We are blessed to live on the Dolphin Coast – a little slice of paradise, where incredible natural beauty meets the vibrant community, both on the coast and a little further inland. However, at DOCRRA, we realise that with this privilege comes responsibility. Therefore, it is with great pleasure that we introduce to the Dolphin Coast community, our latest sub-committee under the DOCRRA umbrella, the Environmental Sub Committee.
A dedicated team
A dedicated team, chaired by Brian Pottinger, have formed to protect and promote the health of our environment, keeping a watchful eye on everything environmental.
“The hectic pace of urbanisation along the Dolphin Coast in recent years has put enormous pressure on our environment, most obviously in increased levels of air, water and land pollution. Tackling these menaces is the main task of DOCRRA's Environmental Sub Committee and the environmental groups with which it is associated.”
Thus far, the Sub Committee has undertaken a major investigation of illegal waste recycling plants in Shakaskraal that have been responsible for pollution in all its forms. In May 2025, as one of its first major project, the committee handed a comprehensive dossier to environmental enforcement agencies at local and national level and is actively following up on the legal prosecutions now underway.
Thanks to a grant from DOCRRA, the committee is working with other environmental groups such as Communities Against Pollution (CAP) and OUTA’s WaterCan Project to monitor air and water quality so as to speedily identify the sources of pollution and bring it to the attention of the authorities.
But enforcement is only one side of the coin. The committee is also working with municipal, provincial and private sector entities to encourage private-public initiatives to deal with illegal waste dumping and other issues. The committee also hopes soon to begin engaging the sugar industry in discussions about its cane burning protocols, still a material source of air pollution during the cutting season.
None of this can happen overnight. But it is DOCRRA’s hope that by increasing the surveillance of our environment, speeding up response time from the authorities and working constructively towards solutions with all parties, we can create a cleaner environment for all who live on the Dolphin Coast.
For any environmental-related queries, comments, or to report any issues, please email us directly: environment@docrra.co.za
