Northern Cape Business 2017/18 is the seventh edition of this highly successful publication that has, since its launch in 2009, established itself as the premier business and investment guide to the Northern Cape Province.
Officially supported and utilised by the Northern Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism, Northern Cape Business is unique as a business and investment guide that focuses exclusively on the Northern Cape.
SPECIAL FEATURE In
SPECIAL FEATURE In announcing that the deep-sea harbour project was “progressing well” in her 2016 State of the Province address, Premier Sylvia Lucas referred to “aligning infrastructure to freight type and ensuring that network connectivity links complementary ports with inland connections”. Logistics comprises a complicated set of interlocking networks that requires very careful planning. The preliminary studies suggest that it would cost about R2.4-billion for the first phase of the seaside construction, with a further R800-million needed on the landside. There is an expectation that volumes through the harbour could be 20-million tons (for bulk commodities like manganese and iron ore) and 6.3-million tons of break-bulk cargo. The construction requirements of a project this size would themselves be a boost to the economy of the NorthernCape. The harbour project has the potential to be transformative. Small harbours Another Operation Phakisa initiative is the Small Harbours Development Unit. Set up within the national Department of Public Works, it aims to drive new economic development in coastal areas by unlocking the potential of small harbours. Small NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017/18 26
SPECIAL FEATURE harbours are also seen as having a key role to play in safety, security and territorial integrity. As a first step, 13 smaller fishing harbours in the Western Cape were identified and work began on a series of projects to start the revival process: repairing slipways, towing away sunken vessels and dredging. Many more creative and value-adding interventions lie ahead, and are expected to be undertaken even in areas that are currently not “proclaimed” fishing harbours. South Africa’s four coastal provinces have as many as 50 potential and existing unproclaimed harbours. The key is to stimulate economic activity. Activities to promote primary maritime activity could include: • infrastructure to support fishers: processing, ice production, cold storage • infrastructure for boat-building and repair • additional berthing and launching facilities • new recreational fishing points • access to better amenities for fishers. Tourism could be promoted through better: • pedestrian access • cleaning and maintenance • policing • stalls or shelters to sell crafts • partnerships with developers to develop restaurant, curio shops, retail, martime or marine museums and accommodation options • water recreation and sports. Steps are being taken to include the country’s small harbours as national assets in terms of the Government Immovable Assets Management Act (GIAMA). The National Department of Public Works is the custodian of the state’s immovable assets. The Small Harbours unit intends implementing the Spatial and Economic Development Frameworks (SEDFs) for the 12 proclaimed fishing harbours which were completed in 2014 and develop SEDFs for the remaining small harbours along South Africa’s coastline. An audit of all state coastal reserves needs to be done, and land for aquaculture projects must be made available for these enterprises. Short-term leases within harbours are also to be converted to three -five year leases so that business owners can have better security of tenure, allowing them to plan and expand. 27 NORTHERN CAPE BUSINESS 2017/18
