Small Harbours Development: update

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) provided an update on the Small Harbours Program. Progress was given on the development of new small harbours in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape (Port St. Johns), and KwaZulu-Natal (Port Shepstone), the upgrade and maintenance program for existing fishing harbours, particularly in the Western Cape, and plans for asset optimization through public-private partnerships at harbours like Hout Bay and Saldanha Bay. DPWI noted completion of Spatial and Economic Development Frameworks (SEDFs) for the initial three prioritized sites and the ongoing work on Tier 2 sites, as well as the significant investment and job creation resulting from the Western Cape upgrade program. The presentation on the Borderline One-Stop Border Post project was postponed. Committee members commended the progress while raising critical concerns about oversight, potential implementation delays, funding strategies, and equitable distribution of benefits to coastal provinces beyond the Western Cape. Members emphasized the need for proactive oversight visits, questioned the reliance on Budget Facility for Infrastructure (BFI) funding, and stressed the importance of local community involvement and Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) empowerment, cautioning against elite capture in public-private partnerships. Specific inquiries were made about timelines for project phases, financial viability, collaboration with other departments and institutions, and measures to ensure inclusiveness in job creation and economic opportunities for local residents. DPWI responded by outlining its funding model, commitment to local beneficiation, alignment with Integrated Development Plans, and ongoing efforts in feasibility studies and stakeholder engagement, promising to provide further detailed reports and address the concerns raised.