Skip to main content.
Enviropaedia Sponsors and Supporters

Department of Environmental Affairs

Logo

Private Bag X447
Pretoria
0001
Gauteng
South Africa

Tel: +2786 111 2468
Email: callcentre@environment.gov.za
Website: www.environment.gov.za

The Department of Environmental Affairs is mandated to ensure the protection of the environment and conservation of natural resources, balanced with sustainable development and the equitable distribution of the benefits derived from natural resources. In its quest for better use and management of the natural environment, the Department of Environmental Affairs is guided by its constitutional mandate, as contained in section 24 of the Constitution.

The Department of Environmental Affairs fulfils its mandate through formulating, coordinating and monitoring the implementation of national environmental policies, programmes and legislation.

In 2009 President Jacob Zuma announced the establishment of the Ministry of Water and Environmental Affairs. The department was created from the former Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism as well as the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry.

The Minister and Deputy Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs oversee the work of two separate departments, namely the Department of Environmental Affairs and the Department of Water Affairs. Two Directors-General serve as the respective chief accounting officers for each department. The Ministry’s budget is under the Department of Water Affairs.