https://www.polity.org.za
Deepening Democracy through Access to Information
Home / Statements RSS ← Back
Close

Email this article

separate emails by commas, maximum limit of 4 addresses

Sponsored by

Close

Embed Video

CLSA: Fishers to hand over memorandum to DAFF over Interim Relief System

CLSA: Fishers to hand over memorandum to DAFF over Interim Relief System
Photo by Bloomberg

27th November 2014

SAVE THIS ARTICLE      EMAIL THIS ARTICLE

Font size: -+

/ MEDIA STATEMENT / The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

A delegation of fishers from Western Cape coastal towns will deliver a memorandum to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) today over the continued mismanagement of the Interim Relief process


The delegation will demand that their grievances be addressed with immediate effect and will not leave the department’s offices until such time.

Advertisement


Representatives from all Coastal Links South Africa branches in the Western Cape will deliver the memorandum to the offices of DAFF, in Cape Town on the Foreshore at 12:00noon today.


Deep and enduring problems with the Interim Relief system is playing havoc with the lives of thousands of people in Small-scale fishing communities across the Western and Northern Cape.

Advertisement


The late issuing of permits, the inclusion of non-fishers in beneficiary lists and general mismanagement by DAFF deprives fishers of sustainable livelihoods and is causing conflict in communities.


There are persistent allegations of corruption in the allocation processes. In 2005, the government adopted long-term fishing policies that made no provision for small-scale fishers. Masifundise took the matter to the Equality Court in 2006. By 2007 the court ruled that a new policy must be developed and an interim relief package for small-scale fishers be formulated and implemented. The Interim Relief Permit system was meant to provide temporary relief to fishers who did not benefit from Long Term Rights


Meanwhile the IR system continues – and so do the inefficiencies, mismanagement and general dysfunctionality. Interim Relief arrangements, which began in 2007, were meant to be in place for a year. But the Small-scale fisheries (SSF) policy was only finally adopted in 2012 and the amended MLRA this year, which opened the way for implementation. But there is little progress in the implementation process.
CLSA and MDT want an immediate end to the IR system and the rapid implementation of the Small-scale fisheries (SSF) policy.


The detailed memorandum will be made available after it is handed over to DAFF.


Coastal Links South Africa represents 4 000 small-scale fishers countrywide and Masifundise Development Trust acts as its Secretariat.

 

Issued by Coastal Links South Africa and Masifundise Development Trust

EMAIL THIS ARTICLE      SAVE THIS ARTICLE

To subscribe email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or click here
To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Comment Guidelines

 

About

Polity.org.za is a product of Creamer Media.
www.creamermedia.co.za

Other Creamer Media Products include:
Engineering News
Mining Weekly
Research Channel Africa

Read more

Subscriptions

We offer a variety of subscriptions to our Magazine, Website, PDF Reports and our photo library.

Subscriptions are available via the Creamer Media Store.

View store

Advertise

Advertising on Polity.org.za is an effective way to build and consolidate a company's profile among clients and prospective clients. Email advertising@creamermedia.co.za

View options
Free daily email newsletter Register Now