Regular readers of Leisure Wheels will by now be familiar with our long-term interest in the goings-on, over the years, between the 4x4 industry and the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism over legislation regarding eco-sensitive areas in South Africa and neighbouring territories.

We have from time to time taken swipes at Valli Moosa, the previous minister, and incumbent Marthinus van Schalkwyk for what we have perceived to be a heavy-handed and, at times, arbitrary approach to the problem. We have also at times pleaded the necessity to heed warning signals that the industry needed to get its house in order or face more heavy-handed and arbitrary legislation from the department.

It has taken a while but there at long last appears to be light at the end of the tunnel. The good news is that there is now meaningful and apparently cordial dialogue between the various stakeholders in the industry and the department.

Most of the good vibes we are picking up stem from the meeting of the National Off-Road Workshop (NOW) held in George in October last year. The NOW conference was perhaps born out of desperation following an ultimatum by the minister of more arbitrary action unless the 4x4 industry could control activities that might be harmful to the environment, but it has more than served its purpose.

In the first place the NOW conference put on hold the minister¹s threat of further arbitrary legislation. Secondly, it gave birth to the National Off-Road Working Group, under convener Johann Marais, which is now working closely with the department on what is a complex and sensitive issue.

We have in our possession a copy of a letter from Van Schalkwyk to Marais that offers great hope for the future. The minister is impressed by what he calls the commitment of the industry to get its house in order, and is satisfied that good progress is being made.

The minister also points out that it is important that the impetus generated by the NOW conference is maintained, and that the groundwork should now be translated into concrete actions that culminate in the development and adoption of a self-regulatory strategy. The minister also offers departmental help via an agreement between the industry and the government toward implementation of envisaged self-regulatory mechanisms.

There are, however, some warning signals in the minister¹s letter. He makes it clear that unless the industry has all the necessary mechanisms for self-regulation in place by October 2007, it will result in government intervention in the regulation of activities in the 4x4 industry.
The minister also has reservations that the working group has the expertise to meet timeframes in certain areas of the overall process. His recommendation is that NOW appoints a task force to manage the project, conduct the required research and co-ordinate input from various sub-committees.

That makes sense to us, but behind the threat of government intervention if timeframes are not met, the minister also offers an olive branch. In recognising that NOW may be hampered by a lack of resources to fund the necessary assistance required, the department is prepared to consider a request for once-off financial assistance.

Further evidence of the department¹s willingness to co-operate with NOW is contained in the letter, which states that work is soon to start on identifying other areas which could be sensitive to off-road activity. The department, however, undertakes to liaise with the working group in this regard, and the apparent willing interaction between the various groups is encouraging.

On another front, an initial Unit Standard regarding 4x4 driver training is in the process of being registered with the authorities. This is also a major step forward in terms of the 4x4 industry getting its house in order, and will create a standard for 4x4 training that is equitable throughout the country and which provides qualified drivers with the necessary accreditation.

We don¹t mind admitting that, over the years, we have sometimes been a little pessimistic that all the various stakeholders could get together and solve the myriad problems plaguing the 4x4 industry. Needless to say, that pessimism has now given way to optimism.

There is still a long way to go before all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle fall into place, and there is an awful lot of hard work ahead. But, as we said earlier, there is definitely light at the end of the tunnel and we appeal to individuals and organisations with vested interests in off-roading to throw their weight behind NOW.

Jannie Herbst Editor Leisure Wheels
Issue 36 April May 2006