our shores a beacon of sustainability. DM