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The Western Cape has committed its support to President Jacob Zuma’s ambitious plan to create 1 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, Minister 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 Minister Winde.

However, Minister 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 Minister 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.

Minister 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.

Minister 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”.

Minister 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.