History

Since its inception in 1997 EnviroAfrica has been appointed to a great variety of projects. Founder Bernard de Witt and his competent staff have extensive experience in developing the environmental and conservation interface of a large range of development projects. EnviroAfrica is an equal opportunity employer that strives to give preference to suitably qualified previously disadvantaged individuals or firms employing such individuals. The company makes use of suitably capable sub-consultants as the need arises and it is standard company policy to give preference to individuals or firms with PDI status.

After qualifying with a B. Sc. in Forestry and a B. A. (Hons) in  Public Administration at the University of Stellenbosch Bernard joined the Department of Forestry as an Indigenous Forest Planner in 1983, going on to become Manager of the Table Mountain Reserve with the Cape Town Council. He then joined Cape Nature Conservation (CNC) and headed its Conservation Planning Section before taking up the position of District Manager of the Boland area (inc. the Hottentots Holland and Kogelberg). As a Regional Ecologist, he co-ordinated managerial and scientific inputs into Provincial Nature Reserves in the Boland, Overberg and West Coast regions. For the last four years of his employment he assessed and evaluated development applications, from an environmental perspective, on behalf of CNC (now DEA&DP). Since he left DEA&DP 10 years ago he has been involved in environmental consulting in the private sector as a member of EnviroAfrica.

Clinton Geyser has a BSc. Earth Sciences, Majors in Geology and Geography and Environmental Management and a MSc. Geography and Environmental Management from the University of Johannesburg (formerly RAU). Clinton is also a Green Star SA Accredited Professional. After completing his studies, Clinton worked for over five years in the tourism and conservation management field, having worked in the Waterberg and Lowveld areas as a field guide, and in the Okavango Delta of Botswana as a lodge manager.  He has over seven years’ experience in the environmental management field as an Environmental Assessment Practitioner and as an Environmental Control Officer, having worked on a variety of projects in the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape, including:

• Civil engineering infrastructure such as pipelines, Waste Water Treatment Works, and roads
• Agricultural developments, including reservoirs and dams
• Telecommunications masts
• Housing, Industrial, Commercial and Resort Developments
• Cemeteries
• Waste Management Licences

Emile has over three and a half years experience in the administration of Section 24G Applications at the Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (“DE&DP”).  Part of his duties are to conduct site inspections; compliance inspections with conditions of EA’s issued; evaluation of S24G applications and EMPs; drafted S24G administrative fines for the unlawful commencement of listed activities.

Part of his duties include:

• Compiling applicability checklists;
• Compiling Basic Assessment Reports;
• Compiling Environmental Management Programmes (“EMPs”)
• Compiling Section 24G Applications;
• Compiling Amendment Applications in terms of NEMA.