Background: The South African National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (No. 10 of
2004) (NEM:BA) requires all Organs of State at all spheres of government to develop invasive
species monitoring, control and eradication plans. Municipalities across South Africa are
required to comply with the Alien and Invasive Species Regulations under NEM:BA but are
faced with myriad challenges, making compliance difficult.
Objective: This paper unpacks some of the challenges municipalities face and provides
guidance on how to overcome these in order to achieve NEM:BA compliance. Through a
strategic, municipal-wide approach involving different landowners, compliance can be
achieved and many of the associated challenges can be overcome. For example, lack of
awareness and capacity within municipal structures can be addressed through various
platforms that have proven successful in some areas.