INFORMATION FOR THE PARTICIPANT

THIS RESEARCH AIMS TO DO AN EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PROCESS IN EIA’S IN SOUTH AFRICA. IT IS HOPED THAT THIS RESEARCH WILL COME UP WITH MORE PRO-ACTIVE APPROACHES AND MODELS TO ENSURE THAT BEST PRACTICE COLLABORATIVE INTERVENTIONS ARE ESTABLISHED TO ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION AS A TOOL IN ENSURING MORE INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL DECISIONS.

YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THIS SURVEY IS VOLUNTARY AND THE QUESTIONNAIRE REQUIRES YOU TO ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS. THE COMPLETION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE SHOULD TAKE APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES. THE INFORMATION GATHERED DURING THIS SURVEY WILL BE USED FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY. PLEASE ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS HONESTLY AND TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITY. PLEASE TYPE RESPONSES IN A DIFFERENT COLOUR. COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRES CAN BE SENT TO euithaler@mandelametro.gov.za

YOUR ASSISTANCE IS HIGHLY APPRECIATED. MANY THANKS.

SEMI-STRUCTURED QUESTIONNAIRE

RESEARCH IN COMPLETION OF THE D.PHIL DEGREE IN DEVELOPMENT STUDIES AT THE NELSON MANDELA METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY

Title: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Public Participation as a Tool in the

Environmental Impact Assessment Process

1. NAME & SURNAME:

2. PROFESSION / TITLE:

3. COMPANY NAME:

Public Participation (PP) is a mandatory and legal process guided by the National Environmental Management Act of 2006. Based on this statement please answer the following questions as broad and truthful as possible:

4. What in your opinion is meant by Public Participation?

5. In most of your projects: would you say the public - more generally referred to as the interested and affected parties (I&AP’s) - are involved in the design of projects? If NO why not?

6. Since marginalized and black people have historically been excluded from the PP process, would this scenario still be true today in most of the projects you involved in? What may be the reason for this?

ELDRID MARLON UITHALERB.A., H.D.E., Hons.B.Sc., M.Ed. (EE), M.A. (DS), Cert. CBNRM, Cert. EMS (ISO 14001 & OHSAS

18001)

1

7. What is the average estimated number normally attending your PP sessions? (Excluding proponents and EAP’s)

8. Do you think the EIA / PP regulations focus too much on advertising rather than provide a means or methods to ensure more inclusive participation of a broader group of I&AP’s?

9. Is it true that PP is just a mere formality / a one-size fits all mechanism for the EAP’s and that the actual incentive remains the financial rewards to them and the proponent?

10. Is there a genuine effort to include the views and concerns of I&AP’s in the EIA reports?

11. How do you capture the views of I&AP’s in the PP process?

12. Do you provide any feedback to I&AP’s after the ROD / Authorization? What from does this take? Is it a standard practice by your company?

13. In general would you say that the current PP process in EIA’s is an effective and influential means of including public views in the decision-making process?

14. What changes (if any would) you suggest to make the PP in EIA’s a more effective tool to ensure that the aims of allowing more participative and democratic decision-making?

15. Do you think sufficient provision is currently made in EIA’s for mitigation and adaptation measures to respond to the issues of global warming and climate change?

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE.

ELDRID MARLON UITHALERB.A., H.D.E., Hons.B.Sc., M.Ed. (EE), M.A. (DS), Cert. CBNRM, Cert. EMS (ISO 14001 & OHSAS

18001)

2