Winners of Environmental Management Awards announced

The awards recognises government officials who have made an outstanding contribution to the implementation of environmental legislation in South Africa.

Awards were handed out in four categories, one for prosecutors and three for environmental management inspectors, also known as the Green Scorpions. The first category was for outstanding contribution to the prosecution of environmental crime. The winner in this category, for her successful prosecution of several rhino poaching matters in Gauteng, coupled with a 100% conviction rate in all the environmental cases prosecuted during 2010/11, and her management of the South Gauteng Environmental Prosecution Section was Marle van Heerden.

Fight against abalone poaching

The category for outstanding contribution to the investigation of environmental crime proved the toughest to adjudicate and the panel of judges eventually decided on two winners. For his outstanding work in fighting against abalone poaching in the Western Cape and his ongoing commitment to sharing his vast knowledge through capacity building initiatives, the award was presented to Carl Nortier of SANParks. Nortier shared the award with Marie Louise Lume from the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), who received the award for her outstanding achievements in investigating pollution and waste crimes.

The award for outstanding contribution to the inspection of environmental crimes went to Motebang Molise of the Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The final category was for outstanding contribution to the administrative enforcement of environmental legislation. The award went to Frances Craigie of the DEA for her ongoing excellence in the field of administrative enforcement and the preparation of legally defensible notices and directives.