The Western Cape has committed its support to President Jacob Zuma’s ambitious plan to create one million jobs in key maritime sectors.
At the weekend, President Zuma officially launched the Operation Phakisa programme which focuses on growing employment in key sectors. Alan Winde, MEC of Economic Opportunities, said the Western Cape Government was participating in the project.
“We are working together with the national government to stimulate growth and jobs from the oceans. The Western Cape Government has representatives in the aquaculture team. The Industrial Development Zone team is also participating in Operation Phakisa. I’m pleased that the National Government has decided to implement some of the priorities contained in the National Development Plan,” said MEC Winde.
However, MEC Winde stressed that marine economic development depended on well-functioning harbours. “We believe that the province’s twelve small fishing harbours can play a crucial role in supporting fishing communities and providing them with access to other economic opportunities,” said MEC Winde.
Up to now the national department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has been managing these harbours and allowed them to fall into disrepair. A report commissioned by the national government in 2005 made a number of recommendations to address their dysfunctionality but not much has changed nearly a decade later.
MEC Winde said the Western Cape Government has also done extensive research in this regard. A study conducted by the provincial government found that the maintenance and development of the 12 existing designated fishing harbours along the province’s coastline is of crucial importance for any strategy aimed at generating jobs and economic growth from our marine resources.
However, a lack of cooperation from some national departments to date has been a stumbling block that has prevented development from taking place in these harbours. This is despite the constitutional mandate for harbours actually lying with local government.
MEC Winde therefore calls on the Presidency to assist in removing blockages preventing development from taking place. “We need cooperative governance. We need all the relevant role players to come to the table and shoulder its respective responsibilities in this regard”.
MEC Winde said functioning harbours can act as a catalyst for fishing, aquaculture, processing and tourism. “South Africa is blessed with a 2500km long coastline, but we need functioning harbours in order to access the riches the oceans offer us.”
The 12 designated fishing harbours in the Western Cape are: Lamberts Bay, Laaiplek, St. Helena, Saldanha Bay, Kalk Bay, Hout Bay, Gordon’s Bay, Hermanus, Gansbaai, Struisbaai, Stilbaai and Arniston.
For media queries, kindly contact:
Bronwynne Jooste
Spokesperson for MEC Alan Winde
Tel: 021 483 3550
Cell: 082 454 4365
E-mail: bronwynne.jooste@westerncape.gov.za
