Remarkable growth in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in South Africa since October. Protecting wildlife from extinction. Driving global agreements and, back home, rolling out strategies to cut red tape are among the achievements that forestry, fisheries and the environment minister Dion George claims during his first year in office.
Celebrating South Africa’s abundant biodiversity, marine and forestry assets in a media briefing at parliament on Thursday, he said: “These are not just natural wonders to admire. They are also the foundation for job creation, tourism, food security, sustainable livelihoods and scientific advancement.”
Green growth
The stats back this up: agriculture, forestry and fisheries grew 15.8% in the first quarter and 17.2% in the final quarter of 2024 — contributing more than two-thirds of total GDP growth, said George. “These are not just numbers. They reflect thousands of jobs and livelihoods sustained.”
Agriculture has experienced an uptick and the “fishing industry is starting to recover somewhat”, he said. “Several [aquaculture] projects are succeeding and we’ve had good success in the abalone growing sector.”
George’s plan to revitalise the Western Cape’s 12 proclaimed fishing harbours has created more than 2,300 jobs and nine of them have new signage. “These upgrades are more than cosmetic. They are a statement of intent... to communities who rely on working harbours,” he said. George increased the “number of fish species available to small-scale fishers by 36%, boosting income in coastal communities” since he took over.
Penguin protection
Kate Handley, executive director of the Biodiversity Law Centre, said: “We are pleased that the minister and his department have so openly committed to conserving African penguins, a critically endangered species.”
George was instrumental in bringing together experts, conservation NGOs and fishery bodies outside court to reach an agreement on measures to protect the African penguin, including the rapid closure of pelagic fisheries off their key breeding colonies. He counts this as one of the most significant achievements to date.
From the get-go minister George (has been) focused on stimulating socio-economic development through the environment portfolio
— Kate Handley, Biodiversity Law Centre executive director
Handley said the African Penguin Biodiversity management plan to provide a “sound road map for conservation of the species” must still be finalised and expressed concern that the draft regulations on bunkering impacts in Algoa Bay “do not go far enough”.
The bunkering regulations are contested because of vested interests, said George, who will soon sign regulations placing “strict limits on bunkering in ecologically sensitive areas” into law.
Bunkering in Algoa Bay, near the St Croix island — once the largest African penguin colony in the world — has caused devastating oil spills and noise pollution. A temporary pause in bunkering, enforced in 2023, saw a “small but promising recovery” in their population, said George.
Climate change is affecting African penguins which are “not only iconic but ... worth billions” to the country's economy, he said.
Saving iconic cats
Black rhino numbers have stabilised sufficiently for the country to donate rhinos to other African countries, as happened in Mozambique this week.
“I do not support the lifting of the international ban on rhino horn,” said George, acknowledging that South Africa has a huge stockpile of rhino horn, worth a fortune.
The minister said he has not set a lion bone quota and has “no intention of doing this” when asked about captive lion breeding. The DFFE has published draft notices proposing to prohibit the establishment or registration of new captive breeding facilities and other new controlled environments for lions. However, existing facilities operating under permits are generally not immediately affected by this proposed prohibition.
George said the opening of new facilities would require permission and nobody had applied to open a new one.
“We have made considerable progress on the purchase of lion carcasses and several thousand are available for destruction … The next steps are more complicated,” the minister said, admitting that negotiations with people who own lions has taken decades — and was still continuing.
Fiona Miles, the director of Four Paws animal welfare organisation, said: “FOUR PAWS welcomes minister George’s strong position against the lion bone trade and his commitment to ending captive lion breeding.
“With about 8,000 captive lions and an unknown number of tigers, we’re urgently awaiting the implementation plans of the ministerial task team and stand ready to support with our expertise in sanctuaries, animal welfare, and the long-term care of rescued big cats.”
After reports that cheetah South Africa donated to India have died, George said: “I will not approve any further exports of cheetah to India until I’m satisfied they will be in good hands. I would be willing to go to India to look for myself.”
He has signed off on an elephant management plan, while stressing he must rely on scientific facts about the elephant population in the Kruger National Park before making decisions.
Climate leadership
The Climate Change Act has been signed into law since George took office and he has helped finalise the Climate Change Response Plan (CARP) to support coastal communities prepare for impacts, including sea levels rising and worsening storms. The flooding in the Eastern Cape shows just how vulnerable communities are to extreme weather.
Positing the country as a leader on the continent, George attended the COP29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, last year and helped broker the High Seas Treaty at the UN Ocean Conference in France last week, among other commitments.
Given the cost to the South African taxpayer, George is criticised for having taken 11 overseas trips. He is required, like his predecessor Barbara Creecy, to attend key global meetings and said: “ South Africa is a well respected influence on global climate and conversation efforts, and we are expected to be present at the table.”
George defended his controversial decision to grant conditional emissions exemptions for Eskom. “Let me be clear: these are not blanket waivers. Each exemption comes with firm conditions — including health interventions for affected communities, real-time emissions monitoring, and a firm commitment to transition to cleaner energy sources. We are holding polluters accountable.”
An insider said that George seemed to be settling into his role “but hasn't worked out how to get his cabinet colleagues behind some of the big decisions”.
Reset to reduce red tape
George has launched a RESET strategy “to speed up approvals for energy and infrastructure projects while still protecting the environment”. In 11 renewable energy development zones, approval times are down from 300 days to 147. Authorisations in lower sensitivity areas can be fast-tracked and processed in about 70 days, said George.
Handley said: “He highlighted several strategic priorities upon taking up office, including accelerating investment in renewable energy infrastructure and strengthening the transmission grid.”
While encouraged by his plans to reduce “bureaucratic red tape for environmental permitting processes ... it is critical that in the quest for efficiency, fine-scale biodiversity planning is still implemented on a project-by-project basis”, she said.
Polluters must be held accountable, said the minister, who has completed 162 environmental appeals since he took over a year ago. Asked about river pollution in the townships, he admitted many were filthy due to neglect and system failures. “We do need to assist municipalities which are cash constrained and capacity constrained,” said George.
“Also we need to hold to account the people who are responsible for the cleaning ... For example, we took action against a municipal manager: the people responsible must do their job or face consequences in a personal capacity,” he said.
Asked about the encroachment of coal mining towards the border of the Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Game Reserve, George said he and the minister of minerals and energy have differences of opinion based on their different mandates. “I am the appeal authority ... which causes some abrasion but works relatively well ... if people are unhappy with the decisions I make, then they must go to court.”
KISS for sustainability, supporting science
Catchy acronyms are part of George’s playbook he has rolled out KISS — the Kruger-Kirstenbosch-iSimangaliso Icon Status Strategy — a strategy to modernise and elevate South Africa’s most iconic parks and gardens.
The minister celebrated iSimangaliso Wetland Park for getting a clean audit as a “symbol of what good governance can look like”. Among his priorities are reforming major institutions under his leadership including SANParks, the South African Weather Service and Safcol.
“It has been evident right from the get-go that minister George is focused on stimulating socioeconomic development through the environment portfolio,” said Handley.
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