media releases - Launch of training programme for 'green' scorpions

LAUNCH OF TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR ‘GREEN SCORPIONS’

The Scorpions may be no more, but watch out for the ‘green scorpions’ who are about to emerge.

The first batch will soon be ‘hatched’ out after a six month training course at Unisa.

This historic launch will be held at Unisa’s Irene Park on 13 November 15:30 – 18:00.

The National Environmental Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), which came into effect in 1998 created EMI’s (Environmental Management Inspectors), also known as ‘green scorpions’, to protect the environment. Since much legislation is involved, the EMI’s need to be skilled, knowledgeable and professional. The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism has stipulated that no EMI may act without being properly trained.

DEAT contacted Unisa to assist with the training of the EMI’s. The College of Environmental Sciences, in collaboration with the College of Law, has designed a six-month Short Learning Programme. The first programme began in July this year.

The six months theoretical training of the EMI's will end with a practical module taking place over 10 days. During the first eight days students will be taught to do physical inspections and investigations on simulated scenes. There will be mock road blocks, crime scenes and they will have to carry out arrests in accordance with the law. They will also be taught how to handle operational conflict, to compile reports and draft charge sheets. All the lecturers from Unisa (law and environmental science) and members of DEAT will be involved. On the ninth day of the practical training, there will be a mock court case (to be held in the magistrates court rooms) in which all the skills learned by the students have to be displayed. On the tenth day the students will be writing a formal exam of 2 hours. If they pass all the theoretical modules as well as the practical sessions and the exam, they will become "green scorpions" or EMI's.

In a situation of global warming and climate change the protection of the environment is a major concern worldwide. It is easy to talk about threats like dumping hazardous substances into rivers, polluting the air, etc. but to actually police such conduct is more difficult.
The programme consists of 5 Advanced Short Courses:

ASC 1: Legal context for Environmental Management Compliance and Enforcement (LCEM015)
ASC 2: Becoming an Environmental Management Inspector (BEMI014)
ASC 3: Environmental Management Compliance Inspection and Investigation – Industry (EMCI01P)
ASC 4: Environmental Management Compliance Inspection and Investigation – Biodiversity (EMCB01X)
ASC 5: Environmental Management Enforcement and Prosecution – Practical applications (EMEP01P)

This programme is a flagship for Unisa as 11 lecturers from two colleges, the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and the College of Law have collaborated in this venture in the (environmental) interests of a better South Africa.

For further information please contact Dr Elna van Niekerk 012 352 4290 vniekhj@unisa.ac.za