Mr Speaker, most small fishing harbours are completely dysfunctional. These undermanaged harbours are also hotspots for crime. Poachers use them for their lucrative criminal activities.
Harbour buildings leased by the department are in complete disrepair. Tenants are withholding rent, lease contracts are either nonexistent or not being renewed and tenants regularly fall victim to crime.
The department is failing to upgrade infrastructure and to manage and secure a safe environment for enterprises to conduct their business there. At the Hout Bay Harbour there are seven sunken vessels blocking access to the repair dock. These sunken vessels have been blocking access to the repair docks for years and the department has done nothing to clear the harbour.
When does the Ministry intend to implement the recommendations of the transitional harbour management project, which was undertaken in May 2008, commissioned by a predecessor at a cost of R10 million to the taxpayers?
The study examined the best way forward in managing fishing harbours to unlock their economic value and ensure sustainability. The full economical potential of fishing harbours can only be unlocked once basic management functions are corrected through improved governance and holding management bodies accountable.
Fully functional fishing harbours can create thousands of jobs, alleviating impoverished communities. It is time the department takes its mandate seriously. Thank you, Mr Speaker. [Applause.]