The Role of Municipialities in Enforcing Environmental Law: South African Perspective

Abstract

This paper investigates the municipalities’ legal duties to enforce environment protection. The government has been criticised for years for failure to provide measures for environmental protection. The government is divided into local, provincial and national spheres. This paper will further investigate problem faced by the local government as compared to provincial and national sphere of government in the enforcement of environmental law. Environmental and international law instruments will be used to address the problem as well as the decision making processes of the local sphere in enforcing compliance. The Constitution Act 108 of 1996 will be the influential document in addressing challenges. The main focus also, will be to suggest tools to be used to enforce environmental law and achieve compliance and respect for the environment.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n23p136