The Portfolio Committee on Public Works has begun its third-term programme in earnest on Monday morning by visiting the Stilbaai Harbour, as part of a week-long oversight visit to the six small harbours in the Western Cape.
Under the leadership of Acting Chairperson Mr Freddie Adams, the Committee started the day by holding a briefing meeting with the Hessequa Municipality, the Department of Public Works (Dpw) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Daff).
Mr Dhaya Govender, who is the Deputy Director-General responsible for small harbours in the DPW, said all the harbours belong to his department, and that Stilbaai is traditionally servicing the fishing community in the locality.
He said his department has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to operate all the small harbours.
“It is incumbent on the Daff to shoulder responsibility for the maintenance of the small harbours. Not only do they utilise public works property for free, but also considering the fact that they collect revenue through administering the entry free,” said Mr Govender.
Although the Committee has identified several challenges at the Stilbaai harbour, including insufficient ablution facilities, damaged slip way and lack of a storeroom, Mr Adams reiterated on behalf of the Committee that small harbours are not well managed and that their job creation and local economic development potential have not been fully utilised.
“Small harbours contain properties that are often leased to multinational businesses, which may hold considerable value in tourist hot spots around Cape Town and parts of the west coast,” said Mr Adams.
The Committee will on Tuesday visit three small harbours namely Arniston, Struisbaai, and Gansbaai respectively.
Justice Molafo
1 August 2017
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