More than 600 000 jobs could be created as plans are put in motion to redevelop the Saldanha Bay and St Helena Bay harbours, which have fallen into disrepair due to crime and vandalism.
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and Saldanha Bay Local Municipality Mayor André Truter visited the harbours this week, committing to their revitalisation to boost the local economy.
The announcement comes just days after Transport Minister Barbara Creecy launched a Request for Information (RFI) to attract private sector partnerships in rail and port infrastructure, which is expected to create at least 20 000 jobs and generate more thanR1.6 billion in additional tax revenue over five years.
The Western Cape Government’s Growth for Jobs strategy aims to triple exports to R450bn and increase private sector investment to 20% of the province’s GDP.
Macpherson and Truter said St Helena Bay and Saldanha Bay harbours should become economic hubs for their communities. “The V&A Waterfront has helped create over 60 000 jobs, and we believe this level of success can be replicated across the country, creating jobs for communities such as Saldanha Bay,” Macpherson said.
A year ago, fishing company Sea Harvest, in partnership with the national government, pledged R72 million to repair infrastructure and improve access for small-scale fishers and local businesses.
Following an oversight visit to the harbours on Tuesday, Macpherson said the DPWI would develop a master plan to ensure they contribute to the local economy through fishing and tourism.
“The V&A Waterfront stands as a prime example of how harbours can attract investment and create thou-sands of jobs.
“Small harbours like St Helena Bay and Saldanha Bay should be redeveloped to become economic engines for their communities,” he said. The two small harbours which are owned and managed by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, have over the years fallen into a state of disrepair, often attracting criminal activity and deterring investment in surrounding communities.
They explained in line with the commitments made during his State of the Nation Address reply in Parliament a month ago, Minister Macpherson said he would instruct departmental officials to develop a master plan for the small harbours to ensure they con-tribute to the Saldanha Bay economy through fishing and tourism development.
Mayor Truter welcomed the Minister’s commitment, stating that the engagement was extremely positive and demonstrated a clear focus on action and timelines.
“Working with a Minister who knows what needs to be done and how to get it done is refreshing. Minister Macpherson has drawn a line in the sand regarding implementation timelines, and as Saldanha Bay Municipality, we look forward to embarking on this journey with the Minister and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure,” said Mayor Truter.
When asked how much job opportunities it would provide, Truter told Cape Argus that Sea Harvest alone had 2000 employees per shift. Earlier in 2023, the then DPWI Minister of Public Works and Infra-structure, Sihle Zikalala, who is now the deputy Minister in the same office, said the revival of the small harbours after an injection of half a billion rand (R501 million) as part of a major refurbishment programme to the 13 Proclaimed Fishing Harbours in the Western Cape.
IOL previously reported that the Small Harbours Repairs and Maintenance Programme is a strategic infrastructure programme spearheaded by the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure and is aimed at bringing the harbours to a greater level of efficiency to revitalise the local economy and to serve the local fishermen, tenants and surrounding communities.
Earlier, the Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA) decided to delay its proposed expansion. On Wednesday, Transnet did not respond to queries about the redevelopment plan.
The Port of Saldanha is said to be the largest iron-ore export facility in Africa and oversees 96% of cargo per annum.
This week, Matthew Parks, Congress of South African’s Trade Union, COSATU’s Parliamentary Co-ordinator told Cape Argus they were deeply concerned about the state of Transnet for several years and the safety of job opportunities if netted with the private sector but were not against it.
Dr Ivan Meyer, Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism said the potential was significant in exports and imports and job opportunities.
He added that the province’s agricultural exports, currently constituting 55% of South Africa’s primary agricultural exports, has the potential to create 22 900 new jobs in the region through a 5% increase in exports.
Cape Argus