Statutory professional registration organisation the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) has made new board appointments, with the election of Sabelo Nkosi as chairperson and Emmy Molepo as vice-chairperson.

The newly constituted board also comprises of Advocate Thomas Tshabalala, Khathutshelo Tshipala, Tshilidzi Tshimange, Tshepho Mamashela, Minnette le Roux, Fiona Havenga, Jane Mahaba and Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) representatives Sindiswa Dlomo and Sabelo Malaza.

The new board assumes office at an important time for South Africa’s environmental assessment sector, as the country continues to strengthen environmental governance, improve the quality and credibility of environmental assessment practice and advance professional regulation in the public interest.

The EAPASA board’s responsibilities include setting the organisation’s strategic direction, upholding ethical and professional standards, overseeing financial sustainability and risk management, supporting transformation in the profession, and safeguarding the integrity, competence and accountability of registered practitioners.

The incoming board will build on the work of the outgoing board, which concluded its term having overseen important institutional progress, including the implementation of constitutional reforms, the extension of EAPASA’s appointment by the DFFE, strengthened governance systems, expansion of the registration base, improved organisational stability and a transparent leadership transition.

“The appointment of the new EAPASA board comes at a critical time for professional regulation in the environmental assessment sector. The organisation has made important progress in improving registration turnaround times, strengthening financial sustainability, expanding continuing professional development opportunities, introducing new professional designations and increasing public awareness of the role of registered practitioners,” says EAPASA CEO and registrar Dr Patrick Sithole.

“The new board will oversee key priorities, including finalising climate change management tools, implementing new qualification standards in collaboration with tertiary institutions and sector education and training authorities, strengthening ethical and regulatory frameworks, hosting the upcoming fifth EAPASA Southern African Development Community Regional Conference, and ensuring continued compliance with our obligations to DFFE, including the Annual Performance Plan and Grant Agreement.

“These priorities will guide our work as we continue to strengthen EAPASA’s role in promoting competent, ethical and accountable environmental assessment practice,” Sithole added.

Moving forward, Nkosi highlights the importance of fostering strong partnerships across the environmental and built-environmental sectors to advance the board’s strategic goals.

“We will work to enhance collaboration with DFFE, competent authorities, the Council for the Built Environment, the International Association for Impact Assessment South Africa, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the International Association for Public Participation, academic institutions and other partners.

“We also look forward to building on the regional conference platform and exploring further opportunities to advance professional dialogue, learning and excellence in the sector,” Nkosi says.

During the induction programme, the board was addressed by DFFE director-general Nomfundo Tshabalala, who reinforced the importance of professional regulation, ethical leadership, accountability and environmental stewardship in supporting credible and effective environmental governance.

EAPASA also expressed its appreciation to outgoing chairperson Professor Khangwelo Musetsho for his leadership and contribution to the professionalisation and transformation of environmental assessment practice in South Africa.