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IOL News
7 days ago
- General
- IOL News
Minister orders removal of wrecked and abandoned vessels by June 16
Half sunken boats are seen at Hout Bay Harbour. Picture Henk Kruger/ Independent Media FILE Image: Henk Kruger/ Independent Media / FILE Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Dr Dion George has directed the urgent removal of wrecked and abandoned vessels that pose significant risks to navigation, marine ecosystems, and the safety of coastal communities. In a statement on Tuesday, the department said George was taking steps to address longstanding environmental and safety complexities in South Africa's proclaimed fishing harbors, including Gordons Bay, Lamberts Bay, Saldanha Bay, St Helena Bay, and Hout Bay. 'For too long, these derelict vessels have been a blight on our harbors, endangering our marine environment and the safety of those who rely on these waters,' said George. 'I am committed to reversing this legacy of neglect and ensuring our coastal infrastructure supports both environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.' Under the authority of the Wreck and Salvage Act 94 of 1996, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has issued Marine Information Notice MIN 08-25, directing the owners of identified wrecks to remove their vessels by June 16, 2025. Failure to comply by this date will result in further action by the authorities, with costs recoverable from the owners as stipulated in the Act. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ The department said the initiative reflects the Minister's dedication to restoring the integrity of South Africa's coastal infrastructure. 'Our harbors are vital to our coastal communities and marine ecosystems. By removing these wrecks, we are safeguarding our oceans for future generations and creating safer, more sustainable hubs for maritime activities,' said George. The department said in consultation with SAMSA, it will ensure that the process is conducted responsibly, prioritising environmental protection and compliance with legal frameworks. George called on all vessel owners to cooperate fully with the directive and contact SAMSA promptly to arrange compliance by the deadline. 'I urge vessel owners to act swiftly and responsibly to meet the June 16, 2025 deadline,' George said. The SAMSA Marine Information Notice MIN 08-25 is available at or contact SAMSA at marinenotices@ for more information. Cape Times
The South African
7 days ago
- General
- The South African
Urgent order to remove wrecked and abandoned vessels from SA harbours
The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has directed the urgent removal of wrecked and abandoned vessels that pose significant risks to navigation, marine ecosystems, and the safety of coastal communities. These efforts reflect the bold steps being taken to address longstanding environmental and safety complexities in South Africa's proclaimed fishing harbours, including Gordon's Bay, Lamberts Bay, Saldanha Bay, St Helena Bay and Hout Bay. 'For too long, these derelict vessels have been a blight on our harbours, endangering our marine environment and the safety of those who rely on these waters. I am committed to reversing this legacy of neglect and ensuring our coastal infrastructure supports both environmental sustainability and economic prosperity,' the Minister said. Under the authority of the Wreck and Salvage Act 94 of 1996, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has issued Marine Information Notice MIN 08-25, directing the owners of identified wrecks to remove their vessels by 16 June 2025. Failure to comply by this date will result in further action by the authorities, with costs recoverable from the owners as stipulated in the Act. According to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment the removal of these wrecks will enhance the safety of harbours, protect marine biodiversity, and support the livelihoods of communities that depend on these waters. 'Our harbours are vital to our coastal communities and marine ecosystems. By removing these wrecks, we are safeguarding our oceans for future generations and creating safer, more sustainable hubs for maritime activities,' George said. The department, in consultation with SAMSA, will ensure that the process is conducted responsibly, prioritising environmental protection and compliance with legal frameworks. The Minister has called on all wrecked and abandoned vessel owners to cooperate fully with this directive and contact SAMSA promptly to arrange compliance by 16 June 2025. 'I urge vessel owners to act swiftly and responsibly to meet the 16 June 2025 deadline. Together, we can restore the vibrancy of our harbours and protect the natural heritage of our coastline,' he said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Minister to remove wrecks from small harbours after fishers' outcry
Remove your wrecks or we will and charge you, Dion George tells boat owners. In many small fishing harbours derelict and abandoned vessels clog moorings, pose safety risks and symbolise decades of government inaction. After facing fierce criticism from fishing communities during his recent Fishing for Freedom imbizo, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George has announced urgent action to remove them. George said this week that his department, in partnership with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa), has initiated a clean-up campaign targeting wrecked vessels across several proclaimed fishing harbours. These include Hout Bay, Gordon's Bay, Lamberts Bay, Saldanha Bay and St Helena Bay. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Under the authority of the Wreck and Salvage Act, vessel owners have been served notice: remove your sunken boats by 16 June 2025 or the government will do so – at your expense. 'For too long, these derelict vessels have been a blight on our harbours, endangering our marine environment and the safety of those who rely on these waters,' George said in a statement. 'I am committed to reversing this legacy of neglect and ensuring our coastal infrastructure supports both environmental sustainability and economic prosperity.' A tipping point in Hout Bay The announcement comes less than a month after a stormy public imbizo in Hout Bay, where the minister was met with frustration, anger and desperation from fishers, harbour tenants and community leaders. The gathering, part of a nationwide tour to engage with coastal fishing communities, was meant to focus on fishing rights, but quickly turned into an informal referendum on government harbour neglect. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads In Hout Bay harbour, the minister was greeted by the smell of raw sewage, sagging buildings and boats bobbing beside others that had already sunk. Entire sections of the quay wall were collapsing and critical infrastructure – from water and electricity supplies to slipways and lighting – was non-functional. Derelict warehouses like the Bluefin building stood abandoned, providing shelter for squatters and rodents rather than economic opportunity. Fishers and business owners accused the government of abdicating responsibility. Sean Walker, a prominent figure in the local fishing industry, delivered a blunt warning: 'We don't have much more time. This harbour is in a sorry state of repair. It's threatening not just businesses, but an entire working-class economy that's been holding on by its fingernails.' Long promises, little delivery Justin Strong, who heads the Hout Bay Harbour Tenants Association and runs the well-known seafood eatery Snoekies, echoed the sentiment. 'I've been attending meetings like this for 15 years,' he told the minister. 'We've had millions spent on feasibility studies and spatial frameworks. But nothing from those plans has been implemented. Not one thing.' Strong detailed how tenants were forced to install their own lighting, clean up rubbish at their own cost and attempt to secure areas where break-ins had become commonplace. 'We light up the parking lot with six spotlights because otherwise it's pitch-dark,' he said. 'There's no meaningful security. We've had three break-ins at Snoekies just this past month.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads As for the harbour's crumbling infrastructure, Strong pointed to a bureaucratic tug-of-war between the Department of Public Works and the Department of Fisheries, which has left maintenance efforts paralysed. 'Each says the other is responsible. Meanwhile, nothing gets fixed,' he said. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads George acknowledged this confusion. 'I wasn't even sure myself who manages the toilets,' he commented to the crowd. He pledged to raise the issue directly with the minister of public works and proposed the creation of a liaison forum to ensure future communication is direct and accountable. But many in attendance were sceptical. Kobus Poggenpoel, a generational fisher from Kalk Bay, voiced frustration over the cycle of promises. 'Maybe setting up yet another forum may work, maybe not,' he said. 'Every year politicians come and talk about transformation and integration, but nothing happens.' A first step – or more talk? Against this backdrop, the announcement of the wreck removal campaign will be cautiously welcomed by harbour users – as long as it's seen through. The presence of abandoned vessels has been a long-standing concern, not only because they take up valuable mooring space, but because they often leak oil, attract crime and create physical hazards for active fishers. 'This is one of the easiest wins,' said Walker. 'You don't need a five-year spatial framework to raise a sunken boat.' George's directive is specific: under Marine Information Notice MIN 08-25 issued by Samsa, owners of the identified wrecks must remove them by 16 June 2025. After that, the state will step in and remove them, recovering the costs from the owners as allowed under the Act. advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads 'This initiative reflects Minister George's dedication to rolling back the ills of the past and restoring the integrity of South Africa's coastal infrastructure,' the department said. 'The removal of these wrecks will enhance the safety of harbours, protect marine biodiversity and support the livelihoods of communities that depend on these waters.' George added: 'By removing these wrecks, we are safeguarding our oceans for future generations and creating safer, more sustainable hubs for maritime activities.' Beyond boats For the Hout Bay fishing community, the derelict vessels are only one part of a much broader crisis. The most immediate needs are often depressingly basic: working toilets, running water, secure lighting and functioning pumps. 'We're being held back by things that are fixable,' Walker stressed during the imbizo. 'We can't control the sea. We can't control the weather. But we can fix a pump. We can fix a light. We can fix a jetty. And if we don't, we'll lose it all.' Many speakers called for better interdepartmental coordination. 'Bring Public Works and Fisheries together,' Walker urged. 'Two ministers, two key officials, in one room. No more feasibility studies, no more five-year frameworks. Just a concrete plan.' advertisement Don't want to see this? Remove ads Regan James, a local activist, pointed out that the rot is not just physical but symbolic. 'This harbour is a reflection of how our community is treated. It's not just about fishing – it's about dignity. It's about survival.' He also raised concerns about small-scale fishing allocations, suggesting that quotas are often poorly matched to the realities on the ground. 'You can't catch a sardine on a handline,' he quipped. 'You gave us a basket we can't even catch.' George's response to these grievances was measured, if at times constrained. He spoke of the international respect afforded to South Africa's fisheries scientists, but also acknowledged the resource challenges his department faces. 'We've gone from 700 staff to fewer than 400,' he said. 'And I'm managing 261 ongoing court challenges related to fishing rights.' But he expressed a wish: 'I want to walk through this harbour in the future and see that it's been fixed. Otherwise I'll know I failed.' The wreck removal directive, while not a comprehensive fix, may prove to be the first visible sign of this wish. It's an important test. DM
Daily Maverick
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Parliament pushes for urgent action on Mawana's roaming elephant herd
In a heated and emotionally charged session of the South African Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Environment this week, community members from KwaZulu-Natal's Ulundi region described the ongoing crisis caused by a herd of roaming elephants from the privately owned Mawana Game Reserve. The session culminated in a set of urgent resolutions, including a mandated follow-up meeting among key stakeholders and a formal report due to Parliament by 7 July 2025. The issue was described as having escalated into a human-wildlife conflict, with reports of injuries, crop destruction, school disruptions and mounting community frustration over years of perceived government inaction. At the centre is a population of more than 30 elephants — possibly over 50, according to some estimates — which have repeatedly escaped from Mawana's deteriorated fencing and encroached into communal lands. Unsafe environment Community representative Xolani Msimango, a state advocate speaking in his personal capacity, described harrowing incidents that have taken place over several years. He recounted how villagers foraging in the forest had been chased by the elephants and told the story of Mr Buthelezi, a local villager, who was severely trampled in March 2024 and lay injured in the bush overnight before being rescued. Msimango accused the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, KZN Wildlife and a conservation NGO of systemic failure. He stated that repeated attempts to seek help were met with silence or circular referrals. 'We feel that the government through its organs is failing us,' he told the committee. 'The environment we live in is not safe.' He also alleged that a private individual, Grant Fowlds, has exploited the situation to expand his Loziba Game Reserve. According to Msimango, Fowlds was neither an owner of the land he wished to expand into nor welcomed by local communities, yet had interfered with elephant monitoring efforts and was raising funding for conservation from international sources while neglecting local safety. 'We have no idea who controls this process, but he is the one who is creating the problems.' He said the community had made it clear to Fowlds that there was no land available to him to expand his reserve. 'Now he is saying the elephants are in danger of being killed by the community. He is using elephants to (solicit) millions from overseas countries.' Wildlife agency responses In response, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife acknowledged the seriousness of the crisis, but defended their handling of the matter, pointing to legal complexities and ongoing infrastructural work. Vuyiswa Radebe, the Executive Manager of Biodiversity Conservation Operations at Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, explained that because the elephants were res nullius (without a legal owner), the state had taken responsibility for their management. He said that nine elephants were destroyed in August 2024 under the province's standing permit to deal with damage-causing animals — a controversial move that sparked a national backlash. He insisted lethal force was a last resort following failed attempts to corral or translocate the animals. As a non-lethal intervention, a temporary 8,300-hectare emergency enclosure was being constructed by removing internal fences between private properties. According to Radebe, only six kilometres of fencing remained to be completed. However, Msimango denied these claims, saying the fenced area included up to 20 homesteads and that community members had already chased construction teams away due to lack of consultation. Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Deputy Minister Maggie Sotyu acknowledged these tensions and promised that 'the department will be hands-on on this', proposing daily briefings on the matter and a potential in-person visit to the community. The department also committed to funding additional monitors to track elephant movements and to complete the emergency fence by the end of June. Calls for clarity Despite these promises, members of the portfolio committee expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of coordination, transparency and coherent data. Honourable Dave Bryant (DA) questioned whether all non-lethal options had truly been exhausted, citing the existence of national elephant management strategies that emphasised coexistence. He also flagged the absence of precise data on elephant numbers, asking why an application to collar more elephants, submitted in December 2024, had not yet been processed. The Loziba development plan. (Source: Loziba Wildlife Reserve) He and other MPs demanded clarity on the role of Fowlds and whether he legally owned any land in the area. They also queried why a private game reserve's failure had been allowed to burden public institutions and terrorise communities, and why earlier compliance notices had not led to prosecution or decisive action. Brent Corcoran, speaking for KZN Wildlife, admitted that the enforcement process had been severely delayed due to legal uncertainties following the death of the original owner, Kerneels van der Walt, in 2017 and neglect on the reserve that followed. The estate took years to resolve and only recently did the elephants become legally ownerless. Attempts to issue compliance notices were met with appeals, and internal confusion over the status of the elephants further stalled enforcement. The road ahead After several hours of debate, the Portfolio Committee reached several conclusions: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Ezemvelo, the Mawana Family Trust, Fowlds and representatives from the affected community must convene before the end of June. The department must submit a written report to Parliament by 7 July 2025 detailing the progress of the meeting, the status of fencing and the management plan for the elephants. The deputy minister is to take personal responsibility for overseeing developments, with daily briefings from officials. Several MPs called for a site inspection by the portfolio committee to verify claims, assess risks, and consult broadly with residents, not just one representative. Parliament wants full clarity on land ownership, the legal authority of Fowlds and whether the fencing efforts are legally viable. Any future destruction of elephants must be fully justified with records showing that all alternatives had been exhausted, in line with national elephant norms and standards. Don's view The situation at Mawana is not simply an environmental issue — it's a collision of land rights, conservation ethics, legal ambiguity and rural safety. It shows the frayed edges of a system where private reserves, conservation NGOs and under-resourced communities are bound together in uneasy coexistence. As Parliament steps in to untangle this saga, its outcome could set a precedent for how South Africa balances wildlife conservation with human security in a rapidly shifting landscape. For the community in Ulundi, however, the crisis remains urgent and unresolved: 'There will be no fencing that will be up by the end of June,' warned Msimango. 'There will be no elephant that will be secured at any time soon.' DM
Daily Maverick
15-05-2025
- General
- Daily Maverick
Hout Bay Harbour is a wreck, give us action not ‘glossy' plans, fishers tell minister
Fishing communities in South Africa's small harbours face crumbling infrastructure and a shrinking future, and their frustration is palpable. The smell of salt and diesel mingles with the stench of sewage in Hout Bay Harbour. Boats bob at their moorings, their hulls patched and stained. Several have sunk. Behind them derelict buildings sag into disrepair, walkways crumble underfoot and a collapsed section of quay wall threatens to give way entirely. This is what greeted Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Dion George when he arrived in Hout Bay on 30 April for his 'Fishing for Freedom' imbizo. For the fishers and harbour tenants gathered to meet him, it wasn't just quotas or rights that dominated their concerns – it was the very ground beneath their feet. 'We don't have much more time,' warned Sean Walker, a prominent figure in Hout Bay's fishing industry, speaking forcefully during the meeting. 'This harbour is in a sorry state of repair. The facilities are falling apart. It's threatening not just businesses, but an entire working-class economy that's been holding on by its fingernails.' Walker's message was echoed by Justin Strong, a representative of the Hout Bay Harbour Tenants Association and longtime operator of the popular Snoekies fish restaurant. 'I've been attending meetings like this for 15 years,' Strong told George. 'We've had millions spent on feasibility studies and spatial frameworks. But nothing from those plans has been implemented. Not one thing.' A litany of decay The harbour's problems read like a checklist of neglect: Raw sewage spilling onto public walkways; Broken lighting leaving common areas in darkness; Non-functional water and electricity services to the jetties; Unsecured derelict buildings left open to squatters; Collapsing quay walls; Illegal traders intimidating customers; Piles of uncollected waste; Public toilets either shuttered or lacking basic supplies; and Sunken vessels occupying critically needed berths. Strong detailed how tenants were forced to string their own lights to illuminate parking areas while their businesses battled rats, flies and a rising tide of filth. 'We light up the parking lot with six spotlights because otherwise it's pitch dark,' he said. 'There's no meaningful security. We've had three break-ins at Snoekies just this past month.' Nearby, empty hulks like the Bluefin building have stood vacant for more than a decade. Since Oceana pulled out, prime space that could be repurposed for tourism or commercial tenants stands derelict. 'We keep being told to wait. But how long?' Strong asked. 'Fifteen years? Twenty?' Falling through the cracks The common refrain among harbour users is that no one knows who's responsible. 'For 15 years, the Department of Public Works and the Department of Fisheries have been hiding behind each other,' Strong charged. 'Each says the other is responsible. Meanwhile, nothing gets fixed.' George acknowledged the confusion. 'I wasn't even sure myself who manages the toilets,' he admitted to the crowd. But he promised to 'speak to the minister concerned' in Public Works. He also proposed setting up a small forum – a liaison group that could have direct access to his office. 'I want to walk through this harbour in the future and see that it's been fixed,' George said. 'Otherwise I'll know I failed.' But his words rang hollow for many who had heard similar promises from predecessors. At a similar imbizo in Kalk Bay, boat owner Kobus Poggenpoel, whose family has been fishers for generations, was less than impressed. 'Maybe setting up yet another forum may work, maybe not. Every year politicians come and talk about transformation and integration, but nothing happens. 'We want to talk about fishing, but the minister comes and talks about harbour infrastructure, then says it is not his department's responsibility to repair it.' Boats held back on shore Back in Hout Bay, while George ventured into what Poggenpoel said should be the point of the discussions – small-scale fishing rights – fishers like Walker were quick to shift the conversation back to infrastructure. 'We're proud of our fishery,' Walker said. 'Our scientists are respected internationally. Our regulations are solid. But what good is that if we can't get ice, fuel, water or parts for our boats? If we can't get onto the slipway? These aren't policy problems. These are pipes, pumps, power supplies – and they're broken.' Walker estimated that more than 3,000 workers depended on fishing operations in Hout Bay Harbour, many of them employed directly on boats owned by small operators. 'These aren't big corporations. These are individuals who own a boat, go out themselves and employ others. If the harbour collapses, they lose their jobs. Their families lose their livelihoods. And this community loses its heart.' No more plans, please Both Walker and Strong urged the government to stop deflecting and start coordinating. 'If there's one thing I ask of you,' Walker told George, 'it's this: bring Public Works and Fisheries together. Two ministers, two key officials in one room. No more feasibility studies, no more five-year frameworks. Just a concrete plan.' He added: 'We've had beautiful glossy plans before, volumes of them, but no action. We don't need more paperwork. We need a working slipway. We need lights. We need the sewage sorted. We need security.' For Regan James, a fisher and activist for local fishing rights, the decaying harbour is also a symbol of a broken social contract. 'We always talk about transformation, but when will it work for our community? We've got poachers out here. I say bring them into the system, give them rights. Let them fish legally and support their families.' James pointed to the limitations of the current small-scale fishing allocations, noting that species like sardine and anchovy were allocated to line fishers despite being practically inaccessible to them. 'You can't catch a sardine on a handline. You gave us a basket we can't even catch,' he said. 'We need a rethink of what's possible. And we need to include the youth, the poachers, the community in the harbour's future.' Beyond quotas George responded by praising the resilience of the fishing community and the international reputation of South Africa's fisheries scientists. But he admitted that his department was underresourced, down from 700 staff to fewer than 400. He said he had 261 continuing court challenges related to fishing rights, but that he had 'thick skin like a rhino'. 'I'd love to hand out a million fish to everyone,' George said, 'but there just aren't enough fish in the sea for that.' He reiterated his belief that aquaculture and new economic models were the way forward. But in Hout Bay Harbour, such long-term visions feel distant amid the immediate decay. 'We're being held back by things that are fixable,' Walker insisted. 'We can't control the sea. We can't control the weather. But we can fix a pump. We can fix a light. We can fix a jetty. And if we don't, we'll lose it all.' As the meeting drew to a close, there was polite applause, but little sense of resolution. Another meeting was requested within 30 days, this time including Public Works, to finally clarify responsibilities and chart a path forward. 'It's not just about fishing,' Walker said as the crowd dispersed. 'It's about dignity. It's about survival. This harbour is one of the last engines of employment in this community. If it fails, what's left?' For now, the harbour's fate remains tied to the same bureaucratic knots that have stymied it for decades. But the voices from Hout Bay and other small harbours are growing louder and the cracks – literal and metaphorical – are becoming harder to ignore. George, ever courteous despite many angry deliveries from the floor, is clearly listening, but whether he can make substantial changes remains to be seen. DM This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
