SA Launches Training Programme to Combat Marine Plastic Pollution

South Africa has, for the first time, launched an international training programme aimed at equipping government officials with the specialised skills needed to tackle the growing global trade in hazardous waste and plastic pollution at sea.

The initiative marks a significant step in strengthening the country’s environmental enforcement capabilities as governments worldwide face increasing pressure to combat illegal waste trafficking, marine pollution and organised environmental crime.

Addressing the opening session of the training programme in Cape Town on Tuesday, Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh emphasized that legislation alone is not sufficient to effectively address environmental crimes and plastic pollution.

Skilled Officials Essential in Fighting Environmental Crime

According to Singh, stronger legal frameworks and regulations must be supported by trained and capable officials who can implement environmental laws effectively on the ground.

“Real impact depends on skilled, knowledgeable and committed officials who can translate legal requirements into practical action,” Singh said.

He explained that successful enforcement depends heavily on the ability of competent authorities, customs officials and Border Management Authority personnel to:

• Administer prior informed consent procedures

• Monitor transboundary waste movements

• Detect suspicious shipments

• Apply effective risk management

• Facilitate legitimate trade

• Intercept illegal waste trafficking operations

“It depends on customs officers and Border Management Authority officials who can identify suspicious shipments, apply appropriate risk management, and facilitate legitimate trade while intercepting illegal waste movements,” the Deputy Minister stated.

Environmental Crime Becoming a Major Global Threat

Singh warned that environmental crime has become one of the world’s fastest-growing forms of organised criminal activity.

Citing the recent Custos Viridis operational report, he revealed that environmental crime generates estimated annual losses of between 80 billion and 230 billion Euros globally.

The report also highlights increasing connections between:

• Waste trafficking

• Organised crime syndicates

• Document fraud

• Illicit financial flows

• Transnational criminal networks

Environmental crime is now considered the world’s fourth-largest organised criminal activity, posing serious threats to ecosystems, economies and public health.

The Deputy Minister stressed that combating such crimes requires coordinated collaboration between:

• Environmental regulators

• Scientists

• Customs officials

• Investigators

• Prosecutors

• International enforcement agencies

“This training programme has been specifically designed to strengthen precisely these capabilities,” Singh said.

International Training to Strengthen Enforcement Capacity

The training programme has been developed to address critical enforcement gaps related to the Basel Convention and its Plastic Waste Amendments.

For the first time, international experts and officials have come together to strengthen cross-border controls aimed at preventing illegal waste trafficking and marine plastic pollution.

The programme includes:

• Technical training sessions

• Practical enforcement exercises

• International case studies

• Cross-border coordination mechanisms

• Knowledge-sharing platforms

Officials and experts participating in the training include representatives involved in:

• Environmental regulation

• Customs coordination

• Compliance monitoring

• Border management

• Environmental law enforcement

The programme specifically focuses on implementing the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments and addressing the growing international challenge of plastic waste entering oceans and marine ecosystems.

Plastic Pollution Described as Defining Environmental Crisis

During his address, Singh described plastic pollution as one of the defining environmental crises of the modern era.

“Our oceans, rivers, estuaries, coastlines and terrestrial ecosystems are under growing pressure from plastic waste and microplastics,” he said.

He warned that the impact of plastic pollution extends far beyond environmental degradation and increasingly threatens:

• Fisheries

• Marine biodiversity

• Tourism industries

• Coastal livelihoods

• Human health

• Food security

“With its extensive coastline and vibrant ocean economy, South Africa is acutely aware of these risks,” Singh noted.

Experts have repeatedly warned that microplastics and marine waste are becoming increasingly difficult to control as global plastic consumption continues to rise.

Government Intensifies Action Against Plastic Pollution

The South African government has intensified efforts to address plastic pollution through a range of domestic regulatory and environmental measures.

According to Singh, current initiatives include:

• Stronger waste regulations

• Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes

• Recycling and waste diversion programmes

• Promotion of circular economy principles

• Marine ecosystem protection initiatives

Government is also advancing broader ocean governance strategies aimed at protecting marine ecosystems while supporting sustainable blue economy development.

“We are equally committed to broader ocean governance initiatives aimed at protecting marine ecosystems and advancing sustainable blue economy outcomes,” Singh said.

Basel Convention Amendments Strengthen Global Controls

The Deputy Minister highlighted the importance of the Basel Convention Plastic Waste Amendments in strengthening international oversight of plastic waste movements.

“The Plastic Waste Amendments provide an essential international framework to support these domestic actions and to prevent the dumping of problematic plastic wastes on developing countries,” he stated.

The Basel Convention regulates the transboundary movement of hazardous waste and aims to prevent environmentally harmful waste disposal practices, particularly in vulnerable developing nations.

The amendments specifically address growing concerns around the international trade in plastic waste and the increasing burden placed on countries lacking adequate waste management infrastructure.

South Africa Strengthening Blue Economy and Environmental Governance

South Africa’s growing focus on marine protection and waste regulation reflects the increasing importance of the ocean economy to national development.

Government officials say protecting coastal ecosystems is essential for:

• Sustainable fisheries

• Tourism growth

• Maritime industries

• Climate resilience

• Coastal community livelihoods

The international training initiative is expected to strengthen South Africa’s ability to monitor and enforce environmental regulations while improving cooperation with global partners combating illegal waste trafficking.

Collaboration Key to Future Environmental Enforcement

Officials believe the training programme will improve both national and international enforcement effectiveness by building stronger technical expertise and collaborative networks among participating agencies.

The initiative also reflects growing international recognition that environmental crime can no longer be treated as a secondary issue due to its links with organised criminal networks and global economic impacts.

As countries continue negotiating stronger international agreements on plastic pollution and waste management, experts say effective enforcement capacity will become increasingly important in protecting ecosystems, public health and sustainable development goals.